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All Blacks coach Ian Foster after the international test match against Ireland in Wellington.
Hamiltonians say it is time for Waikato-born All Blacks coach Ian Foster to leave after an “unacceptable” performance against Ireland.
Foster, who was born in Pūtaruru and attended Forest View High School in Tokoroa, declined to discuss his future as All Blacks coach after New Zealand’s first home defeat in 27 years.
There was little sympathy in the streets of Hamilton.
“I think unfortunately he has to go. You can’t allow a team to devalue its performance to such an extent without someone having to leave,” said Philip Wright.
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The All Blacks lost their series decider 32-22 to Ireland at Sky Stadium in Wellington on Saturday and have now lost four of the last five games under Foster’s watch, including consecutive home defeats.
The last time they lost in a row in New Zealand was in 1998, the last time they lost a series at home in 1994.
He had been signed for next year’s Rugby World Cup, but when asked if he was the best person to take the team forward, given their abysmal run of results, Foster said: “I just want to talk about the test match”.
Nigel King wasn’t so reluctant.
“I think he should go. Right now his record is not that good. But then he had a hard act to follow,”
“I think they should have more than one style of rugby. With the talent brain drain and things like that, going abroad and also New Zealand coaches going abroad, other teams are catching up. to fetch.”
He said Foster hadn’t left his mark on the team the way Steve Hansen did.
“They play their style of rugby, and normally it drives people out of the park, but when it doesn’t work they don’t seem to be – I suspect they have other plans – but they don’t. seem to be able to perform.”
Tommy Rowlands said he thought it was time for Foster to go, and suggested Crusaders coach Scott Robertson as an alternative.
“They need a new team of coaches. It’s been the same group of coaches, I don’t know for how long. It seems like it’s just been the same group with no change with how the game is played now.”
Olly Spicer was unsure of Robertson as he had only coached one team.
“Ireland is a pretty sharp team at the moment. So any coach, it’s going to be pretty hard to beat them, but I think there’s still a lot of work to be done.”
“I think it’s time for a new coach, I’m just not sure who.”