Coach hits back over tackle
Have faith in the system, Foster tells social media critics over Read footage
All Blacks assistant coach Ian Foster warned of trial by social media after an incident involving captain Kieran Read drew criticism online. Read’s arm connected with PieterSteph du Toit’s neck area during the All Blacks’ opening Rugby World Cup game against South Africa in Yokohama on Saturday.
After that more footage emerged of prop Joe Moody in at least two incidents of perceived foul play.
In one, Moody can be seen making contact with the back of hooker Malcolm Marx’s head in a no-arms tackle.
The Read incident early in the second half drew a variety of reactions on social media, with a clip showing Read trying to stop du Toit charging through a lineout to get to halfback Aaron Smith and contacting him around the neck.
“I saw it,” Foster said of the incident. “I think the game needs to be reassured that we’re probably at the most scrutinised World Cup ever.
“There are a lot of cameras on that people are looking at and citing commissioners and television match officials. I think we’ve just got to have a bit of faith in that programme rather than reacting to social media.”
The only citing of the tournament so far has been that of Wallabies wing Reece Hodge for a shoulder to the head of Fiji flanker Peceli Yato in Australia’s 39-21 win in Sapporo. That drew the ire of Wallabies coach Michael Cheika who accused Fiji of not acting “in the spirit of the game at all”. His view was the incident was dealt with at the time.
The All Blacks won’t dwell on the incidents involving Read and Moody as they have other matters to focus on; primarily a trip today to Beppu on the southern island of Kyushu where they will prepare to play Canada at Oita on October 2.
They are happy performance-wise and are preparing to welcome back Brodie Retallick following his recovery from a dislocated shoulder. They won’t put a date on his return, but his involvement in their third pool game against Namibia in Tokyo on October 6 wouldn’t surprise.
Foster said he was happy with his side’s ambition and creativity against the Boks and the next phase of the tournament would be to improve the game understanding and connections between players on the field.
“The reality is we’ve got three more opportunities to hone our game and get it to the point we need it to be at,” Foster said. “We’re going to go into this Canada and Namibia phase to really grow confidence in some parts of our game that are still not quite right. World Cups are about living your standards daily.
“The minute we think we’ve had one good game and made it then we’re going to get smacked.”
Already it appears the All Blacks have dodged a potential bullet by beating South Africa after Ireland’s 27-3 win over Scotland on Sunday. As it stands, the All Blacks are likely to play the Scots in their quarter-final, with an ominous looking Ireland, the probable Pool A winners, playing South Africa in theirs.
Ireland calmly and efficiently dismantled Scotland with Foster describing them as “ruthless”.
“They did what they had to do in those [wet] conditions. It was a big game for them. I thought there was a lot in that game early but Ireland obviously just wore them down [methodically] . . . They went to their areas of strength — their lineout drive — they’ll be pretty satisfied.”
I think the game needs to be reassured that we’re probably at the most scrutinised World Cup ever. Ian Foster, assistant All Blacks coach