All Blacks head coach Ian Foster was happy to get the late and dramatic 23-20 victory over the Wallabies in Dunedin in Bledisloe II.
It was not a glittering performance throughout for the much-changed side as Australia started the game brilliantly, scoring two quick tries and taking a 17-3 lead into the break.
Foster must have given a compelling half-time talk as his side came out much better in the second 40 with the bench also making valuable contributions. In the end, it was none other than Richie Mo’unga who sealed the win with a penalty against their rivals.
Composed comeback
The coach admits his side was outdone in the first period but was pleased with how they pulled it back during the second half.
“Clearly we were second best by some distance in that first half,” Foster said.
“To come back and show a lot of composure under that sort of scoreboard pressure, and to squeeze them and to win in the last few minutes, I think it’s a great, great lesson for this team.
“I’m stoked with the win.
“It’s going to hold us in good stead for later on. We all know it wasn’t perfect but we’ll take it.”
RWC squad announcement
The All Blacks will announce their Rugby World Cup squad on Monday which was a big reason for Foster making wholesale changes for the second Bledisloe Cup clash.
“I know we made a lot of changes, more than we’ve had for a long time,” he said.
“If we didn’t do this game the way we did it, the danger was is that we’d have a number of players and then a World Cup squad that wouldn’t have played a serious Test match for eight to nine weeks.
“So we knew what we’re doing. And yeah, it was a bit nervous at half-time.
“But wow, the upside of it is we came through it and that’s a good sign too.”
READ MORE: All Blacks’ second half fightback floors the Wallabies in Bledisloe Cup thriller in Dunedin
The article The All Blacks’ ‘great lesson’ from a mixed performance in Dunedin appeared first on Planetrugby.com.
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