{"id":296407,"date":"2023-10-19T20:10:19","date_gmt":"2023-10-19T20:10:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportstons.com\/?p=296407"},"modified":"2023-10-19T20:10:19","modified_gmt":"2023-10-19T20:10:19","slug":"new-zealand-head-coach-ian-foster-dismisses-favouritism-tag-against-argentina","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportstons.com\/rugby-union\/new-zealand-head-coach-ian-foster-dismisses-favouritism-tag-against-argentina\/","title":{"rendered":"New Zealand head coach Ian Foster dismisses favouritism tag against Argentina"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/p>\n
Head coach Ian Foster has warned New Zealand the past counts for nothing as they head into their World Cup semi-final against Argentina as overwhelming favourites.<\/p>\n
The three-time champions have lost just two of 36 matches against Los Pumas and are widely expected to prevail again in Friday\u2019s crunch clash at the Stade de France in Paris.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are two teams in the semi-final \u2013 anyone can win,\u201d said the All Blacks boss. \u201cThat\u2019s the first mindset both teams have.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are massively respectful of Argentina. We know that they have had a great tournament.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t live in the past in terms of results. Rugby World Cup tournaments are really about the present. It\u2019s about the best team on the night.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you go into a World Cup semi-final with any expectation that the past is going to happen again, you have got problems.\u201d<\/p>\n
Foster has made two changes to his side following the hard-fought 28-24 quarter-final win over Ireland, with Samuel Whitelock coming into the second row and Mark Telea starting on the left wing.<\/p>\n
Foster said: \u201cWe\u2019ve been really impressed with Argentina. We\u2019re playing a team that we know scrap and fight for every little bit of possession. We are going to have to be at our best.\u201d<\/p>\n
Argentina overcame a 10-point deficit to beat Wales last weekend and reach the semi-finals for a third time.<\/p>\n
Coach Michael Cheika has recalled Gonzalo Bertranou at scrum-half in his one change to the line-up.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe history is not in our favour, but it is up to us to change that,\u201d said Cheika, who oversaw a famous win over the All Blacks in Christchurch last year.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have a chance to on Friday and we will be ready. When we arrive on the field we will do what we do best.\u201d<\/p>\n