New Zealand reaction (McKenzie, captain Cane, head coach Foster, Whitelock, Fainga'anuku, Blackadder)

October 05, 2023
927
Ultimate Rugby

MIXED ZONE

On his record of 150 caps:

"The last three weeks have been, to draw with Ritchie [McCaw] and then to go past him in the next week and then 150. It has kind of been drawn out a little bit but I wouldn't have changed it for anything. It's really cool to be able to play another one, it is so special. We have been talking about it and to play one is a lot of people's dreams and to go out there and play 150 is so special.

"The work that has gone into it, I don't think people realise and I don't think I realise until I stop and have a think. Rugby players, and I am the same, we are always looking forward to the next week even now - looking forward to what the next couple of days look like in terms of recovery. I think when rugby is all done and dusted in a few years' time it will sink in, whereas now it doesn't feel like I have got there, but it's a weird thing at the moment."

On his boots having tape on:

"Adidas have been awesome, they said to me a couple of months ago if you are lucky enough to get to 150 do you want to do something. We started talking and then I slightly tore my Achilles, so I said, 'We'll put that on the back-burner'. I then got back out there and started the conversation again and then did it again. They were awesome and they put my name and my kids names on my boots and the New Zealand flag. But because my Achilles is still a little bit dodgy, it means I slip out a little bit so I have to keep them taped on."

On already winning two Rugby World Cups, how does he feel about the current team kicking on:

"Every World Cup is totally different and everyone has said that for ages. The best thing is we have got to deal with this one right now and we went out there tonight and got the five points we needed. I thought at times we were pretty clinical and ruthless but at other times we didn't play or our skill or execution wasn't where it needed to be. So we're always trying to adapt and grow our game. Once we know who we are playing, we will look at them and make sure we have the game that we need to go out there."

On if winning a third Rugby World Cup is a big driver:

"Of course it is. It's one of those things, every person wants to go out there and perform - and winning is the first thing everyone looks at. That is what every team are trying to do at the World Cup. It doesn't matter where you are sitting, as long as you are in the next round, that is what everyone wants."

Damian McKenzie, full-back

On the overall performance:

"It was a tough first 20 minutes. We had all the expectations that Uruguay were going to come out and put it to us in the first 20 and they definitely did. We made a few errors through their defensive efforts. The good thing is we problem-solved out there and put on a few points later in the first half and then in the second half, so I’m proud of the lads."

On how he feels about New Zealand’s last three games:

"We have talked about week by week, making sure we get everything right. I think we have done a good job in doing that. We have things we can work on but we are pretty proud of the last three games we’ve had after that tough first match, that loss to France. We are trending in the right direction. We know we can get better. I am really happy we’re in the quarter-finals and we will wait and see who we play."

On pushing for inclusion in the team for the quarter-finals:

"You’ve got to to try to make the opportunity and put your hand up. The competition in training is healthy, we are always trying to push each other. Whatever role I’m given, whether in the 23 or not, it’s one week at a time. It’s about preparing the team as best as we can. I feel like the last couple of weeks have been good but we’ll see what happens."

On being well prepared for the quarter-finals:

"We’re into the quarter-finals now. It’s knock-out rugby, it’s win or go home. Whatever opponent we face, it’s going to be a tough one. For the last few games, defensively we have held teams out and offensively we have scored tries. I’ve never been involved in a quarter-final of a World Cup. I’ve never felt the pressure but there are a lot of boys in the shed who have experienced that from four years ago. We’re really excited about the challenge."

On whether he fancies playing Ireland:

"We’ll fancy whoever it is. If you want to win a World Cup, you have to beat pretty much everyone. Regardless of our opponent, we’ll make sure we get our preparation right. In the game, we’ll leave it all out there."

On backing themselves to win Rugby World Cup 2023 playing open, up-tempo rugby:

"The last few games have been pretty open, the balance between the running and kicking game. We know it’s not going to be that open in the quarter-final, so it’s about getting that balance right. I think we have done that pretty well in our pool matches."

Leicester Fainga'anuku, winger

On moving to inside-centre in the second half, a position he has never played before:

"Never. So first time at a World Cup, it was quite a good challenge and one I've really enjoyed out there.

"Anywhere I get put on the field I enjoy, just contributing to the team. Obviously second half being slipped into 12, first time in my career for sure, I am so used to 13 but they gave the hint a few weeks ago to prepare myself for there and be ready for it.

"I felt comfortable, it's a place where I do enjoy in the midfield, being involved."

On loving being involved in all areas of the game:

"I get mocked every now and then, saying, 'There's an extra loose-forward out on the edge'. I just try to slip myself in everywhere, to be honest. Wherever there is work needed, I put my hand up to take it."

On the depth of quality in the All Blacks squad:

"The awesome thing about this squad is no matter what 23 you put out there, you know it's going to be a quality side. It takes a whole squad to get us into the play-offs."

Ethan Blackadder, flanker

On looking battered and bruised:

"Yeah, I copped a bit of claret out there in the eye and the nose. But that's footy isn't it."

On having joined the squad as an injury replacement after a tough few years:

"It was so cool, man. It's been a while since I've played for the All Blacks and the year I've had, just with soft-tissue injuries, just get to this point I wouldn't have believed it. Super grateful and so good to be back.

"Whatever role I am asked to do, I will do."

On rumours that he goes 100 per cent at every single training session:

"I am just one of those guys who trains hard and that's all there is to it, really. Sometimes you ruffle feathers but it's a gladiator sport."

MEDIA CONFERENCE

Ian Foster, head coach

On the injuries to Tyrel Lomax and Fletcher Newell:

"Fletcher was largely precautionary on his knee. Tyrel a little but more serious. It doesn't look too bad, it looks like a medial. He has a bucket load of ice on it right now and we'll look at that over the next 48 hours."

On how they have built in the tournament:

"I think we have responded well from the first game. I think we took lots of lessons out of that and we have dealt with each challenge in the meantime. I believe we have grown our game to a point where we go into the quarter-finals really well prepared. Whatever happens, whoever we play, it's going to be a massive game but that is what quarter-finals should be like. So we are ready."

On Damian McKenzie:

"He is going pretty good. We were delighted with him last week and I thought this week he played well. It was a game of turnover ball, wasn't it? I kind of got the feeling Barnesy [referee Wayne Barnes] wasn't too interested in seeing scrums. It became a lot of turnover ball and turnover defence and quite frankly Damian is good with that sort of stuff. I thought he played really well and when he went to 10 [from full-back] he continued that. He is a player who continues to be important to us. He is really putting his hand up."

On if big scorelines can make teams underprepared for quarter-finals:

"It is what it is. We can't control things when it comes to the draw, people weren't saying that after the French game, they were saying that we were struggling. Even before the Italian game, that was going to be a massive challenge for us. I think we have put ourselves under pressure to play well. I think it is a very motivated team at the moment. We know we aren't perfect, we still have places to grow. We are really confident on the areas [that are important] in a tight game.

"There are different pathways to the quarters, some teams have a hard game beforehand. For us, that first 20 minutes was pretty tough and we showed a different sort of patience. It is what it is and at the end of the pool play, we are satisfied."

On if they have a preference on who they face in the quarter-finals:

"I think you know my answer to that, no. I don't want to put myself under any stress in the next three days. What will be, will be, and people will theorise what they do. We will go away and have a nice glass of wine in our hotel tonight and celebrate being there. Looking forward to recovery tomorrow. Clearly we have a plan for whoever it may be. At this stage we are excited about us being there, it is our first goal achieved and let's get into the next one."

On if they are confident they can finish first in the pool:

"No, I think we will make the assumption we will finish second. The Italy-France game is important now and it will be interesting to see how teams respond. The great thing about the draw from many perspectives is that first or second, we know when you have a draw and the top four in the world are due to play each other in a quarter-final, you know whatever happens it is going to be a monster game. Nothing is going to surprise us now and we will be ready for it."

On Sam Whitelock and what more he can do:

"That's pretty simple. He can become the first man to win three World Cups."

On the reasons behind having different kickers:

"I asked Damian why he gave up the kicking tee when he kicked two really good ones and he said, 'Well, Aaron Smith was the water boy' and he told Damian I had given instructions for him to give up the kicking tee. So he was really grumpy with me. I had him on and told him I hadn't said a word to Nuggy [Smith] so he had a fight with Nuggy. At the end of the day, I wanted Beaudy [Beauden Barrett] to have a couple of goal-kicks just to keep him [in the loop]. But Damian is kicking really well. But nothing sinister [in the fight]."

Sam Cane, captain

On his first start at Rugby World Cup 2023:

"I think I said a couple of days ago I was excited about my body feeling really good, my first start and I loved being back out there. I quite enjoyed the first 20 minutes, it was quite combative but as the game wore on it opened up a bit. It was a bit stop-start because there were points being scored but I felt good out there. Felt free."

ON-FIELD REACTION

Damian McKenzie, Mastercard Player of the Match and full-back

On the game:

"I think it was a really enjoyable game, pretty free-flowing. It took us a long while to break Uruguay, they defended us really well and then we were able to put some points on the board, so really proud of the win."

On quarter-final qualification:

"We have got to where we want to be, we know we have to get better from this week and move on to the quarters whoever we play. We're really excited for what's to come."

On the eye-catching offload to Will Jordan:

"I got pretty lucky to be honest, it bounced up to me and Will Jordan was on my inside to score the try. I'm glad that one bounced my way."

Sam Cane, captain and back row

On the game:

"It was great. It was quite a tough test match, especially in that first half. We were made to really work for it. In that first 20 minutes we showed some good composure and patience to not allow [errors] to creep in and we started getting some rewards. I thought Uruguay have been outstanding this World Cup. I have enjoyed watching their passion and ability to throw the ball around, so congratulations to them on a really good World Cup."

On Sam Whitelock getting his 150th cap, a New Zealand record:

"It's a phenomenal achievement, that's a lot of test matches. Anyone who has played a test match knows it's not just a game on the weekend, it's all the work that goes into it and he is someone who optimises professionalism and a lot of the work he puts in during the week is relentless. I think that is why he has been able to have such a long and successful career. He is a huge part of this team."

Ian Foster, head coach

On the performance:

"Really proud of it. I thought Uruguay really honed in in that first 20, they showed a massive degree of spirit and managed to slow the game down. We held our composure very well and were quite clinical. It was a little bit different from last week in that we had to grind our way through that contact area. It was hard to get quick ball but I'm pleased with the patience."

On the first 20 minutes:

"We expected that sort of game, we talked about how this was going to turn into a bit of a bun fight at the breakdown. We flagged it earlier - we were really impressed with their work in the pool and it took us a while to break them down, they put a lot energy into that period and reaped some rewards, but it is how do you sustain that for 80 minutes?"

On New Zealand's quarter-final qualification:

"Looking forward to it, can't wait."