International
Win over South Africa a ‘launching pad’ – Foster
Argentina’s record win over Australia on Sunday in the Lipovitan-D Rugby Championship ensured the All Blacks could not afford to lower their sights or expectations.
Coach Ian Foster left the All Blacks’ post-Ellis Park celebrations to watch the second half of the Pumas-Wallabies Test and said Argentina looked good.
The All Blacks arrive home on Tuesday and have a break until the weekend before assembling in Christchurch to prepare for Argentina.
But they knew their win over South Africa was a starting point.
Foster said, “I was pleased with the way we dealt with the challenge. I’m pleased the team is growing through a bit of adversity.
“We wish the road was smooth all the time but, unfortunately, life does throw you a few curve balls. But, it’s how you respond to that, and so we’re working hard and [we] got some rewards.”
Foster said he was proud of the Johannesburg performance.
“You always know you are going to get some obstacles here. You look at three [losses] in a row, and that’s a bit of adversity that a lot of this group haven’t had, including me.
“But we have to fix it. Our mindset is about trying to move on and grow the team.
“We’ve got an absolute goal for a Rugby World Cup at the end of next year, and in many ways, this needs to be the launching pad for that.
“I’m not resentful about anything that has happened in the last three weeks. I’m disappointed we lost, but I also think that we’re using it the right way to fuel a team that’s united, and has a growth mindset, and just wants to play for this country.”
Foster had a sense of unfinished business with the team.
The win was not just about last week but about what they had done since getting together again after the Ireland series and working on clarifying aspects of their game.
“There’s no doubt we had to move some aspects of our game. We’ve been pretty open in sharing that. But, rest assured, we work hard at trying to improve.
“I know we got told what we’re doing wrong, but we’re working hard inside our camp to improve.
“We’re very proud at being part of this team, so the work we got last night was a reflection of a growth in a whole lot of aspects.”
Foster said he expected to receive feedback after the trip and would assemble with the team in Christchurch.
Reflecting on the public and media pressure in the coaching role, he said it was something you got used to, but that was sad.
“I get used to the personal side, but that’s the nature of the job. They’re the distractions that I ask the players to put to one side.”
It was the same when running out to play in front of a big crowd or when referees’ decisions went against them. The players had to put those types of things to one side too.
“In all honesty, I think the playing group has probably been demanding that of me. ‘Stop sulking, get on with it and do your job.’ Sometimes, the answer is in the simplicity of that.”
Foster said there was no manual for the coaching job. It was a case of trusting himself and the people he worked with and being open to all the ideas received while developing a plan.
He had done that while undergoing massive growth in the role.
“I’m a different coach to what I was 12 months ago. You’ve got to remember last year, we won 12 out of 13 games in a row, and no one was talking about us.
“So, what this team learns is when things go wrong you certainly hear it. It’s how we deal with that.”
Foster said the pressure on the side’s midfield had been a concentration for the selectors since the start of the campaign, partly because of the need to establish combinations while also coping in the absence of players like Jack Goodhue and Anton Lienert-Brown.
They had introduced players in the front row in Saturday’s win.
Forward coaches Greg Feek and Jason Ryan deserved pats on the backs for their work, and so did the forwards.
“When forwards don’t get what they want in a Test match they are normally not nice to talk to for the next couple of days, and that’s because they take it personal, and we’ve got massive quality in that pack but it needed to lift and it has lifted.”
Content & Images from – New Zealand Rugby
The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) is delighted to announce the return of the ‘A’ Interprovincial Men’s Championship which will kick off next month.
The times and dates of the opening three rounds of the Championship before Christmas have been confirmed, with a similar points-scoring system as used in the URC. A Championship winner will be declared after the final round of matches in May and the IRFU will be commissioning a legacy trophy to mark the 150th anniversary celebrations.
Welcoming the news, IRFU Performance Director David Humphreys commented:
“We’re delighted to kick-start the Men’s ‘A’ Interprovincial Championship which will provide a host of players with a further means of developing in a meaningful competition. With the success of the Emerging Ireland Tours, coupled with the return of an ‘A’ international against England next year, it is vital that we continue to provide players at provincial and Club levels with opportunities to impress outside of the traditional URC and EPCR fixture windows.
“Discussions have been ongoing for some time to provide players with meaningful games and all four provinces are unanimously supportive of this competition. It is also great to see provinces taking matches around their local Clubs.
“It is anticipated that as the competition progresses over the coming seasons these fixtures won’t clash with Energia All-Ireland League fixtures for the most part, thus potentially also offering players from the Club game with an opportunity to impress.
“This competition will form another important part of the representative pathway from Energia AIL to URC levels for Academy players upwards over the coming seasons.”
The dates for the post-Christmas fixtures will be confirmed in due course. Ticket details will be confirmed via the respective provinces.
IRFU 150 Interprovincial ‘A’ Championship Fixtures:
Saturday, 16th November:
Connacht Eagles v Leinster ‘A’ (Creggs RFC, 1pm)
Friday, 22nd November:
Ulster ‘A’ v Connacht Eagles (Ballymacaran Park, 3pm), Leinster ‘A’ v Munster ‘A’ (Lakelands, 5pm)
Friday, 29th November:
Munster ‘A’ v Ulster ‘A’ (New Ormond Park, 3pm)
Friday, 20th December:
Ulster ‘A’ v Munster ‘A’ (tbc, 3pm)
Saturday, 21st December:
Leinster ‘A’ v Connacht Eagles (Ollie Campbell Park, 2pm)
Weekend of 28/29 December:
Connacht Eagles v Ulster ‘A’ (tbc), Munster ‘A’ v Leinster ‘A’ (tbc)
Weekend of 9/10 May:
Connacht Eagles v Munster ‘A’ (tbc), Leinster ‘A’ v Ulster ‘A’ (tbc)
Weekend of 16/17 May:
Munster ‘A’ v Connacht Eagles (tbc), Ulster ‘A’ v Leinster ‘A’ (tbc)
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
The Emerging Ireland team to face the Cheetahs in the final game of the three-match series in Bloemfontein on Wednesday evening (kick off 6pm Irish time, 7pm local time) has been named.
Leinster’s James Culhane will lead the team and he forms a new back-row alongside Harry Sheridan and Sean Edogbo, who makes his first start of the tour having come on as a replacement in the 29-24 win over Western Force on Sunday afternoon. Former Ireland Under-20 captain Evan O’Connell locks down with Darragh Murray, who featured in the opening 36-24 victory over the Pumas, with Alex Usanov named in the front row alongside hooker Stephen Smyth and Jack Aungier.
Darragh Murray of Emerging Ireland scores his sides second try – Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Steve Haag Sports/Darren Stewart
In the backline, Sam Prendergast starts his third game of the tour at out-half and he will be partnered by Cormac Foley, who featured as a second half replacements against the Australian Super Rugby side last time out. Connacht’s Hugh Gavin forms a midfield partnership with Hugh Cooney, with Ulster’s Zac Ward named in an exciting back tree alongside the returning Ben O’Connor at full-back and Andrew Osborne who moves to the right wing.
Munster loosehead prop George Hadden, who was called up to the squad last weekend, is set to make his first appearance after being named on the bench alongside Conor O’Tighearnaigh and Alex Soroka who started Sunday’s win. Hadden’s provincial team-mate Danny Sheahan provides cover once more at hooker, while Scott Wilson and Charlie Tector are also named on the bench for the Toyota Stadium clash alongside out-half Jack Murphy.
Looking ahead to the game, Emerging Ireland Head Coach Simon Easterby said: “When we set out at the beginning of our pre-camp in Dublin, we knew about the challenge of facing three sides in a week and we knew that every player in the group would have the opportunity to play his part. To a man each player has given his all so far and we are aiming to finish off the series with another positive performance on Wednesday.
The Cheetahs are a fiercely proud and strong side and it should be a lively game with a vocal home support behind them. It has been a fruitful past few weeks to date and we have learned a lot. While our performances haven’t been perfect, the players have embraced the challenge and played some brilliant rugby at times. The action has come thick and fast and we know that we have to be clinical in our execution. We will need to go up another level on Wednesday to get the performance we want and hopefully finish the tour on a high.”
Wednesday’s game will be broadcast once more on IrishRugby+ – click here.
Emerging Ireland (v The Cheetahs, Wednesday, October 9, 7pm local time, 6pm Irish time)
15: Ben O’Connor (UCC RFC/Munster)
14: Andrew Osborne (Naas RFC/Leinster)
13: Hugh Cooney (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
12: Hugh Gavin (Galwegians RFC/Connacht)
11: Zac Ward (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster/Ireland Sevens)
10: Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)
9: Cormac Foley (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)
1: Alex Usanov (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
2: Stephen Smyth (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster)
3: Jack Aungier (Clontarf FC/Connacht)
4: Evan O’Connell (Young Munster RFC/Munster)
5: Darragh Murray (Buccaneers RFC/Connacht)
6: Harry Sheridan (Dublin University FC/Ulster)
7: Sean Edogbo (UCC RFC/Munster)
8: James Culhane (UCD RFC/Leinster) (captain)
Replacements:
16: Danny Sheahan (Cork Constitution FC/Munster)
17: George Hadden (Garryowen FC/Munster)
18: Scott Wilson (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster)
19: Conor O’Tighearnaigh (UCD RFC/Leinster)
20: Alex Soroka (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
21: Matthew Devine (Corinthians RFC/Connacht)
22: Jack Murphy (Clontarf FC/Ulster)
23: Charlie Tector (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
Following Emerging Ireland’s 29-24 victory over Western Force in Bloemfontein on Sunday three players, Gus McCarthy (Leinster), Sean O’Brien (Munster) and Jude Postlethwaite (Ulster) will return to their provinces.
The trio will leave South Africa on Monday afternoon and will be available for selection for their respective URC fixtures this weekend.
The squad will visit Heidedal Township this afternoon and will conclude the three-match series on Wednesday evening against The Cheetahs (kick off 7pm local, 6pm Irish time). That match will be live on irishrugby+
Watch the full match back here on irishrugby+
Check out the highlights from the win against Western Force below.
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
IRFU Announces Return Of ‘A’ Interprovincial Championship
Squad Update | Munster Prepare For All Blacks XV At Thomond
