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All Blacks selections set to change with Joe Schmidt onboard
Don’t be surprised to see the All Blacks change the way in which they select players after having recruited former Ireland boss Joe Schmidt as an independent selector.
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After various media reports linked him to the job earlier this week, New Zealand Rugby confirmed they have hired Schmidt to replace outgoing All Blacks selector Grant Fox on Tuesday.
The announcement caused a stir within Kiwi rugby circles given Schmidt’s reputation as one of the best coaches in rugby, as evidenced by his track record in Europe since 2007.
A serial title-winner with French club Clermont and Irish side Leinster, it was Schmidt’s performances with Ireland that really earned him international recognition.
The 56-year-old guided the men from the Emerald Isle to three Six Nations titles, a Grand Slam, their first two victories over the All Blacks after 111 years of unsuccessful attempts, and number one spot on the World Rugby rankings in 2019.
Adding that vast experience into the All Blacks’ coaching ranks, especially on the back of their underwhelming 2021 season, has understandably injected a sense of optimism among New Zealand’s faithful heading into next year.
That feeling has extended to head coach Ian Foster, who is hopeful Schmidt’s coaching credentials will translate well into his new role as All Blacks selector.
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“It’s going to be very different, but it’s equally as exciting,” Foster told reporters on Tuesday of Schmidt’s transition from an international head coach to a selector.
“I’m of the great belief that that sort of performance and coaching is probably 80 percent selection, so it’s a vital component, and so it’s something that you take pretty seriously.”
Given that a major reason behind Schmidt’s recruitment was to provide the All Blacks with a new pair of analytical eyes, as well as Foster’s high regard for the role of a selector, fresh input and observations are expected over the coming months.
Schmidt’s alternative ideas to that of the incumbent All Blacks coaching group, which was ultimately the driving force behind New Zealand’s maiden two losses to Ireland in 2016 and 2018, could therefore spell change in how Foster’s squad is picked leading up to the 2023 World Cup.
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While it remains to be seen what the exact implications of any revamped selection mindset might entail, Foster is relishing how that could benefit his All Blacks side that lost to Ireland for a third time in five years last month, a defeat that was accompanied by others losses to France and the Springboks.
The recruitment of Joe Schmidt has been widely heralded as a coup for the All Blacks, and Ian Foster has outlined why exactly that is. #AllBlacks https://t.co/SPHj6oPbi1
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 14, 2021
“We love the conversations that go around and the debates, and I’m sure they’ll continue,” he said.
“They’ll probably sound a little bit different, and they’ll come from a different mouth, but I’m sure that the desire to better the team is still going to be a paramount and centre of the conversation, so that’s all that really matters.”
It’s for that reason that Foster says he is “privileged” that Schmidt has taken on this new role with the All Blacks after conceding that he looked for external help in a bid to drive the All Blacks to a more fruitful year in 2022.
“You learn with the international game that you don’t know everything, and I’ve forever tried to ask for people or look for people that will help us grow,” Foster said.
“We need to grow and need to get better, and at times, you’ve got to expose yourself to getting really challenged.
“I knew Joe when he was in New Zealand and his coaching career started then and he did so well here, but the fact that he’s got a different perspective on the game’s vital for us.
“We’ve been pretty privileged that he’s accepted the role, we’re excited there and really just can’t wait to roll our sleeves up and just look at the game and see where we’re at.
“We obviously think we do a lot of things pretty well, but we’re fully aware that we’ve got some areas where we’ve really got to tweak and grow, so hopefully he can be a big help in that space, and I’m sure he will.”
Comments on RugbyPass
As long as New Zealand youth are involved in sport they are passionate for, and are well supported, it’s all good. I love league as well as rugby. NRL clubs have long since scouted the First 15 competitions, the NH and Japan scout super rugby and NPC. It’s a miracle there’s any players left for the all blacks to pick from.
4 Go to commentsI'm a Bok fan, so I don't say this lightly, but he is one of my all time favourite players. I am really going to miss watching him play. Thanks for many great memories. You are a true legend of the game.
3 Go to commentsBest way to deal with all of this is to play another game.
122 Go to commentsIt’s 12-15 games Luke. Ringrose has barely played in 2024 and Henshaw and Keenan have also been out for spells in the same time period. There are always injuries and for younger players to play with the likes of Barrett will be great for them. It’s just looking for negatives where there are none.
5 Go to commentsAndy Goode pushing his own agenda with very dubious considerations on refereeing performances. Luke Pearce speaking a bit of French doesn’t make him a good and adequate referee for the Champions Cup final; his latest refereeing performance in particular was not so great.
4 Go to commentsJordie knows that he has to earn the right to put on the jersey, whatever that jersey might be.
5 Go to commentsThe best outside centre in the world at one point. He will be greatly missed.
3 Go to commentsYip his great for the big moments when needed as a safa really enjoy watching him
4 Go to commentsOne that will start to come up from now on is penalties for back pushes during kick chase scrambles. Very difficult to detect. In Croke Park if you replay the Hendy NH try, you will see Furbank push Porter in the back, who collides with Larmour knocking the ball across into Hendy’s path to dot down. A more significant example was in the RWC QTR final where Arendse pushes Fickou into two other French players for the ball to spill into Arendse’s path for him to gather and run in to score SAs first try. Not cheating if you are not caught and very difficult to spot but with kicking becoming so critical I feel its an area that will referreeed/TMO-ed more.
4 Go to commentsWhat a pathetic little twit Andy Goode is, as if we care what he thinks…..😂
122 Go to commentsFoxy has been a wonderful player for the Scarlets and Wales.
3 Go to commentsNika the Georgian is the best referee in the world at the moment. Luckily we will be spared the shite SH refs and Barnes will hopefully remain retired given how shite and embarrassing he was at the RWC.
4 Go to commentsThis is the most exciting game of the summer imo, as we really won’t know in advance how both teams are going to play. - Will Robertson just reproduce his Crusaders tactics from last year, or will there be a conscious effort to borrow from the Hurricanes and Blues, and from the aspects of the ABs world cup strategy that worked well? - England under Borthwick have put in some good performances playing attacking rugby, and some good performances playing kick-oriented defensive rugby. Will Borthwick try to merge them together into a single all-court game, or will he continue switching between different approaches depending on the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition?
1 Go to commentsI’m predicting an aggregate points difference of no more than +/-10pts across both matches this series.
1 Go to commentsI’m predicting an aggregate points difference of no more than +/-10pts across both matches this series.
9 Go to commentsFinals are always tense affairs for the players so I do not expect this to be a spectacle of running rugby unfortunately.
4 Go to commentsBulls***': Ex-England international calls out Eben Etzebeth… Not to his face but from very far away… after he’d left. Checked to make sure he wasn’t in the building.
122 Go to commentsHopefully this will mean a new Auckland league team to support in the west. Big Warriors fan but it’s very, very stale on that front and I’d like the option of another team if it was to watch league again. League needs to step up BIG time if its to get anywhere, another AK team and something from the capitol or south is a must for the game.
4 Go to commentsGood, deep interview, nice job Frankie!
1 Go to commentsNRL players don’t have anywhere near the number of Tests. Some people would be happy having Rest Homes full if 40 yo ex-players walking, or hobbling more like it, into walls. It’s just a game!
4 Go to comments