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

New Zealand Rugby CEO Mark Robinson has called a press conference with All Blacks coach Ian Foster’s future hanging in the balance. Photo: Getty Images

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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All Blacks beat Springboks to save Ian Foster’s job, highlights, report

The All Blacks celebrate defeating the Springboks at Emirates Airline Park on August 13, 2022 in Johannesburg. Photo: Getty Images

New Zealand ended a three-match losing streak with a 35-23 Rugby Championship second-round win over South Africa at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on Saturday.

A last-minute try by lock Scott Barrett sealed victory for the All Blacks after a thriller, and may have saved the job of embattled coach Ian Foster.

Foster has been under fire after five losses in six matches ahead of the Johannesburg showdown, including a 16-point loss to Rugby World Cup champions the Springboks last weekend.

But a much-improved All Blacks side turned the tables after a thriller in which South Africa led by one point with six minutes remaining before conceding two converted tries.

New Zealand’s coach Ian Foster (C) embraces Aaron Smith as they celebrate after victory in South Africa in Johannesburg on August 13, 2022. Photo: AFPSource: AFP

New Zealand recovered from a poor start, with full-back Jordie Barrett knocking on within 40 seconds, to control the early stages.

South Africa suffered an early blow with only 10 minutes gone when groggy winger Jesse Kriel was forced to retire and veteran full-back Willie le Roux came on.

Fortunately for full-back Damian Willemse, there was no score as he sat on the touchline due to a yellow card while a sell-out 61,519 crowd roared on the home side.

The first points in an arm wrestle came on 25 minutes when recalled fly-half Richie Mo’unga slotted a penalty for the visitors.

His successful kick triggered a period of away dominance in which captain and flanker Sam Cane and hooker Samson Taukei’aho scored tries, the second of which Mo’unga converted.

– South African concerns –

When New Zealand moved the ball wide, winger Will Jordan sent Cane over in the corner for his second try against South Africa.

Taukei’aho then used his strength to power over from close range and this time Mo’unga split the posts with his kick for a 15-point lead five minutes before half-time.

New Zealand’s lock Scott Barrett reacts against South Africa at Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg on August 13, 2022. Photo: AFPSource: AFP

An indication of South Africa’s concerns was a series of the first-half substitutions with hooker Malcolm Marx, prop Steven Kitshoff and No. 8 Jasper Wiese introduced.

The hosts needed to score quickly, and they did with center Lukhanyo Am diving over and fly-half Handre Pollard converting.

Pollard had not missed a kick at goal in his last two Tests — against Wales in Cape Town and New Zealand in Mbombela — and he maintained his record in first-half added time.

Opting to kick for goal from the halfway line, his kick just made it and as the teams trooped off the field a 15-point New Zealand advantage had been cut to 15-10.

The second half became a thriller with South Africa finally edging in front at 23-21 when Pollard kicked a penalty on 68 minutes.

But intense All Blacks pressure led to tries from center David Havili and lock Scott Barrett and Mo’unga converted both to get the visitors back on the winning trail.

Wing Makazole Mapimpi was the other Springbok try scorer as Pollard accumulated 13 points from two conversions and three penalties.dl/iwd

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Rudi Koertzen dies, death, how did he die, age, cricket news, umpire, slow finger of death, doom

Rudi Koertzen dies, death, how did he die, age, cricket news, umpire, slow finger of death, doom

Former South African umpire Rudi Koertzen, labeled the ‘slow finger of death’ by the media, has died in a car accident, a family member told AFP on Tuesday.

He was 73.

“Rudi suffered fatal injuries after an accident near Stilbaai between Cape Town and Gqeberha,” said the family spokesperson, who requested anonymity.

“My father went to a golf tournament with some friends and they were expected to come back on Monday, but it seems they decided to play another round of golf,” his son Rudi told a Gqeberha radio station.

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The South African team will wear black armbands on Wednesday in honor of Koertzen when they face England at Lord’s in London in a Test match.

Koertzen first umpired in 1981, handled his maiden international assignment 11 years later, and retired in 2010 after a Test between Australia and Pakistan in Leeds, England.

Rudi Koertzen and Ricky Ponting in 2009.
Rudi Koertzen and Ricky Ponting in 2009.Source: AFP

He became known as the ‘slow finger of death’ because he very slowly raising his finger whenever indicating a batsman was out.

“Every umpire has their trademark and that was mine. The media labeled it the ‘slow finger of death’ and I found that pretty interesting. There is a story behind it,” Koertzen said in an interview.

“When my umpiring career first began, I used to hold my hands in front of me and every time there was an appeal, I would fold them against my ribs,” said Koertzen.

“The someone told me ‘Rudi, you cannot do that. Every time you raise your hands to fold them, the bowler thinks you are going to give him a wicket’.

“So I started clasping my wrists at the back. The finger comes out slowly because it takes time for me to release my grasp at the back.”

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

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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