NZL team announcement (v IRE): head coach Foster, captain Cane

Comments from New Zealand head coach Ian Foster and captain Sam Cane at a media briefing after announcing the team to take on Ireland at Stade de France in the quarter-finals on Saturday, 14 October.

Ian Foster, head coach

On Mark Tel'ea's absence for disciplinary reasons:

"Yeah, he breached the protocol. Nothing major but enough to keep him out of selection for this week. He has trained well, happens.

"It is what it is. For us, it's pretty clean cut. I don't want to talk about it anymore. We have dealt with it as a team and moved on."

On drawing on tough times as inspiration for this quarter-final:

"I don't think the past matters. I think you learn a lot from the past but you learn it at the time and it becomes part of who you are and becomes part of you as a team. This team we have prepared well with this in mind. 

"If you look at this year, the whole thing was about getting ready for a World Cup and making sure we are primed to perform at this stage of the tournament. We are excited. We know the size of the challenge, how good Ireland are. They deserve all the plaudits they get. But play-off rugby is about who's best on the day."

On Finlay Christie being on the bench over Cam Roigard and if it is also because of disciplinary reasons:

"What would make you think it was discipline? We just felt it was horses for courses for this particular game. We think Finlay has an edge defensively. I think there will be a lot of action around the ruck defensively. We have been delighted with Cam's form and in a different type of game, it might have gone slightly differently. But this one here we have gone for that."

On what Tel'ea's breach of protocol was:

"I am not going to talk about it again. It's minor."

On what is says about the team if a player is breaching protocol:

"I think it says volumes, we believe what we stand for. I think that speaks volumes for the team when we make that sort of decision."

On front row selection:

"Tough. We've got six props, three hookers that we're probably happy to start them all. Everyone's fit, healthy and we just feel it is the right mix. I think probably a little bit of mobility, agility defensively one catalyst in that. We feel the scrum is going to be done well regardless of who goes in there, so we are confident in the scrum side of it. Just the areas we believe we need to challenge."

On Damian McKenzie starting from the bench:

"Yeah. Go through everything. He's playing well but like the combinations we are getting. Like that we've got a change-up option as the game infolds and I think the trio of Richie [Mo'unga], Beaudy [Barrett] and Damian is looking [agreeable] at the moment. But also really delighted with Richie and Beaudy's form so it's a tough decision but the great thing is is Damian has come in and really put his hand up with his form. It gives us some good impact off that bench." 

On the fact Ireland have never won a RWC quarter-final:

"Look Ireland came into the World Cup last year as the number one. The past is the past. I think it's probably, I wouldn't say a newer Irish team but it's an Irish team on a mission. And it's an All Blacks team on a mission. I think I'll leave it to you to talk about the past and what that means and the burdens that everyone carries.

"At the end of the day we all carry burdens going into these games and the key is to clear your head and just play."

On if winning previous RWC finals and other knock-outs gives them an edge:

"It gives us confidence that we know what it's about. In my time, 2015, we had to deal with the demons of Cardiff and France and people talking about 2007. In 2019 it was all about playing a red hot Irish team who has beaten us the year before and coming into the tournament number one so there is a lot of synergies if you look at the past but what you have heard is that the real lesson is it doesn't mean anything.

"We have been preparing really well over the last month, we're ready to go and I'm sure they have too. It should be a great game."

Sam Cane, captain

On drawing on tough times as inspiration for this quarter-final:

"Going through tough times and good times as a team, you draw on that for sure. I don't think there has been any chat amongst our team around underdogs or favourites or anything like that. We're just aware we are playing the best team in the world at the minute in a quarter-final. We're treating it as a final because the loser goes home.

"We can draw on the fact we know the work that needs to go in, we know we need to turn up, with an intensity and a freedom and a willingness to be able to do that. We have done that in the past and [I think] we are in a good spot to do that again. We're very excited."

On the Irish fans:

"Part of the game plan is to start well and if we are able to do that it should have a follow-on effect and keep the crowd quiet. New Zealand is a little bit further away than Ireland so they can get on the plane and support the team a little bit easier. I know there will be plenty of Kiwi's there too and both teams will be looking to start well. It's going to be a heck of a Test match so that is going to be important and we have seen the crowd getting behind them already this World Cup. But to be honest it's one of the great things about playing in big stadiums, in massive games like this, is the atmosphere and the energy that is in the crowd. We will be feeding off of it."

On the opportunity of a confidence boost if they win this game: 

"To be honest that is the first time I have heard it all week [about New Zealand being asked about a fear of failing].  Our mindset is, it's easy to flip something like that and what if we win? What if we start really well? And what if our set piece goes exactly how we want it? If you start of thinking of things like that and we take confidence from the hard work that has gone into the preparation. We absolutely are going in with confidence and it will just be about being abele to execute what we have done on the training pitch out there, under massive pressure in front of a full crowd. If we are able to do that and do it consistently we will give ourselves a really good shot at winning and when we get there we will see how we feel."