There have been days when the All Blacks must have feared they might not make the sharp end of this Rugby World Cup. And yet here they are, sitting up like enthusiastic meerkats and exuding renewed optimism. Even on a grey, damp afternoon in the leafy western suburbs of Paris, there is a discernible fresh glint in New Zealand eyes.
And why not? Argentina have caused occasional problems in recent times, not least during their famous wins in 2020 and again in 2022, but are the Pumas really going to take down a resurgent New Zealand in a World Cup semi-final? Not if the All Blacks can replicate the cutting edge and defensive discipline that edged out Ireland in the same stadium in the quarter-finals last weekend.
At first glance there were few glimmers of light discernible in New Zealand’s team selection either. Sam Whitelock back in the second row for his 152nd cap; Mark Tele’a back on the wing after being left out of last week’s team for a breach of team protocol. Given Whitelock was the man who produced the crucial ruck turnover to see his side into the last four, it is fair to say the head coach, Ian Foster, is picking from strength.
Perhaps the biggest pre-game battle, though, is being played in the All Blacks’ heads, given what happened to them in the 2019 semi-final. On that occasion, having also beaten Ireland in the quarter-finals, they failed to reach the same level against England in Yokohama the following week and paid a significant price.
To say it has since been weighing heavy on a few All Black minds is an understatement. “There’s plenty of us who have that hurt and some scars from 2019,” the New Zealand captain, Sam Cane, said. “We’ve had that chat as a group. There are two very different Mondays we can turn up for next week and one of them is horrible. It’s about having the ability to turn up mentally right on the edge. We feel we’re in a good spot, but we’ve got to go again.”
Foster is also not dodging the obvious and was quick to make that clear when it was suggested to him that New Zealand were clear favourites. “You’ve never heard us say we’re favourites. We’re in a RWC semi-final, we know that these games are do or die. Whoever’s got to this stage has done that because they’ve beaten some really good teams and played really well.”
Argentina might argue privately that by leaving Brodie Retallick on the bench and omitting the vastly experienced Dane Coles from the 23 altogether, the All Blacks are not entirely going full-metal jacket. If there is even the tiniest sense of the pair being kept fresh for the final, Argentina’s team talk will write itself.
Which is doubtless why Foster was so keen to stress that the precise opposite is true. “We know if we’re not right it’s going to be a sad old night. We’re really clear, we know there’s no excuses. We’ve got to give it everything, there’s no tomorrow. That’s how we approached last week and that’s how we’re going to approach this week. It’s important not to get softened because people are patting you on the back saying you played well.
“We’re not satisfied with where we are now. The stage gets bigger and you’ve got to grow your game, that’s our strong focus. We had to play a final last week … it’s probably a reflection of where world rugby is at. You have to go bone-deep in everything you do now. We’re going to have to improve our performance.”
Foster also made clear Tele’a had been officially forgiven after being grounded for reportedly staying out too late. “He’s done his time … he made a mistake but you don’t linger in that space. He’s been our form winger and we believe he is in a good place to play this game.”
The head coach also defended his centre Rieko Ioane for making an ear-cup gesture to Irish supporters at the Stade de France last weekend. “Look, it happens on a rugby park. It happens on most sporting parks when tensions are high. Players from both teams occasionally want to say a few words to each other – and unfortunately, recently, it’s also included players saying a few things to referees. It’s always been there, it’s highly competitive. You don’t hear a lot of players complaining about it.”
