Ian Foster during an All Blacks press conference. Photo / Photosport
Ian Foster during an All Blacks press conference. Photo / Photosport
A South African rugby writer has called out the All Blacks' "whinging" over Springboks winger Kurt-Lee Arendse's poor tackle on Beauden Barrett during last weekend's test in Mbombela.
Arendse was red carded – and subsequently banned for four weeks – after he collided with Barrett mid-air during an aerial contest, causing the All Blacks first-five to fall dangerously on his head.
In an article on South African website Super Sport, rugby writer Brenden Nel admitted it was a "clumsy" challenge but said Ian Foster and the All Blacks were "trying to claim victimhood" and detract from their poor performances in their post-match reactions.
"They have tried to turn the attention to Kurt-Lee Arendse's poor aerial attempt that left both him and Beauden Barrett leave [sic] the field after the horror clash," Nel wrote in a piece titled 'All Black whinging unbecoming of a great side'.
"No South African fan, pundit or anyone watching the game from these parts has defended Arendse. The team even said - politely - he got his timing wrong.
After the match, Foster said the tackle was "one of the worst I've ever seen" and claimed the All Blacks needed "more protection" in the air.
Beauden Barrett is tackled by Kurt Lee Arendse. Photo / Photosport
But Nel claims Foster's reaction was "cynical" and "desperate", after what was a disappointing performance leading to the All Blacks' fifth loss in six tests.
"This after they won just six of the 16 aerial battles during the game. There were no other incidents even close to what happened in the 77th minute, and none warranting such an outcry. Yet here we are," Nel wrote.
"Foster vowed to take the matter up with World Rugby and even sent Beauden Barrett out on Wednesday to front up in an interview and talk about how scared he was. Fair enough, it was a bad incident, and player welfare is always important.
"But the timing, along with the way the All Blacks have played it, has come across cynical, as if they want to influence referee Luke Pearce with their whinge. As if they want to deflect from their own failings by placing the spotlight on the Boks.
"The aerial challenge is a part of modern rugby and most teams know it is coming when playing the Boks. In fact, normally the All Blacks use the tactic more than the Boks in these clashes, but they were outgunned in Mbombela.
"Still, when you think back to some of the All Black sides who have had controversy, who have shrugged and told their players to get on with it, the noise being made by Foster smacks of a desperate side looking for desperate measures to deflect from their own shortcomings."
Ian Foster during an All Blacks press conference. Photo / Photosport
Nel also pointed to another aerial incident last year, when Jordie Barrett was red carded after his boot collided with Wallabies winger Marika Koroibete's face during the All Blacks' 38-21 win in Perth, suggesting Foster was hypocritical in his reaction to Arendse.
Barrett later had his red card expunged from his record and was cleared of a ban after the Sanzaar judicial committee found that the challenge was accidental.
"After all, it was the same Foster who denied the All Blacks had a problem when Jordie Barrett was rightfully red carded for a 'kung-fu kick' in the Bledisloe Cup test in Perth last year," Nel wrote.
"At the time, this was Foster's reaction to the red card - surprise.
"Fast forward to this week and you'd be right for seeing the irony in the whinging."
Nel said SA director of rugby Rassie Erasmus, who tweeted a sarcastic response to a Beauden Barrett interview recounting the incident, was "perhaps a bit miffed" at the irony.
Spot on! An area of the game that requires courage and technique, and as you say injuries are part of the contest. We hope you get well soon and recover from this traumatic experience. pic.twitter.com/A5Be2ougVR
Nel also suggested Arendse and other Springboks chasers were consistently blocked by All Blacks players during aerial challenges.
"What Foster didn't mention, and what the Boks could easily have complained about, are the blocking lines run by multiple players in their teams to try and put off chasers. An argument can be made that this - in all games - leads to the aerial contest being more dangerous, as players have to evade obstacles in their path while keeping their eyes on the ball.
"It's something that is a blight on the game and all teams do it, but the All Blacks on Saturday did this multiple times which wasn't picked up by the ref."
Ultimately, Nel concluded that the All Blacks' "victimhood mentality" was unbecoming and "desperate".
"The bottom line though is, the All Black brand deserves better. They have been admired across the world for their style of play and success. The victimhood mentality doesn't suit them and doesn't suit the brand.
"We, as South Africans, often are faulted for complaining and are accused of playing victims. We have to get better as a rugby nation when things don't go our way.
"But it was surprising to see the All Blacks so desperate to play this card this week. They should follow their own mantra and 'just get on with it'."
