A day after the All Blacks suffered a tragedy in Christchurch, their first ever home defeat to Argentina, head coach Ian Foster has urged the public to rally behind the squad, saying everyone involved is in pain.
The Pumas’ 25-18 triumph, completely earned for their second-half defensive effort in particular, adds to Foster and his team’s lengthy list of unfavourable records.
It was the All Blacks’ sixth defeat in their past eight matches and the first time they had lost three Tests in a row at home.
Foster and the All Blacks will now travel to Hamilton for another Test against Argentina on Saturday, with an overall Rugby Championship victory still possible following Australia’s win over South Africa in Adelaide, but with more questions about the direction this squad is taking and the messages it is receiving.
On Saturday night, in the immediate aftermath of the loss, Foster and skipper Sam Cane expressed their disappointment at the All Blacks’ lack of calmness in the face of Pumas pressure.
Cheika, the coach of the Pumas, has twisted the knife by complimenting the ‘excellent’ Crusaders.
There are few specifics, only talk of reconstruction, progress, and disillusionment.
Foster emphasised his team’s misplaced resolve to run their way out of difficulties on Sunday, saying it was in their DNA but that they needed to respect the opponent a little more.
But first, there’s the agony of another defeat.
“I’m sure it’s irritating for the viewers and supporters, and it’s stressful for us,” Foster added. “We have a lot of trust that some of the things we’re constructing will pay off, but it has to happen soon.” We are aware of this.”
When asked if the scrutiny will return in the following seven days, Foster, who had a respite from his bosses when his team rallied to defeat the Boks in Johannesburg a fortnight ago, said, “Of course, of course.” That’s probably part of my work right now.
“My only desire is that we sell out Orangetheory Stadium, and I think the crowd’s reaction to the squad afterwards was wonderful.” We simply need as much help as we can get right now. It’s painful… and people have the right to be outraged.”
Unfortunately for New Zealand Rugby and Foster and company, there will be anger; anger at the All Blacks’ failure to capitalise on their halftime lead and forward dominance against a Pumas team that had offered little on attack, and anger at the head coach earning a reprieve in the first place, only to fail again at the home of local favourite Scott Robertson.
Foster is once again in the spotlight as the All Blacks lose a lead against the Pumas.
The Pumas gained the lead for the first time with roughly 30 minutes remaining, with to Juan Martin Gonzalez’s converted try, and added to it with two more penalties. They just hung on against an All Black squad that shattered like a wave against a blue and white seawall.
Foster was frustrated by the lack of diversity on attack, but it was evident that the team’s backline leaders, including halfback Aaron Smith, first-five Richie Mo’unga, and the midfield of David Havili and Rieko Ioane, failed to ask the proper questions of the Argentine defence.
“I lingered quite a bit,” Foster said of the outcome and performance. “I’ve been there.” We were clearly dominant early on. We got ourselves into a situation in the final 30 minutes where I thought Argentina stayed in the game, put us under a lot of defensive pressure, and we kept, I suppose, to the All Black DNA.
“We attempted to play and carry our way past a pretty tough defensive line, and we need to be wiser about how we provide variation around that.”
“It appears like we are moving two steps ahead and then one step back, which is disappointing.” We’re attempting to develop some new things there, but we’ll simply have to keep at it.”
“We’ve got to look at that final quarter and our response to opponents that seek to suffocate us,” he continued. We’ve done a lot of study on the games we’ve lost over the previous decade, and there’s a similar pattern in our DNA – we want to keep the ball and run our way out of danger. It’s probably a New Zealand rugby issue, and we need to figure it out.
“It’s not going to be easy to cure.” It was a strength in the first half. We were putting them through a lot of tackles.”
Hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho, a first-half try scorer, was one of the few to escape with his reputation boosted, and loose forwards Shannon Frizell and Ardie Savea carried the ball with purpose in the first half.
Ioane and Jordie Barrett linked well for Caleb Clarke’s try, but there were few other offensive highlights, and Mo’unga, other from a promising run out of defence, was ineffective.
Skipper Sam Cane, who was removed late in the game, will be the target of popular outrage once more. He was defensively active but did not carry efficiently, putting greater pressure on Frizell and Savea.
“Obviously, he’s in the limelight,” Foster said of Cane. “When things don’t go well, we’re all in the limelight.” But powerful behind the scenes. “I think a lot of his tackling and work around the breakdown was a step better from the previous two games, and we’re happy with that.”
Foster stated that NZ Rugby chief Mark Robinson, who is on vacation in Australia, had contacted him overnight.
Lock Brodie Retallick, props Nepo Laulala and Ofa Tu’ungafasi, and Beauden Barrett, who trained well on Saturday, may all be in the mix for the encounter at Waikato Stadium, he added.
Foster will return to the comforts of home this week, but attempting to spark his team’s assault for their second go against the Pumas may cause him a few restless nights, and another defeat after being granted safe passage till the World Cup would add a whole new level of drama.
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