Rugby Championship: New Zealand in turmoil after three consecutive losses? | News about Rugby Union

New Zealand’s players were left out after last week’s defeat to South Africa

It says a lot that, for the fourth time in New Zealand sports history, bookies have let the All Blacks underperform in this year’s Rugby Championship opening game against South Africa.

If that’s a rarity, what happened in the opening match of this year’s Rugby Championship in Mbombela last Saturday was almost unprecedented as the visitors lost 26-10, marking the Their third consecutive loss – the first to happen. since 1998 when they experienced their worst five-game losing streak.

For All Blacks to lose three games in a row is almost unheard of. To lose four, though?

Well, it wouldn’t be hard to imagine head coach Ian Foster and captain Sam Cane finding themselves dragged before a congressional investigation in a country that lives and breathes rugby if the Springboks inflict yet another defeat on them. this weekend.

“We know there’s a lot of pressure and we’re feeling it,” Foster said ahead of this weekend’s clash in Johannesburg, which was live. Sports sky. “But our job is to look at our performance and how we can develop it.

“I understand the frustration, but that doesn’t change what we have to do here. There’s no reason to sulk about it for so long.”

Foster, who succeeded Steve Hansen as head coach after the 2019 Rugby World Cup, has come under fire from both fans and the media, with the country’s best-selling newspaper, New Zealand Heraldcalled on him to take part in an article in which he was described as: “a kind man but without depth in a brutal business.”

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Highlights of the Rugby Championship match between South Africa and New Zealand

The 57-year-old has faced malfunctioning calls following a 1-2 home loss in July against Ireland in which they were outplayed and overrated with a number of performances. brilliance from Andy Farrell’s team in their first home loss in 27 years and the first game Ireland won in New Zealand.

However, he has found support from former All Blacks players, including 2015 Rugby World Cup champion Julian Savea, who worked with Foster when he was assistant coach. member for Hansen in that tournament.

“In a country where mental health is a big deal – where 72% of suicides are men and the number of men with depression is high, you’d think people are a little kinder and think about their words before they comment on someone’s integrity, appearance and personality, especially when they don’t know them on a personal level,” Savea posted on her Twitter account.

“I’m ashamed that this is how a human being is treated and manipulated in the media in NZ.”

Sean Fitzpatrick, another All Blacks great, called for cool heads to prevail as well, even if the next Rugby World Cup is just over a year away.

“Do they have a team capable of winning the World Cup? From what we’ve seen in the last two weeks, you would doubt it,” said Fitzpatrick. Sports sky after losing in the third test match against Ireland.

“But the All Blacks don’t go from a world-class team to a non-world-class team overnight.”

For their part, the New Zealand players admit results and form have fallen below the standards they expect of themselves, regardless of what others think.

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New Zealand head coach Ian Foster credits South Africa’s defense as the main reason they won the Rugby title

Richie Mo’unga, whose return to the XV starts halfway for Saturday’s game against the world champions as one of four Foster changes, is adamant that they will also scrap them all. criticism from home.

“They care about our team and care about our results, but it’s also fair for us not to care what they think because we have a role to do, a role to play and hear. that won’t help us.” Mo’unga said.

“I’m in the late stages now if you’re not on our team I don’t really care what you think, with all due respect. We’re doing our best and we know it. not good enough for Negro standards.”

Elsewhere, Australia are looking to win back-to-back against Argentina in this year’s Rugby Championship but are wary they will face a backlash from Pumas, who is now coached by the former coach. The Wallabies’ coach, Michael Cheika.

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Following Australia’s strong win over Argentina, reserve captain James Slipper paid tribute to captain Michael Hooper, who has claimed he doesn’t have the ‘right mindset’ to play.

Australia battled back 19-10 in the first half to win 41-26 in their win over Argentina last week despite the absence of captain Michael Hooper and the loss of half-flyer Quade Cooper to an Achilles injury that will put him out of action for a long time.

However, half-damaged Nic White is getting ready for Pumas to throw everything at them at their next meeting on Saturday.

“Cheika will get them fired,” White said. “The emotions will be there but we need to go back to the process… how do we want to play, what is our identity.”

How to watch the 2022 Rugby Championship

Sports sky will once again bring you live coverage of both Saturday Rugby Championship matches, starting with the Springboks against the All Blacks from Emirates Airlines Park in Johannesburg on Sky Sports Action from 4 pm.

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Highlights of the 1st round match of the Rugby Championship between Argentina and Australia

Then, later in the evening on the same channel, attention turned to San Juan, where Argentina will be looking to recover from their defeat in Mendoza last week when they face Australia for the second time at this year’s tournament.

Teams Named on Saturday

South Africa vs New Zealand (4.05pm UK time)

South Africa: 15 Damian Willemse; 14 Jesse Kriel, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi; 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Jaden Hendrikse; 1 Ox Nche, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 3 Frans Malherbe, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 5 Lood de Jager, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 7 Pieter Steph du Toit, 8 Duane Vermeulen.

Replace: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Franco Mostert, 20 Jasper Wiese, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Hershel Jantjies, 23 Willie le Roux.

New Zealand: 15 Jordie Barrett; 14 Will Jordan, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 David Havili, 11 Caleb Clarke; 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Aaron Smith; 1 Ethan de Groot, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 4 Sam Whitelock, 5 Scott Barrett, 6 Shannon Frizell, 7 Sam Cane (captain), 8 Ardie Savea.

Replace: 16 Codie Taylor, 17 George Bower, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Tupou Vaa’i, 20 Akira Ioane, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Beauden Barrett, 23 Quinn Tupaea.

Argentina vs Australia (8:10pm UK time)

Argentina: TBC.

Australia: TBC.