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New Zealand head coach Ian Foster said on Thursday past Rugby World Cup semifinals will count for nothing during tonight’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 semifinals.
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.
Foster, however, insists his team are taking nothing for granted.
“We are massively respectful of Argentina,” he told reporters before Friday’s match in Paris.
“If you go into a World Cup semifinal 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 semifinal after beating Wales last weekend in the last eight.
In 2007 they lost to South Africa in the semifinals, 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.
Cheika’s side have lost just once so far during this tournament, a ham-fisted opening defeat at the hands of 14-man England.
They face the All Blacks on an annual basis in The Rugby Championship, and beat them last August in New Zealand.
“I’ve been really impressed with Argentina, how they’ve carried their campaign,” Foster said.
“It was a great victory against Wales where they showed their tenacity.
“We know they’ve got that as we play them regularly and they’ve been difficult opponents. So there will be no surprises.”
Former New Zealand fly-half Dan Carter, who won the 2011 and 2015 World Cups, observed training this week on the outskirts of the French capital — SuperSport.
Online Reporter