SPORTS SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 24 , 2013 All Blacks seeking Photo of the day to make history DUBLIN: A much revamped New Zealand side will bid today why not use them?” A lot of eyes will be fixed on Carter’s to achieve what no team in the professional era has done and replacement at fly-half, 24-year-old Aaron Cruden, but assis- win all their Test matches in a calendar year by beating Ireland tant coach Ian Foster has few doubts about his ability to shine. at Lansdowne Road. Coach Steve Hansen has introduced sev- “Cruden can be very satisfied with his year as he has started a en changes to the starting line-up from the one that last fair amount of tests and run the games really well, especially Saturday avenged last year’s defeat against England at the first Test of the Rugby Championship against Australia (All Twickenham, but he is confident the fresher faces can round Blacks won 47-29),” said Foster. off the perfect year. Foster, who was brought on board by Hansen after the Their opponents-coached by New Zealander Joe Schmidt- World Cup triumph, said that neither complacency nor fatigue face an awesome task. Not only have they never beaten the could be deployed as excuses if they slip up on Sunday and All Blacks, they lost 60-0 the last time they met in Hamilton claimed making history was not on their minds. “It’s boring last year, but also the manner in which they lost 32-15 to press but for us this game is just the next one, nothing more,” Australia last Saturday has had some pundits commenting he said. “We’re not seeing it as the last one. We’re really that they will be served up as a ‘Sunday roast’. pleased with the first two results (beating France and No international team in the professional era has enjoyed a England) but we’re not happy with the performances. perfect calendar year, with the All Blacks side led by Wayne “We’re ambitious and we are still chasing that great per- Shelford-that won all seven of their Tests in 1989 - the last formance. So this match for us it is not relevant that it is either major nation to achieve the feat when rugby union was still an the last Test of the year or that the opposition is Ireland.” For amateur sport. However, New Zealand themselves came close Schmidt it is not a case of his suppressing his loyalties to his to it again when they won 11 games and drew one under John homeland, it is a case of delivering a good performance from Hart in 1997. Hansen, who was assistant coach to Graham a squad he says are a fine bunch of lads and in which he has Henry when the All Blacks won the World Cup on home soil placed his faith in fly-half Johnny Sexton coming through two years ago, is adamant that even with the radical changes, alright despite a week spent battling a hamstring injury. Competitors perform during Red Bull Flugtag at Museum Of Islamic Art in Doha, Qatar and without the experience of injured duo Dan Carter and “This is a terrific group of guys who I have every faith in on November 1, 2013. — www.redbullcontentpool.com Tony Woodcock, the side can create history. “In the last nine and if we avoid our defensive lapses from last week, we can weeks, we’ve gone round the world twice, and this will be our match them,” he said. “It is a huge challenge but I always stick seventh test in nine weeks,” said the 54-year-old, whose side to the principle that in a two horse race anyone can win it.” will be bidding to make it 14 wins from 14 matches. “We’ve had However, 48-year-old Schmidt is under no illusions of the size a big, physical game against Argentina, another physical per- of the task facing his side. “They don’t have vulnerable No mixed loyalties for formance in Johannesburg, a lot of running and chasing in moments. Even when the other team is pressing them on Dunedin, then France was physical and England was physical. their line, they turn the ball over and you are scrabbling back “It’s just the accumulation of a lot of travel and game-time. to prevent them scoring a try. “They do not feel the pressure. Kiwi’s coach Schmidt We need fresh legs and we’ve got ability sitting there fresh, so They are a team for all seasons.”— AFP DUBLIN: Ireland’s New Zealander coach Joe Schmidt said he Blues, admitted he would love to develop the Irish side into would have no mixed feelings when his national anthem rings something resembling the All Blacks model. out at Lansdowne Road today ahead of the one-off international “They have this freshness about them, no-one can ever feel with the world champions. The 48-year-old-who was appointed safe in any position or rest up because of the endless supply of to the post after Declan Kidney was sacked following a disap- talent trying to get into the side. “You only have to look at how pointing Six Nations campaign earlier this year-said his mind many of their Under-20 world championships winning side from would be already focussed on the kick-off and the first 2011 are in this squad to see that. “I would love our younger exchanges. players like Paddy Jackson and Rob Henshaw to be the first in a The Irish face an awesome task in trying to prevent the All long line of players who break into their province side and then Blacks from becoming the first team in the professional era to are up competing regularly for a place in our starting line-ups.” win all of their Test matches in a calendar year, especially as they Schmidt, who got the Ireland post on the back of guiding have never beaten them before. “I’ve been working away at this Irish province Leinster to two European Cup triumphs, said the job of coaching sides for a while now and my matchday psyche,” All Blacks played as they did because they had gained the habit Schmidt told reporters after naming his side to play today. “I down the generations of being winners. “Through winning you have to be dispassionate and to be honest most of the preamble gain momentum and as a result of that confidence,” he said. washes over me even if the haka and the anthem are stirring. I’m “When you have the confidence then you can express yourself focused already on the kick-off. “Anyway we’re behind this thick and they have become masters at that.” glass in the stands....so hearing anything is pretty tough! “Of Schmidt admits that this squad could be the best ever and course it is special but I would like to reflect on that. My patriotic pinpointed why they were coming into the match with 13 wins loyalty is superseded by my closer loyalties to this group of play- from 13 Tests. “It is like this squad. They have not had to play in ers who are a terrific bunch. “For me there are no mixed emo- rainy conditions in the November tests but I bet you they would tions in the build-up, there is just the competitive edge. “There be just as effective. They could adapt in any climate or terrain. is no debate about which side I am backing today, although you “Their scrum is capable of playing in wet conditions. This group couldn’t say that about all my household! are capable of playing on the hoof as well. “I mean you can be “My son doesn’t have the same inside knowledge and loyalty thinking you have the upper hand when you are camped on to the fantastic bunch of guys I am in charge of but I can guaran- their line but in the flash of an eyelid they can have recovered tee you one thing, he won’t be getting any Irish kit!” Schmidt, the ball and be down in your 22 and you are scrambling back to who began his coaching career in New Zealand with Bay of try and prevent a try against you. “With them there is no vulnera- Plenty followed by a spell as assistant coach with the Auckland ble point.”— AFP Grieving Day fires PITTSBURGH: New York Islanders goalie Kevin Poulin (60) looks back to see a shot by Pittsburgh Penguins’ Chris Kunitz (14) bounce out of the net for a first-period goal during an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh. — AP Australia into World Crosby lifts Penguins Cup contention MELBOURNE: Jason Day ensured compatriot Adam Scott’s pre-tournament prediction of a World Cup triumph for PITTSBURGH: Sidney Crosby scored with 1:16 remaining in NHL results/standings Australia was no idle talk as he charged into the lead after the the final period to give the Pittsburgh Penguins a 4-3 victory third round of the $8 million tournament yesterday. Day’s over a stubborn New York Islanders in a thrilling start to the Vancouver 6, Columbus 2; Anaheim 1, Tampa Bay 0 (OT); assured five-under 66 gave himself a one-stroke lead over NHL’s Friday night schedule. Crosby’s 12th goal of the season Calgary 4, Florida 3 (SO); Pittsburgh 4, NY Islanders 3; Danish overnight leader Thomas Bjorn in the individual com- was also the 250th of his career, and the Penguins’ captain Washington 2, Montreal 3.