PARIS – Irish media has accused the All Blacks of paranoia after their assistant coach was asked about a team photographer taking snaps at a New Zealand training session.
Mike Catt was asked about the incident at the Ireland media conference on Friday but was baffled by the implication that the Irish were spying.
In a story headlined ‘Ireland brush off bizarre suggestion of spying on All Blacks training as New Zealand paranoia grows’, the Irish Independent said the All Blacks were “apparently annoyed that a photographer affiliated with the Irish team attended the first 15 minutes of their training session yesterday.”
Catt was asked by a Kiwi reporter “did you have a photographer at the All Blacks training session yesterday? Is that something you’d normally do?”
“I’m sorry, I wasn’t a part of that, so…” replied Catt. The IRFU’s press officer Peter Breen then clarified that Ireland were unaware of the photographer’s presence at All Blacks training but that under tournament rules there’d be nothing wrong with a photographer attending.
World Rugby official Greg Thomas confirmed there was no reason a Ireland team photographer could not take images in the prescribed window. All teams have to make the first 15 minutes of training open for vision requirements – they usually do warm ups and basic drills in that time to satisfy media requirements before closing the doors to media.
“The rules say yes, as long as they’re standing with the rest of the photographers, they can (attend training),” Thomas said.
“The bizarre exchange perhaps reveals a certain paranoia in the All Blacks’ ranks ahead of Saturday’s game,” reported the Independent.
“In reality, what happened was that with Ireland having a day off the photographer in question, who works for the INPHO agency who are the IRFU’s partners, went and did his job during the time allowed to the world’s media.”
French star Antoine Dupont says he didn’t feel pressured to come back before he was ready despite being named to face South Africa just 24 days after suffering a broken jaw against Namibia.
Asked about his physical and mental condition after the harrowing injury, the former World Player of the Year said: “I feel very good on both counts. At the time, I didn’t know how serious my injury was. I thought the competition was over.
“I had to wait for the tests, the appointment with the surgeon and the operation. My convalescence went well. I was able to return gradually, and I had several weeks to do all that. Today, I’m at the top of my game, physically and technically.”
The star No.9 said he knew he was in trouble as soon as the clash happened.
“It was a difficult moment. I was lucky that my injury happened quite early. It was important to go through all the stages before coming back this weekend,” he said.
His surgeon has suggested he wear a scrum cap during the game – although what use that would be to protect him against a blow on the jaw is anyone’s guess.
He said his return to the field sped up this week when he was able to get into game situations.
“That boosted my confidence. I didn’t feel any pain. That reassured me. It was important to go through all the stages,” Dupont said.
Monday’s clash with South Africa will be a huge test of his recovery.
“In matches with these levels of intensity, there’s always pain, whether physical or mental,” said Dupont. “International matches are always tough. We have to be willing to suffer to achieve what we want.”
His return will give a huge boost to home fans, but he says there was no external pressure on him to come back too soon.
“I didn’t feel any pressure from the staff. If I’m playing today, it’s because all the lights are green and I have the surgeon’s approval. There was no forced decision. We respected the deadlines,” said Dupont.
“The most important thing was how I felt, not to be apprehensive, to feel good. The most important thing was to think about the team before yourself.”
Even the opposition appears happy to have Dupont back.
“Antoine’s a big player and everyone respects him around the world. He’s an important player, the leader of the French team, so it was always going to be a big thing,” said Springboks skipper Siya Kolisi.
“We don’t wish for one another to be injured, we want to see what you can do play against the best so if he is playing, that’s great. I am happy for him. We want to play against the best French side possible.”
Ireland’s Aussie-born winger Mack Hansen has been declared right to go against New Zealand despite training with strapping on his calf muscle on Friday.
“Mack was as looking as sprightly as ever,” said assistant Mike Catt. “He is all good, running freely.”
Hansen will take his place in a backline that’s humming and, according to Catt, has benefitted from different experiences.
Along with Hansen, Kiwi-born Bundee Aki and Jamison Gibson-Park have been outstanding during the team’s 17-game winning run.
“Just good rugby players ultimately, they love the game,” Catt said of the backline.
“Also, what we have shown over the past three, four years is the togetherness of the backs, like the forwards, as a team, really. Our togetherness is huge and we fully understand what we are trying to achieve.
“The players fully understand what they need to achieve, or want to achieve and now it’s up to them to perform and make sure that happens.
“But all different types of background – Gaelic [GAA, Gaelic football], whether it’s Aussie Rules for a Mack [Hansen] or something like that. But ultimately, they are nice and calm and their decision-making has been very, very good recently. That’s what we base it on, being calm enough to make the right decisions and the skill becomes easy.”
Much is being made of the physicality of the Springboks but they’ve been able to marry power with discipline at the World Cup so far.
Perhaps expecting the crowd to try to influence referee Ben O’Keeffe in Monday’s match, several Boks have made note of their good disciplinary record in the competition.
“Our discipline has been really good – I think we are the only team who haven’t received a yellow card in this tournament. We do play physically, we do play on the edge but we train to tackle correctly and stay onside,” said skipper Siya Kolisi.
“That is why technique is so important. But at the same time, we can’t be worried about doing something crazy. We have to live on the edge, that is what our game is as a South African team, to play as hard as we can for 80 minutes.
“People enjoy rugby because it’s brutal. We need to go forward so our wings and backs can do their thing. I think the ref will be able to manage the game and obviously if we steer clear of anything naughty, we will be alright.”
Springboks prop Steve Kitshoff was also keen to send a message when asked about the importance of avoiding cards.
“It’s extremely crucial. For us it’s been one of the big focus points, making sure our discipline is in the right place, our tackle heights are spot-on and the way we hit the breakdowns and collisions, so we avoid a card or foul play penalty,” said Kitshoff.
“Especially when it comes to the knockouts, getting your tackle technique right is going to be a key difference in close games.
“If you concede a penalty and yellow card, you give the opposition an opportunity to enter your 22 or kick at goal. Big games like this normally end in small margins on the scoreboard, so we have to do everything we can to get the result in our favour.”
Franco Mostert said the team had studied O’Keeffe during their prep this week.
“You have to analyse the ref, the small stuff, what does he like, how does he like players to talk to him, the respect that you give him,” Mostert said.
“We have leaders like Siya and Duane Vermeulen who have the ability to speak to the referee. With guys like that, you don’t have to focus on the ref, you just focus on your own game.”
The two teams played out a brutal match in Marseille last year with the hosts prevailing 30-26
“We had a look at it during the week. We did a lot of things right in that game,” Kitshoff said. “They got a red card quite early in the game but were still in it right to the end. We took a lot of learnings from it. The experience from that game is going to help us a lot this weekend but we still need to pitch up and play proper rugby on Sunday.”.
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
Can you name the 9 ?
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
Sure but the seed is planted ????
Perthstayer
Roar Rookie
I didn't know those stats. But so often, as they have done above, Roarers select the facts that suit their agenda.
Ankle-tapped Waterboy
Roar Rookie
Your mention of teams that yap caused me to reflect on the taciturn nature of the national-level Australian sportsperson. It is certainly a point to ponder.
Harty
Roar Rookie
I have substantial experience in how people actually behave. It is my livelihood. That humans are easily influenced is not “a common belief”. It is the reality of the human condition. We are herd animals. We are much less rational than we like to believe. Even a basic understanding of Caldini’s Weapons of Influence reinforces how susceptible we all are to these factors in ordinary life let alone in the high pressure scenarios we are discussing. Referees are not super human. The most basic review of the best referees in the world would show how subjective their decisions are. Why is that? ????♂️
WEST
Roar Guru
Reason DMac becomes obsolete.. like Mo’unga or BB or any of our strike weapons become ineffective in an intense match. Our pack, if we’re not getting go forward ball, it makes life tough for Aaron Smith, that effects his passing talent (why Ireland target our rucks like their lives depend on it.. because it does) Ireland can’t allow AS to get his bullet pass firing. If our pack gets over the gain-line, start putting in dominant hits, dominate ball carriers. Ireland will be in serious trouble.
scrum
Roar Rookie
The ABs are brilliant when the defence gives them any room, probably the best in the world in this scenario. They struggle under great in you face defence and lose shape . Not sure Dmac is a good selection, completely brilliant when given time and space but will the Irish give him that latitude.
scrum
Roar Rookie
I believe Susie has switched camps and was part of the spying saga
jimmy jones
Roar Rookie
o'keefe will feel the hometown pressure like the Auckland semi
WEST
Roar Guru
This is a good preview https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CJdc0CUbghk
FunBus
Roar Rookie
You mean like how Frizzel is, apparently, indispensable to the AB back row?????????????????????
FunBus
Roar Rookie
He’s pruned his friends for the BBQ down, though. It’s a younger crowd as part of the preparation for the BBQ to watch the 2027 finals.
FunBus
Roar Rookie
It depends what you mean by ‘getting it wrong.’ Rassie’s intimidation of O’Keefe before the 2nd Lions test ultimately won you the series.
FunBus
Roar Rookie
Number of foreign born players in the original AB squad of 33 = 9 Number of foreign born players in the original Irish squad of 33 = 8.
WEST
Roar Guru
Agree bro. But I’m concerned about our accuracy, we start an attacking phase, begins well we start getting over the gainline.. then we drop it cold. Just kills our attack. There are also times we start forcing passes or trying to get an offload when they should just go to ground. Being smarter. Also we have a tendency of someone making a break… No support, no cleaners. It’s like an AB breaking through the defence is a surprise to both the defenders and the ABs. Instead of a massive territory gain it results in a penalty for holding on because of no support or just a turnover and we end up back inside our 22! These little moments we need to clean up. But if we’re accurate, disciplined and get the rub of the green we could have a massive victory.
CUW
Roar Rookie
does Ireland require one to relinquish another citizenship for theirs? i know few Middle East countries that grant citizenship to foreigners - on the condition they give up original citizenship - i.e. only 1 passport !!
CUW
Roar Rookie
how the Allblacks would have loved to have TKB on the bench !!! :silly: :silly: :silly:
CUW
Roar Rookie
or maybe becoz it seems all the MOM awards have been won by the Irish NewZealand players !! :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :silly: :silly: :silly: :silly: :laughing: :laughing:
CUW
Roar Rookie
that line wont sell papers - or garner retweets !!! :silly: :laughing: :silly: :laughing: :silly:
Thom
Roar Rookie
Shagg and eddy been on guard.