New Zealand’s historic defeat to France in the 2023 World Cup opener marked another milestone blot in the woeful tenure of head coach Ian Foster, writes MARK KEOHANE.
Les Bleus recovered from an indifferent first-half performance to seal a decisive 27-13 victory against the All Blacks in Paris on Friday, becoming the first team to beat the Kiwis in the pool stages of a World Cup.
Scott Robertson will take charge of the All Blacks after Foster’s four-year term comes to an end with the conclusion of the tournament in France. Writing for TimesLIVE, Keohane claims New Zealand are paying the price for appointing ‘Fozzy’ over ‘Razor’ four years ago.
“The All Blacks in Paris are imposters of the many great teams who have worn black at the World Cup,” he writes.
“Foster, in his four-year cycle, has the following firsts: 1st All Blacks to lose to Argentina. 1st All Blacks to lose to Argentina at home. 1st All Blacks to lose a Test to Ireland in New Zealand. 1st All Blacks to lose a three-Test series to Ireland in New Zealand. 1st All Blacks to lose to France in Paris since 1973, when his team got beaten 40-25 two years ago.
KEO: France won’t steal Boks’ thunder
“Biggest defeat against the Springboks in South Africa in the professional era [16 points in Nelspruit] and, pre the start of this World Cup, the biggest-ever defeat in the history of the All Blacks in losing 35-7 to the Springboks at Twickenham.
“Come the World Cup and the firsts keep coming. The positive for New Zealanders is that [Foster] is gone after the World Cup.”
A major negative of the All Blacks’ performance at the Stade de France was at set-piece, with France’s Kiwi-born tighthead prop Uini Atonio getting the upper hand over Ethan de Groot.
Keohane writes: “Rugby, when played 100 years ago and when played at the Rugby World Cup opener, hasn’t changed in that if you don’t have an imposing pack, you don’t win big Test matches. The All Blacks right now at this World Cup don’t have the cattle up front.
“France were dominant in Paris, if not as destructively brutal as the Springboks were against the All Blacks at Twickenham.
“The All Blacks were frantic and looked to individual genius, but the latter brought them a few magical moments and not 80 mighty minutes.”
Photo: Phil Walter/Getty Images