History no help to All Blacks before World Cup semi, says Foster

PARIS, AFP: New Zealand head coach Ian Foster said on Thursday past Rugby World Cup semi-finals will count for nothing during this weekend’s last four game with Argentina.

The All Blacks, three-time champions, are preparing for their ninth appearance at this stage of the tournament, having won four of their previous eight semi-finals.

They are just one game away from next Saturday’s final against England or South Africa, after last weekend’s tense quarter-final success over Ireland. History suggests it should be no contest. Of the 36 matches between the two sides, the All Blacks have won 33, Argentina two and there has been one draw.

At the World Cup, the record shows a convincing 3-0 advantage to New Zealand. “We are massively respectful of Argentina,” he told reporters before Friday’s match in Paris.

“If you go into a World Cup semi-final with any expectation that the past is going to happen again, you have got problems,” the 58-year-old added. The Pumas, considered serious underdogs for the meeting, will feature in just their third World Cup semi-final after beating Wales last weekend in the last eight.

In 2007 they lost to South Africa in the semi-finals, going on to beat France in the third place play-off, and eight years later in 2015 it was Australia, coached by current Pumas’ boss Michael Cheika, who denied them a place in the final against the All Blacks.

They face the All Blacks on an annual basis in The Rugby Championship, and overcame them last August in New Zealand after having claimed a first ever win over Foster’s side in 2020.