Ian Foster is nothing more than a semi-final coach
To win a World Cup, teams have to win at least three big games in a row, but the All Blacks nearly fell twice against a side nobody was really expecting to win a game ahead of the Bledisloe Cup series. So now just four games into his time in charge of the All Blacks, it’s become clear that Ian Foster is nothing more than a semi-final coach.
Except for Bledisloe III, Foster has struggled to get it right with a talented group of players, despite coming up against a largely inexperienced Wallabies squad.
In his first game in-charge, the Wallabies were inches away from claiming an unlikely win in Wellington, which led former All Blacks coach Sir Graham Henry to admit that “New Zealand Rugby c**ked that up” by appointing Foster.
In that match, the All Blacks lacked creativity, and especially when the going got tough late in the contest, a backup plan.
Since, they started to look like the All Blacks of old in matches two and three on either side of the Tasman, but their response in Brisbane was awful.
All Blacks coach Ian Foster has given a blunt assessment of his team’s performance in their loss to the Wallabies in Brisbane on Saturday night. #AUSvNZL #BledisloeCup https://t.co/x0Xh1O8mhv
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 8, 2020
Foster rolled the dice with his selections ahead of the final Bledisloe of the year, which saw only Anton Lienert-Brown hold his place in the backline from the week before, and four debutants selected in the matchday squad.
“I’ve got to take some of this on the chin, because I put some new combinations out on the park,” Foster said following the 24-22 loss.
“But we just felt that this tour was about giving people opportunities, and so I’ve got no regrets.”
I’ve got no problem with teams trying to develop new talent, but the decision to name them alongside an All Blacks side which was largely an experiment in itself lacked composure.
In Foster’s defence, there have been some left-field selections which have worked wonders for him since taking over, none more so than picking Jordie Barrett on the right-wing for the first three tests. Barrett scored three tries in three games, and at that stage, had run the equal most metres of any player in the series.
If the All Blacks had overcome their Brisbane hoodoo and defeated the Wallabies though, Foster’s decision to name new players would’ve been hailed as a masterstroke by yours truly, but fine margins both on and off the field determine test matches and in a few years, will decide World Cups.
Also, cast your mind back to July when it was revealed that NZME have anonymously polled over 100 New Zealand Super Rugby players about if the NZRU had got its coaching selections right.
46% said no.
Instead, the other option for the All Blacks was Scott Robertson, who himself donned the black jersey during his playing days. ‘Razor’ is a winner, and that follows him everywhere he goes.
Robertson has won four straight Super Rugby titles with the Crusaders including the Aotearoa title this year. Add Mitre 10 Cup titles and a World Rugby Under 20 Championship in 2015, and his resume certainly speaks volumes about what he could accomplish on the international stage.
In comparison, there are players potentially playing for the All Blacks now who either didn’t or still don’t have faith in Foster. This could be a significant factor down the road.
The Wallabies have claimed a famous victory over the All Blacks, overturning three winless encounters against their Tasman neighbours to snatch a 24-22 win at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. #AUSvNZL #BledisloeCup https://t.co/2DF10nyJCg
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 7, 2020
It’s a phrase that’s largely been popularised by European Football but ‘having the backing of the dressing room’ is huge for a coach, and can decide big games.
Clips from the documentary series Chasing the Sun have surfed online, showing 2019 Springboks winning coach Rassie Erasmus motivating his players before pivotal games at last year’s Rugby World Cup in Japan.
Inspired, the Springboks then went on to win the World Cup, despite losing to the All Blacks 57-0 just two years earlier.
This approach to coaching might not have been what the All Blacks needed in the past, but when the pressure on the All Blacks grows as they face teams like England and South Africa, coaching can be the difference.
Looking at Foster’s track record too, his teams don’t fare well in big moments.
In his first-year coaching in the NPC in New Zealand, Foster took Waikato to the final, after they finished top at the end of the round-robin. But they fell at the final hurdle, losing 40-28 to Auckland in the big dance.
When he took over at the Chiefs, again, semi-final’s were the best he could do until the 2009 Super 14 final. At Loftus Versfeld Stadium, his side were blown out by 44-points against the Bulls.
While it certainly hasn’t been an ideal start to his time as head coach for the All Blacks, Foster’s decision making and ability to lift his players in key games definitely suggests what many have been arguing for months: that’s he’s not the right man for the job.
He was always going to be the safe option for the All Blacks, but cracks are beginning to appear. It might just be one loss and one draw, but considering the experience of their opponent; his history of falling short when it counts appears to be repeating somewhat.
Foster struggles to get his team across the line in test matches, and let’s face it: the Wallabies in Brisbane is nothing compared to South Africa at Ellis Park, England at Twickenham, or anyone in a World Cup Final.
Comments on RugbyPass
Must be something when you are only 19 y.o and both NZ and France want you. Btw he wasn’t the only new caledonian in french U20 as Robin Couly also lived in Noumea until 17. Hope he’s successful wherever he chooses to play.
7 Go to comments“Several key players in the Stade Rochelais squad are in their thirties” South Africans are going to hate the implications of that comment!
5 Go to commentsI know Leinster did a job on La Roche but shortly after HT Leinster were 30-13 ahead of them and at a similar time Toulouse were trailing Exeter. At 60 mins Leinster were 27 ahead but after 67 mins Toulouse were only 19 ahead before Exeter collapsed. That’s heavier scoring by Leinster against the Champions. I think people are looking at Toulouses total a little too much. I also think Northhampton are in with a real chance, albeit I’d put Leinster as favourites. If Leinster make the final I expect them to win by more than ten and with control.
5 Go to commentsHey Nick, your match analysis is decent but the top and tail not so much, a bit more random. For a start there’s a seismic difference in regenerating any club side over a test team. EJ pretty much had to urinate with the appendage he’d been given at test level whereas club success is impacted hugely by the budget. Look no further than Boudjellal’s Toulon project for a perfect example. The set ups at La Rochelle and Leinster are like chalk and cheese and you are correct that Leinster are ahead. Leinster are not just slightly ahead though, they are light years ahead on their plans, with the next gen champions cup team already blooded, seasoned and developing at speed from their time manning the fort in the URC while the cream play CC and tests. They have engineered a strong talent conveyor belt into their system, supported by private money funnelled into a couple of Leinster private schools. The really smart move from Leinster and the IRFU however is maximising the Irish Revenue tax breaks (tax relief on the best 10 years earnings refunded at retirement) to help keep all of their stars in Ireland and happy, while simultaneously funding marquee players consistently. And of course Barrett is the latest example. But in no way is he a “replacement for Henshaw”, he’s only there for one season!!! As for Rob Baxter, the best advice you can give him is to start lobbying Parliament and HMRC for a similar state subsidy, but don’t hold your breath… One thing Cullen has been very smart with is his coaching team. Very quickly he realised his need to supplement his skills, there was talk of him exiting after his first couple of years but he was extremely shrewd bringing in Lancaster and now Nienaber. That has worked superbly and added a layer that really has made a tangible difference. Apart from that you were bang on the money… 😉😂
5 Go to commentsNot sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
25 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
2 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
5 Go to commentsTrue Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
25 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
11 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
80 Go to commentsPot Kettle, the English and French teams have done it for years.
25 Go to commentsHas virtually played every minute of previous games. Back row of Li Lo Willie , Grace and Blackadder would be the 1. Crusaders issue is a very average 1st 5 who cannot run. Kicking in general play is also below par They need to put Yong Kemara in. He must have so.e talent for them to bring him down from Waikato. Hoehepa would struggle to play in so.e club sided
11 Go to commentsI hope this a good thing making all these changes!
3 Go to commentsThe Hurricanes are good, especially with a decent coach now. However, let’s be real, the Crusaders and Chiefs are clearly a good degree weaker without the players they’ve lost overseas now. The Canes lost one player. It’s also why the aussie teams ‘seem’ to be stronger.
9 Go to commentsOr you could develop your own players instead of constantly taking from the SH competition and weakening it in the process? With all the player and financial resources these unions have compared to SH countries you’d think they could manage that, or is weakening the SH comps and their national sides an added bonus? Probably.
3 Go to comments