By Lucky Maree
The expert opinion of All Blacks coach Ian Foster is that the All Blacks were a bit rusty. As if he was speaking to a bunch of school kids, he said the All Blacks need to keep their heads high.
Mr Foster, really? Do you realise how close you came to joining South African coach Heyneke Meyer as rugby clown of the year when Japan ran the All Blacks to a 38-31 victory over Japan on Saturday?
South African rugby fans remember how Japan, under the leadership of coach Eddie Jones, beat the Springboks at the 2015 World Cup in England by 32-34. Did Ian Foster think of that match as he watched the All Blacks leaking four tries (yes, four!) against Japan?
And then Foster says, “we should have done better”. Yes, Mr Foster. No doubt the mighty All Blacks should have done better.
Did Eddie Jones, the little garden gnome, allow himself that sneaky little smile of his as he licked his lips ahead of the England match against the Springboks later this month?
For the rest of the rugby playing world, the message is clear: don’t underestimate anybody!
Japan:
Tries: Takuya Yamasawa, Yutaka Nagare, Warner Dearns, Kazuki Himeno
Conversions: Four
Penalties: One
New Zealand:
Tries: Brodie Retallick, Braydon Ennor, Sevu Reece, Caleb Clarke, Hoskins Sotutu
Conversions: Five
Penalties: One
Image source: @AllBlacks
