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Ian Foster address injury rumours to key All Black before World Cup final
By Finn Morton
All Blacks coach Ian Foster has unequivocally dismissed rumours of an injury to star playmaker Richie Mo’unga ahead of this weekend’s Rugby World Cup final at Stade de France.
New Zealand Herald journalist Liam Napier had heard “injury whispers” of what would’ve been a game-changing injury in the lead-up to the decider. Stuff also mentioned the rumour in one of their pieces this week.
There was also an extensive Reddit thread as fans began to spread the news like wildfire mere days out from the biggest game on the men’s rugby calendar. But if Mo’unga is injured, then that’s news to coach Foster.
After unveiling the All Blacks team for the Rugby World Cup final, coach Foster offered a smile to a room of reporters as he put any rumours of Mo’unga’s readiness to rest.
“I was very interested to read that. I haven’t heard that from our medical staff, so he is good to go,” Foster said on Thursday.
“10s are key, they always are in big games, but we like to take the pressure off one person by the guys in front of them doing their jobs, our nine giving good service. There are lots of different pictures you see outside your 10 too.
“But Richie is in a great spot, he is leading the team well, he has a smile on his face and is uninjured.”
With both teams looking to win a record fourth Rugby World Cup title, the All Blacks and Springboks will write another unmissable chapter into the history books of their rivalry.
Both coach Foster and captain Sam Cane know what it takes to win the sport’s biggest prize, with the pair contributing to the All Blacks’ triumph at the 2015 tournament in England.
But there’s something a bit different about this Test. The All Blacks were written off by many coming into the Rugby World Cup, and it’s their arch-rivals who stand in their way of eternal glory.
“Yeah, big. That’s what World Cup finals are about. This is our second one we’ve been to. I don’t think there’s ever a small one. The fact is we have two teams who have been old foes for a long time,” Foster added.
“We all remember the last final between us [in 1995], which was an epic, and hopefully this one will be the same. Then you do the maths and someone is going to win a fourth, so it’s special isn’t it?
“We’ve got massive regard for each other, massive respect for them as country in how they play. It’s a pretty cool one to get ready for.”
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Latest Comments
This headline is clickbait nonsense - sure the Aussies can have a laugh at the weekend’s results - when you’ve been as bad as they have for the last 20 years, all you can do is laugh.
If Aussie teams win the next 20 Super Rugby titles and don’t have half of their players from NZ, then we can revisit this.
Go to comments2027 is the target year for England to have transitioned for the RWC. You highlight an systemic blight of the heart of the game in England, consistent failure to give youth its spurs in a meaningful sense. Sure it comes through in dribs and drabs but no wonder France is where they are now, they have brought through the U20s players en masse over the past 4-5 years. Bielle-Biarey, 21, France debut 2023, 18 caps and 17 tries. England did have similar with Arundell (untrusted at RWC 23 despite being top try scorer for England) and aware that Kpoku (like J Willis) is ineligible due to ridiculous, artificial rules.
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