Jacques Nieber – Michmutters
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All Blacks beat Springboks, New Zealand Rugby CEO calls press conference, Ian Foster, Mark Robinson

Under-fire All Blacks coach Ian Foster praised his team and criticized the New Zealand media after a 35-23 triumph over South Africa in The Rugby Championship in Johannesburg.

The second-round victory halted a horror run in which New Zealand lost five of six matches, including three to Ireland and one each to France and South Africa.

Some pre-match media reports claimed a second loss to the Springboks within a week would lead to Foster quitting or being sacked. The victory still might not save his career from him, with New Zealand Rugby CEO Mark Robinson calling for an afternoon press conference.

In his post-match interview on field, Foster was asked whether he expected to continue coaching the All Blacks throughout the Rugby Championship.

Foster responded by saying he had “no idea”.

New Zealand Rugby CEO Mark Robinson will front the media on Sunday afternoon. Photo: AFPSource: AFP

A South African columnist also labeled the visiting team “Foster’s Impostors”.

“It (media criticism) comes with the job, but it has been a pretty vicious onslaught, particularly from the New Zealand media,” Foster told reporters.

“Calling them ‘popgun selections’ I feel is quite insulting to players who are giving their all for the country. But these times are the best test of character.

“I’m intensely proud of the performance. I could not be more proud. To do that at altitude with the game swinging around — there were times we could have won and times we could have lost.

“It was 0-0 for a long time and you could feel it was a real arm-wrestle, but that is what South Africa are like here.

“You have to bide your time and we wanted to target the second half and tired legs with the way we wanted to play.”

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New Zealand’s flanker and captain Sam Cane (C) holds the ‘Freedom Cup’ after the All Blacks beat the Springboks at Ellis Park. Photo: AFPSource: AFP

All Blacks skipper Sam Cane has also been under constant media fire, with some questioning not only his leadership skills, but whether he has served a starting place.

“Adversity really challenges your character and this group has got plenty of character,” said try-scorer Cane.

“There has never been a question of how much we care or how much we want it,” he added.

Springboks coach Jacques Nienaber said they lost for a sixth time in 15 Tests against the All Blacks at Ellis Park because they failed to reproduce the form that brought a 26-10 win last weekend.

“We did not control the game in the first half, we were not as accurate as last week. So they kept offloading, taking high-risk options, but we did not contain them.

“We did well to come back, but then they controlled the game again until the end. Generally they control the set-pieces and the kicking game. Our kicks were not accurate enough.”

South Africa captain Siya Kolisi said “it does not feel good at all to lose, especially to our great rivals.

“We have been saying all week that the All Blacks just need one moment to click. They really imposed their game on us and they came with a lot of energy today.

“They were very good at the breakdown, they were a little more accurate than us and cleaned us out there. Especially when we were gaining momentum, they were quicker than us to get there.”

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Rugby news 2022: Springbok triumph adds to woes of embattled All Blacks, South Africa vs New Zealand score

South Africa has defeated New Zealand 26-10 on Sunday morning AEST in the Rugby Championship opener in Mbombela, adding to the woes of the embattled All Blacks.

New Zealand flew to South Africa having lost four of their previous five matches amid calls for coach Ian Foster and captain Sam Cane to be sacked.

Foster and Cane will now know that another defeat to the arch foes when the teams clash again next Saturday in Johannesburg will almost certainly spell the end for both of them.

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The ferocity of the Springboks constantly unsettled the All Blacks, who were lucky to trail only 10-3 at halftime having been outplayed in the opening 40 minutes.

New Zealand did win more possession in the second half but basic errors cost them and their only try, from replacement loose forward Shannon Frizell, arrived when South Africa were reduced to 14 men.

Winger Kurt-Lee Arendse, scorer of the first South African try, was red-carded on 75 minutes after fouling airborne fly-half Beauden Barrett.

“It was exactly what we wanted. We wanted to be upfront,” said South Africa captain and flanker Siya Kolisi.

“Our high balls were good. We did all the things we wanted to do. We made the tackles, we know how dangerous they can be. They have a couple of players who can break the game open at any time.”

Under-fire Cane said: “A lot of credit has to go to the Springboks, especially the way they played in the first half. They threw a heck of a lot at us. We did well to absorb that but it took a lot out of us.

“They are extremely good at applying pressure. Their kicking game was good, they probably won that as well.”

South African hooker Malcolm Marx was warmly greeted by the sellout 42,367 crowd in recognition of him winning his 50th cap when he ran on to the field ahead of his teammates in the northeastern city.

There was a dramatic start to the southern hemisphere championship opener with Springboks scrum-half Faf de Klerk knocked out after his head struck the knee of All Blacks wing Caleb Clarke.

De Klerk had to be stretched off, but received lengthy applause when he appeared on the sideline midway through the opening half having failed a head injury assessment test.

Inexperienced Jaden Hendrikse, who debuted in a home series against Wales last month, replaced de Klerk just 43 seconds into the match.

Fired-up South Africa dominated early possession and territory and went ahead on eight minutes when Arendse scored his first try for the reigning world champions in only his second appearance.

The New Zealand defense failed to grasp a lofted kick from fly-half Handre Pollard and center Lukhanyo Am fed Arendse, who raced over the tryline.

Unpredictable goal-kicker Pollard did well to convert from the touchline and increased the lead to 10 points on 22 minutes by slotting a close-range penalty.

There was a sudden change of momentum as halftime approached with New Zealand, helped by a steadier scrum, awarded four penalties in quick succession.

Fullback Jordie Barrett, one of three brothers in the All Blacks starting line-up, converted one of the penalties on 36 minutes to narrow the gap to seven points and it remained 10-3 until halftime.

In the build-up to the match, Springboks coach Jacques Nienaber had emphasized the need to translate dominance into points and will have been disappointed that his team were only seven points in front.

He would have been thrilled with the performance of Marx, though, as the Japan-based front-rower won several turnovers and figured constantly in assaults on the All Blacks.

In the second half, Pollard kicked two penalties and a drop goal to give the home team a 19-3 lead before both teams scored late tries.

Frizell dived over in the corner and fellow substitute Richie Mo’unga converted, then replacement back Willie le Roux scored beside the post and Pollard converted for a personal tally of 16 points.

– AFP

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All Blacks lose to Springboks, Ian Foster, score, result, highlights

Under-fire New Zealand rugby coach Ian Foster said he believed his All Blacks team took “a step up” despite losing 26-10 to South Africa in the Rugby Championship opener in Mbombela on Saturday.

Foster, under pressure after the All Blacks lost a home series against Ireland last month, said there had been encouraging aspects in the latest performance.

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The New Zealand team performs the Haka as South African players look on at the Mbombela Stadium in Mbombela on August 6, 2022. Photo: AFPSource: AFP

The loss to the Springboks was the fifth in six matches after three defeats by Ireland and another by France.

Foster has lost nine of 25 matches in charge of the three-time world champions while predecessor Steve Hansen suffered 10 defeats in 107 Tests.

An All Blacks assistant coach during the eight-year reign of Hansen, Foster was a controversial appointment ahead of Canterbury Crusaders coach Scott Robertson.

“It was a step up from our last series,” said Foster.

“The lineout worked well, our maul defense was good and our overall defense was pretty solid but the timing in terms of attack was a bit off.”

Kurt-Lee Arendse of South Africa scores against the All Blacks at Mbombela Stadium on August 06, 2022 in Nelspruit, South Africa. Photo: Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images

He said a string of penalties conceded by the All Blacks in the first 20 minutes had hurt his team.

“I felt we were not getting the rub of the green in the first 20 minutes, so that put us behind a little.”

He said the third quarter of the match, after the All Blacks were fortunate to trail only 10-3 at half-time, it was critical.

“We had to get back into the game but all the Springboks did carry hard and clean hard and earn a couple of penalties. Good on them, that is their game. It is a pressure game.” Foster acknowledged that the intensity of the match played in front of a passionate sell-out home crowd of 42,367 had affected some of the new players in the touring squad.

“Some of our guys who are here for the first time — that is what you have to go through and experience.”

Ian Foster (C) is under huge pressure after the All Blacks lost three straight matches. Photo: AFPSource: AFP

Foster said that although there was not much time before a second-round match against the Springboks at Ellis Park in Johannesburg next Saturday, he was confident of an improved performance.

“As the game unfolded, a few opportunities opened up. There were some handling errors but we made a few good strides. But we have to provide it next week.”

SuperSport TV analyst and former Springbok captain and hooker John Smit said it had been a “commanding performance” by the home team.

“We won the kicking game and the error game. This is a Springbok team that knows what they do well and they stick to it.”

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