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Foster's uncertainty and confusion an alarming aspect of NZR's political stunt

By Hamish Bidwell
(Photo by Antonietta Baldassarre/Insidefoto/LightRocket via Getty Images)

New Zealand’s Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, didn’t last long with Mike Hosking.

Ardern once had a weekly interview slot with the radio broadcaster, where he wasn’t famous for his patsy questions.

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In fact, Hosking regularly put Ardern on the spot, by asking the things that the man and woman in the street wanted answers to.

Ardern eventually severed the agreement because Hosking wouldn’t allow her to waffle on unchallenged.

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The Breakdown | Sky Sport NZ | Episode 15

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The Breakdown | Sky Sport NZ | Episode 15

Cue All Blacks coach Ian Foster, then, and his cosy in-house chat with The All Blacks Podcast.

This was the rugby equivalent of the Labour Party, which Ardern leads, “interviewing’’ her, replete with pre-prepared questions and regular asides about what a fantastic job she’s doing and how fabulous the Government is.

Among the many ironies of Foster’s fireside chat with The All Blacks Podcast, was his apparent admiration for Hosking.

Oh to get those two men in a radio studio. Foster would be out of there a lot faster than Ardern was.

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Steve Hansen remains a very hard act for Foster to follow.

Hansen was a superb communicator. Considered, commanding, challenging: he’d give you five back-page stories in one 15-minute press conference.

Whether it was his team, the opposition, referees, the structure of the season or future opponents, Hansen spoke with clarity and authority. He never missed his intended target and never contradicted himself.

He inspired confidence, not doubt, and you knew that feeling of certainty must be a huge comfort to the players.

The contrast with Foster was always striking, in his days as assistant coach.

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He was suspicious of every question and unconvincing in his answers. He saw criticism in everything and could sulk when he felt journalists weren’t accentuating the positives.

You never walked away from one of his press conferences feeling any the wiser for the experience.

So it was interesting for the rugby public to get a taste of that this week. To hear Foster, who’d been thoroughly briefed on what he’d be asked, battle his way through The All Blacks Podcast.

If I took anything away from the hour of audio, it was Foster’s uncertainty and confusion.

Take that old chestnut of line speed.

Foster admitted rush defences have flummoxed he and the All Blacks for five or six years now. That they are probably aware of the best mechanism to combat it, but refuse to use it because it doesn’t suit the team’s DNA.

Well, losing’s never really been in the All Blacks’ nature either, but never mind.

Rightly or wrongly, we expect decisive men to be in charge of the All Blacks. Men with all the answers, men who are never surprised by opposition tactics and men who are always that one step ahead.

I defy anyone to listen to that podcast and tell me Foster is any of those things.

But that’s not his fault. He neither appointed, nor re-appointed himself. That’s on New Zealand Rugby (NZR).

But you have to chuckle.

Here’s NZR – as much a political party as Labour, National and the rest – putting their leader out on show. Giving him an opportunity to win hearts and minds and to inspire confidence ahead of the upcoming series against Ireland.

No curly questions, no live audience. Just a carefully choreographed and stage-managed production that still couldn’t portray Foster in a favourable light.

None of us know what Ardern’s like in cabinet meetings, just as we’ll never know how Foster goes on the training paddock or in team meeting rooms. We have to judge them on their public utterances and appearances.

Don’t know about you, but I’ve already chucked a cheeky 20 bucks on Ireland.

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Trevor 2 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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Bull Shark 6 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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