Statistics not everything: Foster
WELLINGTON: All Blacks coach Ian Foster will not concede his players, beaten in almost every statistical division, were secondbest to the Wallabies in the drawn opening Bledisloe Cup test on Sunday.
The Wallabies bested the All Blacks in metres gained (525483), carries (15391), and passes (190122). They also conceded fewer turnovers (2012) and were forced into fewer tackles (202105).
Dave Rennie’s side could not make that count where it mattered: on the scoreboard.
From the opening whistle, the Wallabies were up for the contest and were unfortunate to go behind on nine minutes through Jordie Barrett’s opening try.
Foster said the scoreboard advantage, which the All Blacks held until late in the contest, flavoured the statistics and Australia was not the better side.
‘‘I’m not a great believer that possession is the allimportant stat,’’ he said.
‘‘We ... scored a try and it was really well executed but we were only holding the ball for 20 seconds.
‘‘So it’s not always a great indicator but I think it swung too far in their way.’’
The contest has sparked hopes for a closely fought Bledisloe Cup, though Foster, a longterm All Blacks assistant, does not share them.
‘‘I kind of liked it the way it was,’’ Foster said, referring to the 17 straight New Zealand wins, many with him involved.
After the match, Foster invited the Wallabies, including captain Michael Hooper on the occasion of his 100th test, into the All Blacks change rooms. ‘‘We had a great time.
‘‘We presented something to Michael on his 100th test match.
‘‘Players themselves, they know everything that goes into that.
‘‘There was a great feeling in the sheds afterwards and there’s a lot of mutual respect there ... we want this to be the way these two countries behave.’’
The fourtest series moves now to Eden Park, where New Zealand holds a formidable record. The All Blacks are unbeaten in 43 matches there dating to 1994. — AAP