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Ian Foster: What All Blacks learnt from Ireland's big wins
By Ned Lester
The confirmation of the quarter-final matchups was merely a formality for Ian Foster, with the All Blacks coach admitting he was “90 per cent sure” his team would face Ireland in the knockout stages.
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With the pools named three years prior to the Rugby World Cup in France, all teams had plenty of opportunity to scout their potential opponents, and as Andy Farrell’s team ascended through the international ranks, it became clear that Ireland would be a force to be reckoned with at the tournament.
Exactly how far the team had come was put to the test last year when Ireland toured New Zealand. Ireland fell to a rampant All Blacks in game one at Eden Park, they are yet to be beaten since.
Claiming victory in the final two Tests of that series and therefore lifting the Steinlager Cup, Ireland sent a strong message; they were out to end their poor track record at Rugby World Cups and were more than capable of downing any world-class outfit that stood in their path.
Knowing just what the world’s No 1 team was capable of, Foster confirmed he had been anticipating the matchup that now lies before his team.
“Yeah, we have been,” he told The Breakdown. “But, you’re still planning for other contingencies too.
“It’s great to know, we were 90 per cent sure and we’ve done a lot of work in that space, but it’s clear now and a pretty exciting occasion.”
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Having watched Ireland add to their win streak against top contenders in South Africa and Scotland, the All Blacks coach knows he faces a tried and tested team in fierce form.
“They’ve played really well. They came into this World Cup on quite a big winning streak, so they know their game, they’ve been efficient.
“I thought they probably struggled a bit in the South Africa game, that was always going to be a monster game as well. I thought South Africa got under their skin a little bit.
“South Africa missed three or four kicks which probably cost them in the end but that was a real arm wrestle.
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“They finished strong against Scotland, didn’t they? They played well. We know they like to start the game really well and put the contest beyond doubt and they did that.”
Fullback Beauden Barrett admitted the team is still “hurting” from the Steinlager Series loss and is looking forward to the opportunity to “get one up” on the Irish in return.
Barrett was the starting first five-eighth for that series, his positional switch is one of many changes the All Blacks have made since the series loss. Aaron Smith and Rieko Ioane were the only two backs to start every match in the series and hold the same position today. Meanwhile, in the forwards, there have been three changes in the starting tight five.
Outside of the selection choices, Foster highlighted the growth his team has made that will put them in better stead for the fixture.
“We don’t like losing at home, do we? That was a big series and they came pretty buoyant, we came out of a Super (Rugby) season. We weren’t as prepared as we needed to be.
“I think they played their game, the way that they play it and defensively we weren’t quite at the level we needed to be – I think we’ve made some big strides in that part of our game.
“I think our maul defence has taken strides and it’s going to need to but that was an area where we got exposed.
“I guess the third area is, for some reason, teams that play (Ireland) seem to get a few cards. We certainly got a number of yellow cards and a red card in those last two Tests and that will really hurt you against a team that’s really efficient at manipulating space, so we’ve got to get those things right.”
A week is a long time in NZ rugby. There are multiple cases of the ABs looking pretty weak one weekend and then being brilliant the following weekend. It’s usually about intelligent adjustments to relative strengths and weaknesses.
The team has plenty of talent, the coaching team has plenty of smarts, and they all have plenty of incentive to deliver something extraordinary.
It’s possible that Ireland have got their number, but I don’t think so. I think it’s going to be a close battle.
hes not dark he is the weak link . Remember he nearly got sacked . his super record as a coach was terrible rennie took over the same team and they won all this you know. joe in charge won comfortably fossie comes back from covid stamped his authority lost series thank goodness for jason and joe their involvement appears to have rekindled our faith again seeing us hold the mighty SA scrum in the RC was cool and nullify the rolling maul ( well more than before) i believe fossie is finally letting these two sensei,s of rugby do their shit and cut a track to at least a draw
He's a dark horse is Fozzie
Personally I don’t understand it but for some reason the players genuinely love Fozzy. Don’t underestimate how far the ABs will push themselves to let him leave with a decent legacy..
Teams don’t get cards against Ireland, it’s that Ireland don’t get cards. Accurate, disciplined.
The more Foster talks the less I think NZ are fully prepared for this game.
The Card comment was obviously a baiting comment for the Irish. They don’t give a f*ck what he says unless it’s useful to motivate them. He only helps them and betrays weakness with that talk.
If NZ lose it’s their worst RWC performance in History. Hopeful the weight of history won’t turn him into a blubbering wreck before the match even starts.
The NZRU has a lot to answer for in selecting a coach who has never been up to the task. They even admitted as much by sacking Foster’s choice of support coaches and replacing them with Schmidt and Co. The board should be sacked! Come quickly, the reign of Robinson, where I’m of the belief normal broadcasting will resume once again —the ABs back to their devastating and fearsome best!
That’s Foster, always ready with an excuse and an unqualified claim. Based on the 15 million penalties for technical errors in maul defence against the Boks at Twickers you’d have to question whether that part of their game really has grown.
Further, “We came out of a super rugby season …”, wow this lame excuse takes the cake. Mate own your short comings. Now it’s super rugby’s fault you weren’t prepared enough? You are the coach mate with more than a year to get ready for that.
But it’s the card one that really highlights his inability to face facts. According to Foster, it’s not that the All Blacks have issues with their discipline, it’s that “for some reason teams playing against Ireland get lots of cards”!
I’d say it’s this complete lack of accountability that is part of the reason why the All Blacks have been in freefall for the last few years
Please, please New Zealand. Please pop the Irish for us. Let’s put Sextoy out to pasture.
Southern Hemisphere til I die
xoxoxo