Ian Foster Must Fight, Talk To Action As All Blacks Head For Boxing Acid Test

Marc Hinton is a senior rugby writer for Stuff and has covered the All Blacks since 1996

OPINION: For those scratching their heads over the figurative rearrangement of the deck chairs on the good ship All Blacks, rest assured we’ve almost certainly not seen the last of the carnage. Some formidable icebergs lurk menacingly beneath the turbulent waters ahead.

But one thing now seems clear: Ian Foster will remain head coach for the rest of what is shaping up to be one of the most disastrous years in the team’s history. Other than that, nothing is certain, but it seems likely that he will see his run to the 2023 World Cup in France.

That baffles an army of critics – including this one – who felt he had to pay the price for his team’s descent into the swamppretty much since he took over, but at an alarming rate in late 2021 and early 2022.

He has not only coughed up a 1-0 defeat to Ireland as far back as ’22, but also the first set of setbacks on Kiwi soil in 28 years. That’s a run of four defeats in their last five (back to Ireland and France in the north last November). Now, back-to-back clashes against the formidable Boks hover in their backyard with menacing intent.

READ MORE:
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* All Blacks coach Ian Foster promises to fight on: ‘I’m strong, I’m resilient’

Given the form the All Blacks are in, even an abridged Bledisloe series in September presents itself as a decidedly tricky proposition, let alone England at Twickenham in November to wrap up a tour (along with Wales and Scotland) which is likely to expand. a long way from about.

First things first. How did Foster survive when assistants John Plumtree and Brad Mooar weren’t so fortunate? Remember, these men were handpicked by him and hailed as ideal additions to a coaching team that reportedly ticked all the boxes.

Suffice it to say, head coach alternatives were scarce for a New Zealand rugby organization already digging into its sizable reserves to cover the cost of the latest coaching reshuffle – now in the millions.

Series winner Scott Robertson has clearly turned down any chance to take over mid-campaign when he would have inherited someone else’s squad and someone else’s problems. Both he and NZ Rugby are silent on discussions that may have taken place, but Robertson’s acceptance of a Baabaas coaching role in November (against a New Zealand XV) is proof that he is dancing to his own tune at this stage.

That’s a smart move from a coach who can rightly feel sad that he didn’t get the nod in the first place in the wake of the 2019 World Cup failure.

The only other alternative was probably Joe Schmidt, who has followed a stint with the Blues by coming in as a selector and coaching “advisor” in the national lineup. The former Irish boss would make the ideal carer, but seems determined to stick to his obligations on a part-time basis at this stage as he balances time spent with his family in Taupo with his newfound responsibilities.

Leon MacDonald’s name is also mentioned in the broadcasts, but the Blues head coach, who was part of Robertson’s failed ticket, is more of an assistant at this stage of his career.

So Foster it is. At least the beleaguered coach has had enough time to restore his balance and fighting spirit and stated on Friday that he “strong and resilient”has a “good feeling and relationship with my players” and was also “strategic and responsible”.

When it was revealed on Sunday that he had brought in Jason Ryan to take over the attackers, he doubled down by declaring that he had the full support of his players to initiate a response.

This, remember, was the same coach who told the media last November, after the first year of three defeats since 2009, that despite all the setbacks they “made progress” and “have some good options now”.

Foster has hinted at more coaching changes. For now, he’s taking on the responsibilities of Mooar’s back attack, but has labeled that as a short-term proposition. Presumably they hope to either increase Schmidt’s involvement or, say, bring in a MacDonald to bolster the crew.

What’s interesting about Ryan’s addition and the drum beats around MacDonald (he has been named coach of the New Zealand XV to beat Robertson’s Baabaas in November) is that they are both stalwart Robertson men.

If you’re a Foster, and you take a moment to think about the coaches you’re surrounded by, let’s just say the motivation to turn this sow’s ear into a silk purse must be pretty strong.

One last point: this drop isn’t just for the coach. How many real World XV players do the All Blacks have now? Two, if we’re honest, in Ardie Savea (possibly the best in the world) and Will Jordan.

Other talented strains, such as Beauden and Jordie Barrett, Rieko Ioane, Codie Taylor, Dane Coles, Aaron Smith, Sam Cane, Nepo Laulala and even Brodie Retallick, have fallen back into the pack.

As much as the coach has to come up with some elusive answers, his players also have to prove themselves again. The next fortnight in South Africa is big, in so many ways.