‘Anyone can win’ – All Blacks wary of Los Pumas knockout threat in semi-final
Former All Blacks head coach Ian Foster before a Test match.
All Blacks boss Ian Foster insists his team are “massively respectful” of Argentina ahead of their crunch semi-final match in the Rugby World Cup on Friday.
The New Zealanders are the favourites, despite Foster’s best efforts to avoid the tag, having won 33 of 36 Tests between the sides. However, the two losses have come since the last World Cup.
Still, the All Blacks come into the clash off the back of an incredible performance against Ireland in the quarter-finals, making them a dangerous team to face at this stage.
All about who is better on Friday
Foster, however, believes that irrespective of what history might say it is all about being the better team on the day.
“There are two teams in the semi-final – anyone can win,” said Foster. “That’s the first mindset both teams have.
“We are massively respectful of Argentina. We know that they have had a great tournament.
“We don’t live in the past in terms of results. Rugby World Cup tournaments are really about the present. It’s about the best team on the night.
“If you go into a World Cup semi-final with any expectation that the past is going to happen again, you have got problems.
“We’ve been really impressed with Argentina. We’re playing a team that we know scrap and fight for every little bit of possession. We are going to have to be at our best.”
Looking to alter history
Meanwhile, Los Pumas head coach Michael Cheika is looking to change how history looks and insisted his team will be prepared for the big occasion.
“The history is not in our favour, but it is up to us to change that,” said Cheika.
“We have a chance to on Friday and we will be ready. When we arrive on the field we will do what we do best.”
