Former All Blacks coach on how 'world-class assistants' have elevated Ian Foster
It’s been a wild World Cup cycle for the All Blacks and Ian Foster. The former assistant assumed the role of head coach following a disappointing semi-final exit in the 2019 Rugby World Cup and was immediately disrupted by Covid-19 before launching into a rocky four years of results.
The coach’s tenure has witnessed historic losses but also historic wins for the men in black. Maiden defeats to Argentina and a first-ever series loss to Ireland mar Foster’s record and the coach’s overall win percentage since taking the helm has flirted with Laurie Mains’ for the worst win percentage in the professional era.
While owning those poor stats, Foster has still won every Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup during his reign and has the All Blacks sitting second on the World Rugby rankings heading into the Rugby World Cup.
There’s been a distinct turnaround over the past 12 months since the Ireland loss, the All Blacks lost twice in the three games following the series but are unbeaten in the nine games since. It’s an improvement that has impressed former All Blacks coach John Hart.
“The big thing for me personally as a coach was to look at Ian Foster and say well done,” Hart told SENZ The Run Home.
“A year ago, he was written off. He went through a terrible time, one that I personally, I supported him where I could privately, I thought it was unbecoming of us.
“he’s gone through that, he’s got a world-class coaching team around him, it’s given him a chance to elevate himself.
“A couple of years ago he had issues with his assistants and that maybe complicated things for him, that he had to get involved in a lot wider and a lot more.
“Now, I think he’s got world-class assistants in Joe (Schmidt) and Jason (Ryan), Greg Feek, people who are really doing their job well giving him the opportunity to step back and do what he is, he’s a smart coach and he’s now able to really lead that.”
Joe Schmidt, the former Ireland head coach, joined the All Blacks’ setup as attack coach and has since tidied up the attacking philosophy and helped Foster find a backline that brings the skills and physicality needed to execute it.
Jason Ryan joined the group from the Crusaders and has elevated the forward pack to new heights in both set piece and at the breakdown.
“That’s where I think we’ve seen a dramatic shift in the last 12 months,” Hart continued. “This team now can physically handle the real, tough physicality. We saw that against South Africa, who came down and threw everything at us in two halves with two different forward packs.
“We withstood that, we gave it back. So I think our tight forwards have a real ability to compete now at that level. Our scrum, our lineout, our maul is strong and I think they’ve gone back to simple things. I think they were getting a little complicated and now I see the gameplan is very simple.
“I think Richie Mo’unga and Beauden Barrett have proven to be a really good one-two team and that creates opportunities in the backs and we know we’ve got all that firepower.”
After the unconvincing results of recent seasons, chat about the All Blacks’ World Cup chances started to become unusually pessimistic, with a tough schedule giving the potential for a first-ever pool stage loss and a quarter-final exit for the Kiwis.
While both of those results are still very much on the table, optimism is beginning to re-emerge over the form of the New Zealand side, ruling out any speculation the team could enter the tournament as underdogs.
“That’s a good thing and we’ll have pressure and it won’t be easy because you’ve got to get through France. But, the big pressure point will come in the quarter-final for me, because I believe if we win the quarter-final we’re in the final and I personally think it’ll be against France. I think the first game of the tournament may well be the last game of the tournament.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Bit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
35 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
1 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
33 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
33 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to comments