Struggling New Zealand declared on Sunday they must play a more conservative game against rugby’s all-out attacking ‘All Blacks DNA’, with the team no longer relying on a ball-in-hand style. Said he couldn’t.
Saturday’s 25-18 Rugby Championship loss to belligerent Argentina in Christchurch saw the All Blacks suffer their sixth defeat in eight tests and the Pumas’ historic first victory in New Zealand. I was.
It comes just 10 days after the New Zealand Rugby Board voted unanimously to retain Foster as manager until the end of the 2023 World Cup.
Foster said it was clear that under the current rules the team was adept at closing the vast rugby field, which contributed to New Zealand’s slip.
The Pumas were content to build a defensive wall that slowed New Zealand’s ruck ball and made 195 tackles, more than double the home team’s, despite playing less than 40% possession and territory. did.
Against all chances New Zealand scored just two crosses, but Argentine winger Emiliano Bofferi scored six penalties to score a try for his team.
“I’ve done a lot of research on losing games over the last decade and there’s a similar pattern to trying to keep the ball and get out of trouble,” Foster told journalists on Sunday.
“Argentina stayed in the game, stuck to their All Blacks DNA, tried to play, tried to get through a very strong defensive line. .”
New Zealand have been ranked among the best teams in the world over the last two decades, largely due to their vast game, instinctive try-scoring and willingness to keep the ball alive.
Foster said it would be difficult for athletes to change lifelong habits.
– “It’s not easy to fix” –
“I don’t want to. We want to play our match, but we have to respect our opponents more,” he said.
“Obviously it’s not going to be easy to work out. You obviously want to go[to running rugby]under pressure, but you have to use a little more wisdom to find the balance.”
Foster confirmed he had spoken to New Zealand Rugby chief executive Mark Robinson after the recent defeat and said he will wait another week before Saturday’s second Test against Argentina in Hamilton. was expected to face intense public scrutiny.
“Of course it’s part of my job,” said Foster.
“I need all the support I can get right now because it hurts. If people want to be angry, that’s their choice, but now is the time to stand by this team.”
“It’s certainly frustrating for our fans and for us, but we believe some of what we’re building is paying off.”
New Zealand could strengthen next week with up to four experienced players returning to fitness.
Rock Brody rhetoric and props Nepo Laurala and Ofa Tungafasi played for state teams over the weekend and will be evaluated when they return to the squad on Monday
The influential Letteric hasn’t played since breaking his cheekbone in the Third Test against Ireland six weeks ago.
It is also hoped that flyhalf Bowden Barrett can fix the neck problem that left him out of the Christchurch test.
