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Hansen says it's 'stupid' NZR haven't signed Foster until 2023 RWC
Former All Blacks coach Sir Steve Hansen has taken aim at New Zealand Rugby [NZR] for its failure to re-sign Ian Foster through until the 2023 World Cup.
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Foster’s current deal as All Blacks boss is set to expire this year after he signed a two-year deal with NZR to succeed Hansen as head coach of the national team after the 2019 World Cup.
Speaking to Newstalk ZB, Hansen labelled NZR’s decision to have not already signed Foster, his former assistant of eight years, through until the next World Cup as “stupid”.
“The next thing that needs to happen by the New Zealand Rugby Union is they need to appoint Ian to go right through to the end of the World Cup,” Hansen said.
“They haven’t even appointed him to go to the World Cup yet, which I think is stupid, they need to get it done.
“It gives stability to the All Blacks and it gives stability to the players and they can get on and start planning for it.
“He’s the man in the hot seat, he’s doing a good job, he’s been through a tremendous lot of stressful situations last year with COVID, he handled it with real class, he’s maintained the Bledisloe and the Tri Nations – yes, South Africa weren’t in it, but that’s not his fault – and they won the trophies they needed to win.
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“They’re starting to build something – I think watching them from afar – quite tidy.
“Get him contracted through to the end of the World Cup, and then whatever happens, happens, and the New Zealand Rugby Union will have to make some decisions I suppose.”
Hansen’s comments come a day after Crusaders head coach Scott Robertson signed a three-year contract extension that will keep him at the Christchurch-based franchise until 2024.
Robertson’s new deal features an exit clause that gives him the option to opt out of the last year of his contract if he misses out on becoming All Blacks head coach by the end of 2023.
Robertson and Foster stood as the two leading candidates to take over from Hansen after the 2019 World Cup, but the 46-year-old’s bid to become All Blacks head coach was ultimately unsuccessful.
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Hansen welcomed the news that Robertson will stay on Kiwi shores over the coming years, but rejected suggestions that the five-time Super Rugby/Super Rugby Aotearoa title-winning coach is the next in line to the All Blacks throne.
“I think they’re covering their bases and saying ‘look, we’ve got a very good coach here and we want to keep him in New Zealand’,” Hansen told Newstalk ZB.
“As long as they haven’t promised him that he’s going to get the job in 2024 – because if they have and Foz goes and wins the World Cup, then they’re going to have a wee problem on their hands aren’t they?
“But, from my experiences, you don’t promise players anything and you shouldn’t be promising coaches anything. But what you do is you give them a clear indication of what the future looks like and you encourage them to go for it, and if they continue to grow and get better then the opportunity will arise for them at some point.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Except for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
33 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
33 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
33 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
33 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
33 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
33 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
1 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
33 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
17 Go to commentsNot good to hear Ulster described as “financially troubled”. Did not think it was getting to that level. I would hope the Irish system of spreading players of talent away from Leinster would kick in now. Better to have a Leinster fringe player with Ulster or Connacht, then getting only a few games a season in Dublin. 10, for example, would seem to be a case for spreading the talent. I would not be at all adverse to a SA man coming in as head coach/DR. Ludeke is worth trying. Certainly got a long and impressive coaching career at this level…..149 games in SR, then Japan, 30 years experience. And Ulster’s ledger of successful SA coaches and players is on the positive side. Is talk of Ruan Pienaar interested in coming back as a coach…..could be a good combination with Ludeke. And Pienaar and family would have no settling in to do, one would judge. He loved life in Ulster when there, by all reports.
1 Go to commentsSome thoughts to consider here, Sam. Thanks
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