ABs get defensive over Springboks
Cracking the defensive code of the Springboks will be crucial to the All Blacks’ chances of winning their Rugby World Cup opener in Japan.
The clash between the two heavyweights will highlight the opening weekend of the tournament as defending champions New Zealand take on a resurgent South African side.
All Blacks assistant coach Ian Foster was quick to talk up the defensive qualities of the Springboks as he looked into Saturday night’s match at Yokohama (9.45pm NZ time).
Foster acknowledged the improvement since Rassie Erasmus took control last season with the All Blacks and Springboks having shared three matches – a win each and a draw. The Boks even managed to claw the Rugby Championship away from the All Blacks on the eve of the World Cup.
‘‘They’ve obviously bought into a plan which is largely a plan of defence first and they’re getting a lot of confidence that prevents the other team from attacking well,’’ Foster told a media conference in Japan.
New Zealand’s tries against South Africa have slowly dried up. The All Blacks scored six in losing a Wellington thriller 36-34 last year. The All Blacks scored four tries in getting a 32-30 revenge in Pretoria three weeks
later. But New Zealand managed just one try as the teams drew 16-16 in Wellington this year.
Foster wasn’t about to concede advantage to the Boks at this crucial stage.
‘‘There’s been some awesome games between us and I don’t agree they’ve had the wood on us recently when you look at the results,’’ Foster said.
‘‘In Wellington, we conceded a last-second try and conceded a draw. We had some good possessions against them. But, certainly, we need to lift.
‘‘They’ll be feeling confident, they think they’ve got a formula and I guess we’ve got to prove we’ve learned some lessons too.
‘‘Clearly they’re a team that believe in what they’re doing and that’s kind of what you’d expect from a top country out at a World Cup. The last two years they’ve prepared well but I’d like to think so have we.’’
The All Blacks have never lost a pool match in the history of the World Cup and take that winning mindset into this match.
A loss won’t be catastrophic in terms of progressing from Pool B that also has Italy, Namibia and Canada involved.
But the All Blacks, who have won three World Cups overall and are looking for a third consecutive title in Japan, know it’s a huge opportunity to make a statement against a Boks team that is increasingly seen as their main rival to the title in Japan.
‘‘We all know the importance of the game and that doesn’t mean that you’re finished if you don’t get the result, of course it doesn’t. But that’s not the way we’re thinking.
‘‘We’re thinking this is an outstanding opportunity to go out there and test ourselves straightaway in this championship,’’ Foster said.
‘‘I don’t agree they’ve had the wood on us recently when you look at the results.’’
Ian Foster