‘Taking steps in the right direction’: All Blacks continue to build ahead of RWC
This time last year, the All Blacks were a team under pressure. While there’s always an element of expectation hanging over this side, the level of criticism that they received was something else.
Following a disastrous series loss to Ireland in New Zealand, and defeats to both South Africa and Argentina during The Rugby Championship, the All Blacks came under fire.
But, eventually, things took a turn in the right direction.
The All Blacks dominated Los Pumas in Hamilton, and survived a scare against Australia in Melbourne. New Zealand went on eight-Test unbeaten run to finish their campaign.
But as the old adage goes, a week is a long time in rugby. So, with the All Blacks playing their first Test since the Autumn Nations Series this weekend, the time away has felt like an eternity.
But the All Blacks were practically flawless to open their 2023 season.
The New Zealanders recorded an emphatic 41-12 win over Argentina in Mendoza, and it’s a result that left coach Ian Foster “quite happy.”
“We’ve grown but let’s face it, it’s a new year, it’s game one. Really pleased with our start against a team that we have a lot of respect for and deservedly so,” Foster told reporters in Mendoza.
“We’ll take it. We’ve got to prove that we are still growing from here.
“That’s the beauty of Test match rugby, isn’t it? Each week is a different challenge but overall I think we’re taking steps in the right direction.”
Playing in Mendoza, the All Blacks overcame a shaky start as they took control of their Rugby Championship opener.
Damian McKenzie had a kicked charged down by Pablo Matera after about 20 seconds and this nearly led to a try, but once they settled, the All Blacks went on a 31 -point blitz in the opening half.
“First Test, you’re always a little bit nervous. I think I said before the game there was a bit of a nervous excitement about where you’re at,” Foster said.
“That applies to both teams. They’ve had their challenges.
“For us to go out there and play, particularly with tempo and pace and intensity in that first half was really critical for us, and I thought we did it really, really well. I thought it took the game away from them.
“I really liked our efficiency in that part.”
While Los Pumas fought valiantly in the second term, the visitors never looked like surrendering their lead.
But with next weekend’s clash with fierce rivals South Africa just around the corner, the All Blacks can still get better - and they may very well need to.
“We lost the second half in the end, we made a lot of tackles in the second half.
“We probably weren’t as efficient with some of our opportunities and we probably couldn’t put them under sustained pressure.
“I think that’s a little bit from us and probably a lot from them.
“Overall I think there’s some real pleasing stuff there and in many ways having to have a strong defensive effort in that Test, I think, will bode well for us going forward.”
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> It would be best described as an elegant solution to what was potentially going to be a significant problem for new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson. It is a problem the mad population of New Zealand will have to cope with more and more as All Blacks are able to continue their careers in NZ post RWCs. It will not be a problem for coaches, who are always going to start a campaign with the captain for the next WC in mind. > Cane, despite his warrior spirit, his undoubted commitment to every team he played for and unforgettable heroics against Ireland in last year’s World Cup quarter-final, was never unanimously admired or respected within New Zealand while he was in the role. Neither was McCaw, he was considered far too passive a captain and then out of form until his last world cup where everyone opinions changed, just like they would have if Cane had won the WC. > It was never easy to see where Cane, or even if, he would fit into Robertson’s squad given the new coach will want to be building a new-look team with 2027 in mind. > Cane will win his selections on merit and come the end of the year, he’ll sign off, he hopes, with 100 caps and maybe even, at last, universal public appreciation for what was a special career. No, he won’t. Those returning from Japan have already earned the right to retain their jersey, it’s in their contract. Cane would have been playing against England if he was ready, and found it very hard to keep his place. Perform, and they keep it however. Very easy to see where Cane could have fit, very hard to see how he could have accomplished it choosing this year as his sabbatical instead of 2025, and that’s how it played out (though I assume we now know what when NZR said they were allowing him to move his sabbatical forward and return to NZ next year, they had actually agreed to simply select him for the All Blacks from overseas, without any chance he was going to play in NZ again). With a mammoth season of 15 All Black games they might as well get some value out of his years contract, though even with him being of equal character to Richie, I don’t think they should guarantee him his 100 caps. That’s not what the All Blacks should be about. He absolutely has to play winning football.
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