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Sam Cane ‘stoked’ with All Blacks’ defensive success at World Cup
By Finn Morton
Defence wins championships. It’s an old adage that’s thrown around time and time again in sports including American Football, football and of course rugby union.
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Over the coming days, a lot will be said about the 44 points that the All Blacks scored during their commanding semi-final win over Argentina on Friday night.
But the six scored against them was just as impressive. The All Blacks didn’t concede a try, and that deserves all the credit, plaudits and praise that fans can give.
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New Zealand made 195 tackles against Argentina, which backs up their incredible defensive performance against a physical Irish outfit last weekend – completing 226 stops.
With defensive guru Scott McLeod guiding the team, the All Blacks have transformed themselves into a team that is now 80 minutes away from potentially winning the World Cup.
“I said last week that history shows the team who is one of the best defensively will end up winning the World Cup. There are a few guys in our team who are particularly passionate about it so it’s pretty strong,” captain Sam Cane said after the win over Argentina.
“A lot of credit has to go to [defence coach] Scott McLeod and [assistant coach] Joe Schmidt. We have a system now we really believe in, some skillsets within that, the individual tackles.
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“There’s also the work the boys who are not playing do – learning the opposition shapes so we can train against them during the week as well. But we are pretty stoked not to concede any tries tonight. I am pretty proud of that.”
The All Blacks made a statement with their hard-fought 28-24 win over Ireland in the quarterfinals, but they knew that they’d need their A-game a week later against Los Pumas.
Argentina had been written off by many, but anything can happen in a semi-final. Wing Emiliano Boffelli scored the first points of the Test with an early penalty goal.
While the All Blacks looked stunned, if only for a moment, they soon took control with first-half tries to Will Jordan, Jordie Barrett and Shannon Frizell. They continued to dominate after the break as well.
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“We’ve played Argentina in the past and we know they are a team that can frustrate, stay in the fight and often accumulate points in threes. We wanted to be patient and a lot of credit has to go to the forward pack,” Cane told reporters on Friday.
“We wanted to scrum well and drive well and we made the most of our opportunities. The scrum penalty just before half-time allowed us to get down their end and score, that was huge. I am really pleased with the effort and we have to go again now.”
Hey Dry Lake alias Turlough. I heard 50,000 “Paddy’s” Boo The Haka before the game. You dumb bastards, Don’t you know how that “Steeled” the AB’s. . . Expect that dumb shit from poms not from the Irish. . .
But hey all is fair in love and war.
Once again the SH play “Roll Royce” rugby against a spluttering, backfiring, Morris Minor that gasps for fuel and gradually stops and pulls over to let us pass”
All Blacks will beat SA in the first 20 minutes. . .SA won’t know what “just happened” Expect a “masterclass” from the AB’s The change in this team has been huge in 2 months. . .
SA will have to score 40 points to beat them.
Discipline will be the key in the final. Certainly no stupid penalties. Anyone know what Scot was thinking when carded? No wonder they wouldn’t let him back on. Clear front runner for “Idiot of the Tournament”.
If picking off mistakes or winning by playing mindgames does not work, SA can always use their “dark arts” as Gatland called it. Basically accusing Rassie and Co. of “witchery…”? (Don’t know about that one, Warren.) Or maybe he read all the Harry Potter books once too many… In any case, like some other teams (Dupont’s), NZ are bad winners AND -losers. Why mock the fans after beating the Irish? Or claiming foulplay when losing against SA? Yes, you did! Had a big story about Rassie’s 7/1 bench. Even though it’s totally legal…
In the scenario of a NZ-SA final:
NZ are picking off tries off errors so are SA. Neither are making many errors. That points to a low scoring game. In a low scoring match SA most likely to prevail.
NZ must go up another gear. For various reasons their new system succeeded against Ireland. But it’s in plain view now for two matches. If they try and soak too much pressure from SA, they will be waiting for mistakes that won’t arrive. Can they raise their attacking level to that we witnessed by France in the first half against SA (without throwing away the match with errors like France did) ?
If not SA edge a tight match.
Congratulations to NZ for reaching their 5th RWC Final and, even being South Atrcan myself, probably their 4th title…
But, with that said, I’d like to know how, in the 8 RWC’s, including this one, whenever the Boks (SA) perform well and reach the knock-out rounds, finals or, God forbid, win, there’s always controvercies…?
1995…. Some mysterious barista, Suzy, “poisoned” half the AB team. And her “poison” was so STRONG, the effects lasted for SIXTEEN YEARS, before NZ ended up in a final again…
2007… England looses due to a late try been disallowed. Notwithstanding the fact that EVERY camera angle shows that Cueto’s foot touched the line…
2019…. The French ref (and SA) was accused of, what amounts to, “game fixing” following the controversial coin toss in the opening match against (want to guess) NZ… And even after the SAME ref awarded NZ 9 penalties to the 4 SA was awarded…
Why are there never controvercies when ANYBODY else reach the knock-outs or finals? Does the world, as a whole, despise SA THAT much? Calling it a “disgrace” that we even progressed this far… Disgusted… What!!!???Even the old geysers of World Rugby claiming that that (in)famous (depending on your country of birth) charge-down of Ramos’s kick was “illegal”…
And now…. Replacing a NZ match official with a FRENCH match official…???? Is it a case of “a rugby fraternity scorned”…?
If the world wants a specific team/country to be crowned RWC champions, why then these tournaments? Just send the Cup to the/their favourate country…
NZ are ultra competitive, ultra paranoid and quite cultish.
NZ rugby is actually in the most privileged position globally.
In 2015, for example NZ rugby and English rugby sat down with broadcasters so sort out the schedule and NZ got their preferred slot of playing the other pool favourite on Match day 1 . NZ have never played another pool favourite in the final match before the quarter final as far as I know. Yet to hear their supporters you would think there is a global conspiracy against them!
Also from Ireland’s point of view when NZ are hammering you they are friendly and ‘benevolent’. When you are competitive NZ supporters turn nasty. This world cup was an eye opener with bizarre howls of arrogance leveled at Irish players and supporters early in the tournament for truthfully stating we planned to win it. Followed by howls of mockery and clear arrogance after they eliminated Ireland including disgraceful mocking of 50,000 Irish fans in Stade de France after the final whistle whistle last Saturday by NZ.
They get the distinct advantage of being allowed a local cultural custom ‘the Haka’ which opponents and fans must stand passively and observe. If players or fans dare to challenge it they are liable to be spear takled or like last Saturday mocked for ‘disprespecting’ the Haka.
Well done on their success on the rugby field but quite an arrogant nasty bunch off it if they deem you a threat.
Another strong game by Kane, working in the trenches executing the dark arts. Man on fire🔥
100% kwiisetve