All Blacks coach Ian Foster says his under-pressure team must be smarter and more disciplined to avoid an embarrassing third loss in a row Saturday against an Argentinian side playing in honour of Diego Maradona.
The three-time world champions have been under heavy scrutiny after shock Tri Nations defeats to Australia and the Pumas, with calls for Foster’s axing after just five games in charge.
If they fail to win on Saturday, they will become the first New Zealand team to lose three in a row since 1998.
And Foster says: “The off-the-ball stuff has been a feature of this tournament and we’ve had to adjust. The reality is we have to learn to control ourselves and be in charge of our own discipline.
“We need to show a lot more composure and hopefully that shines through on Saturday.”
It will be an emotional game for the Pumas after the death Wednesday of football legend Maradona, with the side motivated to again lift the spirits of their nation.
Coach Mario Ledesma says: “He was an example of how you should play for this [Argentina] jersey.”
dailyvoice@inl.co.za