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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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Latest Comments
So if this ain’t the best Irish team ever then who exactly is? I don’t remember any other Irish team being this good & winning a series in the Land of the Long White Cloud. Yes I may rip them often for 8 X QF RWC exits & twice not even making it to the QF, but they’re a damn good team who many think can only improve, including me!
Go to commentsNot a squeek out of Leinster for weeks about this match. So quiet. The first team have been quitely building for this encounter under Nienaber’s direction. All fresh, all highly motivated. They are expecting a season’s best performance from Northhampton. They will match that. They will be fresher and apparently they will have 80,000 out of the 83,000 shouting for them. I do expect Northhampton to turn up big time. Not to be missed. On a tangent it is evident how the loss of a few Premiership teams has in some respect helped other Premiership teams and England. More quality over less teams makes the teams better, which has a knock on effect on England. Not the only factor contributing to England’s rise but one of them.
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