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Former Wallaby great calls for more support for faltering All Blacks
By Sam Smith
Former Wallaby great Matt Giteau has called for more support behind the embattled All Blacks as they go through a historic rough period.
Giteau, who played for Australia 103 times over his 14-year international career, took aim at ‘keyboard warriors’ and said the All Blacks should be respected during this tough time.
The former Wallaby playmaker took to Twitter to call for more support behind the All Blacks.
“Results aside, I’d love to see the support of All Blacks in tougher times stronger,” he wrote.
“This team has been so dominant in world rugby for so many years that a few games shouldn’t change the support they receive nor should it warrant the constant criticism from the keyboard warriors.”
The All Blacks were defeated 25-18 by a physical Los Pumas side in Christchurch which made history on multiple fronts.
The victory was the first by Argentina on New Zealand soil after breaking their duck in Sydney two years ago by a similar score 25-15.
For the All Blacks, it was the first time they have lost three tests in a row on home soil after losing the final two tests to Ireland in July.
The historically lean run extends back to the end of year tour with losses to Ireland and France.
They have won just two of their last eight tests which has heaped pressure on head coach Ian Foster.
New Zealand rugby writer Marc Hinton said it is ‘time to face reality’ for an All Black group that is past it.
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Recent complaints that SA players have a 12-month workload isn't of itself a credible enough excuse to lay at the door of EPCR administrators. If SA clubs want to participate in NH league and club competitions and also participate in SH internationals, then clearly something has to give.
From the EPCR perspective, I do think that the format/schedule issues can be fixed if there's a strong enough desire to remove some of the logistical challenges clubs are facing with these long and frequent trips across the hemispheres.
From the SA player workload perspective however, I'm not sure how players can participate safely and competitively at both the club and international levels. Perhaps - and as Rassie appears to be developing, SA develop a super squad with sufficient player numbers and rotation to allow players to compete across the full 12-month calendar.
Bottom line though, is the geographical isolation is always going to restrict SA's ability to having the best of both worlds.
Go to commentsMoriaty refused to play for wales also he’s injured, France’s is being coy about wales, North in the dark but Sam David and jerad are you joking their not good enough
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