Bledisloe tougher than World Cup: Genia
He’s far from gone from this squad and we would love to see him come back in again pretty soon.
All Blacks assistant coach Ian Foster believes Vaea Fifita may have a case of message received — but not quite understood. The 26-year-old Fifita was the shock omission from the All Blacks’ Rugby Championship squad and yesterday said he felt he hadn’t been given a truthful answer as to why.
Fifita said he couldn’t understand why he was told he needed to play at blindside to be picked there by the All Blacks, yet Jackson Hemopo, who was a regular lock for the Highlanders, has replaced him in the national squad.
“He [All Blacks coach Steve Hansen] told me that [Fifita needed to be playing at blindside flanker],” Fifita told Stuff.
“But when I saw he got interviewed and he said he signed Hemopo to six, not lock, I kind of feel like he’s not telling me the truth. But that’s life.”
It’s the sort of accusation that Wallabies coach Michael Cheika is sure to pick up on this week ahead of the first Bledisloe Cup test in Sydney on Saturday and use to try to create some disharmony in the All Blacks camp.
No doubt with that in mind, Foster yesterday tried to diffuse Fifita’s comments by suggesting the 26-yearold remains firmly in the All Blacks’ sights and the expectation is that he will return to the squad in the nottoo-distant future.
“It’s understandable that players are disappointed and probably don’t hear things at certain times,” said Foster.
“We love Vaea. He went through a mixed Super Rugby season mainly playing at lock and we felt it was time for him to actually spend a bit more time at six to get to know that role really, really well.
“It’s our intention that he’s far from gone from this squad and we would love to see him come back in again pretty soon and if he hasn’t quite understood that, then we will go and clear that up with him.”
Foster also confirmed that while the Richie Mo’unga v Beauden Barrett debate may have raged outside the camp, it hasn’t been one to engross the selectors.
“Have I spent any extra time with him [Mo’unga]? No. You get lots of chatter in this game, don’t you? It comes and goes and I see the chatter Ian Foster on Vaea Fifita
as being positive as about Richie.
“We have been able to grow the last 12 months to the point where we now have three 10s that we are pretty excited about. The fact Richie has put his hand up and nailed a great campaign and had his first test in June is a massive positive for us.
“I don’t think that impacts on Beaudy. He has just got to do what he does and he’s done an amazing job for this team in the last year — well, ever since he came into the squad. They will push each other and generate pressure on each other and that is positive for us.”
Barrett wouldn’t have been fazed by suggestions he make way for Mo’unga, Foster said.
“I have known him for a long time and he’s done nothing but impress me with the way he prepares to play the game. No 10s have a lot of pressure and they make a lot of decisions and they influence the game a lot and the way he goes about preparing, he’s at peace with himself and who he is.” it is actually The Bledisloe Cup is the pinnacle of test rugby, outstripping the World Cup in importance. That’s the extraordinary view of Wallabies veteran Will Genia, as Australia sets about winning the transtasman trophy for the first time since 2002.
The 30-year-old, with 90 tests and two World Cup tournaments under his belt, said trying to win a best-ofthree series against the No 1 team was rugby’s premier task.
“I haven’t won a World Cup, so I am not going to say it’s harder, but for me, it’s the No 1 priority,” Genia told rugby.com.au, days out from the first test in Sydney.
“They are the best team in the world for the last 15-20 years, they’re back-to-back World Cup winners, you have to beat them two times out of three to win it. For me, that makes it incredibly difficult and also will make it incredibly special if we are fortunate enough to do it.
“I can only say from my point of view and I would have to say it’s the pinnacle. The World Cup is obviously up there but how often do you get to play the best team in the world and have to win two out of three to win a trophy? I have been trying for a while now. Really looking forward to another crack.”
Australia’s best Bledisloe results since 2002 have been drawn series in 2004 and 2007. It has been best of three since 2008, during which the Australians have won five, drawn two and lost 24 tests. The big problem for Australia is the All Blacks rarely lose twice to the same team in a year.
Genia said “making sure you are in their faces for the entire 80 minutes” was the key.
“They’re a good team that if you give them an opportunity, if you give them a sniff, they take it, whether it is in defence or attack. Just being relentless in terms of the pressure you apply on them, with the ball and without the ball.
“And just bringing that physicality as well. That was a big trademark of our game when we played them last year in Brisbane.”
Genia said the Wallabies’ practice match against an Australian invitational team “probably helps”.
“[We are] physically in a lot better condition coming into this week than we were last year.”