All Blacks coach Ian Foster has agreed with Eddie Jones’ strangely timed warning to “look out” in the Bledisloe Cup opener at the MCG on July 29.
Wallabies boss Jones made the comment in the wake of Saturday’s disastrous 34-31 loss to Los Pumas which ended Australia’s Rugby Championship hopes.
The Bledisloe, of course, remains up for grabs in a home and away series but even the most ardent Wallabies fans will be struggling to cling onto hope.
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Foster’s New Zealand side has been resurgent in 2023, blitzing Argentina and South Africa in the first two rounds to top the standings with a points differential of +44.
“Whilst it seems doom and gloom at the moment, it’s not,” Jones claimed.
“Beating inside here (Wallabies camp) is a fair bit of optimism that we’ll be able to change fairly quickly in the next couple of weeks. If I was the All Blacks, I’d look out. We’re going to get a lot better. Something will happen.
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“It might be Richie Mo’unga runs, offloads, we intercept, we take a try and the whole team changes. It’ll be something like that’ll happen and the team will change, that’s all we are away from that.
“I know it’s sort of a bit airy fairy, but that’s what happens to teams. It happens in life, something happens that changes the dynamics of the team. It’s just not there, not happening at the moment – but it will.”
Foster, who will be replaced by Scott Robertson at the All Blacks helm next year, agreed with his rival’s sentiment.
The All Blacks won both Bledisloe Tests last year but were incredibly fortunate at Marvel Stadium thanks to referee Mathieu Raynal’s unprecedented intervention.
“He’s probably right,” Foster said when asked about Jones’ comments.
“We should look out because they will be hurting. No one likes to lose their first couple of Tests. They’re a very proud nation, and I’m sure they will be working really hard to come at us strong. We can’t wait to go to the MCG. We’re expecting a home crowd, just about. It’s a special occasion, and this game is perfect for us because it’s these occasions we’ve been craving.”
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Foster has plenty of scars from locking horns with Jones.
He was the assistant coach in 2019 when England knocked the All Blacks out of the Rugby World Cup while Jones was also at the helm when New Zealand were held to a draw at Twickenham last year.
In a typically entertaining post-Pumas press conference, Jones compared the Wallabies’ myriad problems to a “broken car.”
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“My first car was a Datsun 1200. You’d fix the handbrake and the next day the windscreen wipers would break, and we’re a bit like that moment,” Jones said.
“There was probably no one more disappointed than me, I probably ruined three radios in the coach’s box.”
Both teams now take a week off and Foster’s only real concern is a neck strain to All Blacks captain Sam Cane that is expected to heal in time for game one.
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Like the Springboks, Foster admitted he had “no idea” what to expect from the Wallabies under Jones, who is now 7-2 against Randwick rival Michael Cheika.
“History tells us you can never write them off, that they’ve got the ability to turn up and bite us. We’re really respectful of their capabilities,” Foster said.
“I know they probably haven’t got the results they want, but sometimes when you’re setting things up, it takes a little while to get that familiarity. But I’m sure a win over us at the MCG will solve a lot of their issues. We’re really aware of that.”
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The Wallabies, meanwhile, must find a replacement for injured centre Len Ikitau.
Samu Kerevi pushed out to No.13 after the brave Ikitau eventually left the field in Parramatta, with Carter Gordon slotting in at inside centre.
“It’s funny, through the Reds years I was playing 13 and I actually didn’t like playing 12,” Kerevi told reporters.
“Coming up with the Wallabies, I hated it and Cheik would put me there and obviously the Reds started putting me there.
“I’ll do whatever’s best for the team. But we’ve got some depth there. (Izaia) Perese has been playing well for the Waratahs. He’s training the house down, and some other backs that can fill that role.
“Obviously Lalakai (Foketi) can play there, shift from 12 to 13.”
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