Ian Foster on verge of resignation after latest All Blacks flop
All Blacks head coach Ian Foster is facing fresh calls to step down after his side’s latest loss and he could now fall on his sword at the behest of New Zealand Rugby.
The All Blacks didn’t lack for fight but were ultimately dominated by the Springboks in front of more than 40,000 fans at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit – the first game of the 2022 Rugby Championship.
A late try by loose forward Shannon Frizell appeared to put some gloss on the scoreboard for the visiting team only for Springboks fullback Willie Le Roux to score in the last play of the game to seal what was an emphatic 26-10 victory.
In truth, the All Blacks didn’t pose much of a threat and it was largely one-way traffic following an early try from the electric Kurt-Lee Arendse.
It’s a fifth loss in six Tests for the men in black – a heretofore unheard of run of results for the giants of the sport. They will now drop to their lowest ever World Rugby rankings position – fifth – by dint of having lost the game by 15 points or more.
If media reports in New Zealand are to be believed, Foster may even resign off the back of the latest capitulation.
The New Zealand Herald reported yesterday that Foster was asked by NZR to step down if his side lost to the Springboks – a move that would be welcomed by many if not most in the rugby-mad nation.
After the game, Foster told Sky Sport’s NZ on the pitch side that the loss in ‘many ways’ was “probably our best performance of the year”.
"In many ways that was probably our best performance of the year"
An actual sentence just uttered by Ian Foster#RSAvNZL
— TAB NZ (@TAB_NZL) August 6, 2022
A win in the second Test may yet save Foster and give the NZR an out, but as far as many fans are concerned, Foster is a metaphorical dead man walking.
Indeed social media for the most appears to think the jig is up for Foster, who took over from Steve Hansen following the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
Mark Keohane wrote: “The All Blacks lacked for nothing in desire, intent or passion, but currently they aren’t good enough & certainly Ian Foster most definitely not good enough as a head coach.”
The @AllBlacks lacked for nothing in desire, intent or passion, but currently they aren't good enough & certainly Ian Foster most definitely not good enough as a head coach.
— Mark Keohane (@mark_keohane) August 6, 2022
Jamie Phillips wrote: “Clock must be ticking for Ian Foster after yet another limp All Blacks performance. Toothless in attack and they’re still making silly errors. Comfortable win for the Springboks. Malcolm Marx was outstanding in the loose today.”
Clock must be ticking for Ian Foster after yet another limp All Blacks performance. Toothless in attack and they’re still making silly errors. Comfortable win for the Springboks. Malcolm Marx was outstanding in the loose today ?? #RSAvNZL
— Jamie Phillips (@JNPhillips4) August 6, 2022
Welsh reporter Jon Davies wrote: “5 defeats in 6 games, full on crisis mode for All Blacks! Smashed up in every way by Springboks today. Look rudderless and Savea aside alarming lack of leadership amongst players atm. Foster looks out of his depth, no direction, or consistency in selection”.
5 defeats in 6 games, full on crisis mode for All Blacks! Smashed up in every way by Springboks today. Look rudderless and Savea aside alarming lack of leadership amongst players atm. Foster looks out of his depth, no direction, or consistency in selection #RSAvsNZL
— Jon (@jondavies95) August 6, 2022
“Most dominant performance by the Boks against the All Blacks in the Erasmus / Nienaber era. NZ had no answer – totally and comprehensively outplayed,” wrote popular South African fan AP Cronje.
Most dominant performance by the Boks against the All Blacks in the Erasmus / Nienaber era. NZ had no answer – totally and comprehensively outplayed.
— A-P (@rugby_ap) August 6, 2022
Richard Knowler wrote in Stuff.co.nz that “Ian Foster can’t escape the nightmare. As he watched the All Blacks lose 26-10 to the Springboks in their Rugby Championship match in Mbombela on Sunday morning, Foster may have finally realised he is no longer the right man to coach this team.”
There is the second Test for Foster to steady the ship, but if that feat proves a game too far it’s hard to imagine a scenario where the 57-year-old holds on to his seat.
Comments on RugbyPass
Ben Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
19 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
7 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
19 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
9 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
9 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
28 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
19 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
28 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
19 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
86 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
4 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
9 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
19 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
14 Go to comments