- New Zealand largely dominated Namibia this Friday in Toulouse (71-3), in a Pool A match of the World Cup.
- A week after the defeat against France (27-13), the All Blacks did not give the weak Welwitschias hope.
- But there are still some problems to correct before returning to Italy on August 29 in Lyon.
At the Toulouse Stadium,
When we have just suffered the first defeat in our history in the group stage World Cup, what’s better than a harmless sparring partner to get back in the saddle? A week after the inaugural disappointment against the XV of France (27-13)New Zealand, reshuffled with nine new players, spent their nerves on Namibia (71-3)this Friday evening in Toulouse.
Anything but a feat for the triple winners of the event, who had already corrected the same team in 2015 (58-14), on the way to their latest title, then in 2019 (71-9). The Welwitschias now have a record worthy of an opponent of Tony Yoka at the start of his professional career: 23 losses in as many final phase matches.
And yet, don’t tell Samisoni Taukei’aho that the All Blacks faced a very inferior team, even if it had been equally corrected entry by Italy (52-8). Your devoted servant tried in the mixed zone, and here is the response from the New Zealand hooker, calm, polite but not calling for a restart: “There are no weaker teams in a World Cup. We don’t underestimate any of them. We prepare for each match as if it were a final. »
Nine different trial markers
Taukei’aho also confided “his pride” in having been able to turn things around after the failure at the Stade de France. “Of course we needed to correct some things compared to last week. But everyone has confidence in the abilities of these teammates. » Captain Sam Whitelock (34), who joined his former teammate Richie McCaw this Friday in the firmament of the most capped Blacks (148 caps) even greeted with great emphasis. “a great victory”.
All his teammates were more or less on the same page after a match with 11 tries and nine different scorers, as scrum-half Cam Roigard and fly-half Damian McKenzie (26 points in total) scored twice . The first, for his first start at 22, even flattened his two entry goals (in the 2nd then 7th minutes), so as not to let the Namibians imagine for a single moment capable of annoying their prestigious opponents like the Uruguayans the day before against the Blues (27-12).
“The atmosphere was extraordinary,” underlined Roigard, not resentful towards a Stadium which pushed very hard behind its opponents, when it was not singing “La Marseillaise”. We were able to count on dominating forwards who gave me a good base to play on. »
“The hinge played well, the pack too,” agreed the placid coach Ian Foster, who even joked at a press conference with his captain of the day Ardie Savea (the “real” captain Sam Cane, still injured, played the carriers water). I am very satisfied with the way we respected the game plan.” “We have regained confidence in ourselves, we can relax a little,” greeted Savea, with eyes that scream “binouse”.
See you on September 29 against Italy
It must be said that in this interminable World Cup, the All Blacks’ next match is not scheduled before September 29 in Lyon against Italy. A meeting which has a good final lead for second place in this group A, if the Blues have the decency to raise their level after the Uruguayan purge.
This exercise in New Zealand self-satisfaction after a triumph against the 22nd nation in the world ranking should not make us forget that everything was not perfect this Friday. The All Blacks did not suddenly regain all their luster after two embarrassing failures, since the setback against France had been preceded two weeks earlier in London by the heaviest defeat in their history, against South Africa (35- 7).
A red card symbol of indiscipline
Facing valiant Namibians, but troubled with the ball, Foster’s men still conceded 12 penalties, the same total as against Fabien Galthié’s team. One of them resulted in the yellow card of Ethan De Groodt (72nd), transformed into red by the “bunker”, the latest innovation in a sport which does not lack imagination.
The pillar, replacing this Friday after having suffered so much against the French scrum, was sent off for a high tackle. Asked about the subject, Foster indicated that he wanted to “take the time” to analyze the action. “Obviously there was shoulder-to-shoulder contact, but the referees felt that merited a red card. » The coach took the opportunity to make a small comment on the lack of consistency of decisions in this World Cup, after the yellow card received Thursday by Romain Taofifenua against Uruguay for an action not so different. Let’s talk about it again Ian, about the 2011 World Cup final?