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Ian Foster reflects on the ‘privilege’ of coaching All Blacks
There was no fairytale ending for Ian Foster as the All Blacks’ head coach. For a man who’s come under immense scrutiny, backlash and criticism, it wasn’t the ending Foster deserved.
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About 15 months on from the horrors of the series loss to Ireland and the defeat in South Africa that almost ended his career, the All Blacks fell painfully short of Rugby World Cup glory
Playing against Siya Kolisi’s Springboks at Stade de France, the All Blacks were dealt a hammer blow when skipper Sam Cane was shown the first-ever red card in men’s World Cup final history.
Including a yellow card to flanker Shannon Frizell, the New Zealanders played about 65 minutes with 14 men. But credit to the All Blacks, they were always in the fight.
It was an ending fit for a final as Jordie Barrett missed a penalty, and the All Blacks continued to pester the Springboks’ defensive line in search of championship glory. But it wasn’t to be.
New Zealand were bested by their old foes 12-11. In Ian Foster’s last game in charge as the All Blacks’ head coach before Scott Robertson takes over, the Kiwis showed plenty of determination, grit and passion.
But the Boks held on. Coach Foster was visibly hurting – and almost lost for words – as he sat down at Saturday’s post-match press conference. The Ian Foster era has finished.
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“I would say there were a lot more ups and downs. It’s a privilege. I’ve been privileged to be with a special group of people,” Foster said when asked about what memories he’ll cherish after coaching the All Blacks.
Match Summary 
2
Penalty Goals
4
1
Tries
0
0
Conversions
0
0
Drop Goals
0
149
Carries
85
7
Line Breaks
4
19
Turnovers Lost
9
2
Turnovers Won
7
“What’s the highlight? probably today. We lost but as a coach, you want your team on the big stage and to put their best foot forward which they did. We didn’t get the result in the circumstances that we had to adapt to but I couldn’t be more proud.”
This All Blacks outfit has come a long way in two months under coach Foster. As New Zealanders will forever remember, the team was embarrassed against the Springboks in August.
New Zealand were handed a record 35-7 defeat at Twickenham which led many to write off the All Blacks ahead of the Rugby World Cup. But they continued to chip away behind the scenes.
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While they managed to beat Ireland and Argentina in the knockout stages, it was the Springboks’ final in the end. But the All Blacks should hold their heads up high.
“Heck of a final. Always high emotion on both sides of the fence this will be no different,” Foster told reporters.
“12-11, I want to congratulate South Africa for what they’ve achieved. they’ve shown a lot of character and tenacity throughout this tournament. That’s three close games they have come out the right side so they are doing something right.
“For us it’s heartbreaking and I look at the effort of our team, the way we played and came back and gave ourselves a really good crack at that, the second half, particularly after the red card in the first half and the damage that decision made Overall, incredibly proud of our team but we’ve got a disappointed shed.”
Comments on RugbyPass
What a sad way to end a glittering career. Somebody should tell him to delete his social media accounts and face the consequences of what he's done. Then he should slip away quietly into obscurity. This isn't likely to happen, something tells me he'll be back in The Sun / Daily Mail sooner rather than later.
2 Go to commentsguys its fine! he understands why he did what he did and has taken accountability for it; why should he have to be accountable to a court? after all he did was abuse people in person - its not as if he was engaging in _online_ abuse!
2 Go to commentsChiefs flanker Kaylum Boshier yellow-carded for collapsing the scrum as it rolled towards the line. It was a maul….
1 Go to commentsyou know, i’m a leinster fan so I want Northampton to lose and it is gonna be tuff with Cortney lawes, Alex michell and the other guys🏉 lets go leinster🏉
1 Go to commentsWelcome to the Pro ranks. Those hard teams of old do hit the sole better though. its a dog fight at the top.
6 Go to commentsCan someone fill me in please, I've read a number of Ben Smith articles now and it seems he's got something again South Africa? Surely, this game was over and done with 7 months ago. Can't we have something a bit more interesting and relevant, or is this the calibre of journalist on this site?
228 Go to commentsNot sure what the Welsh are moaning about. They’ve had far more players off England, than England have had off Wales. Guys like Josh Hathaway and Kane James will play for Wales in the end. And they’ll be fsr better players for having played in the Gallagher Premiership, than they ever would have been had they stayed mired in the shambles that is Welsh rugby.
3 Go to commentsThis is all being blown totally out of proportion. First of all, since half the Irish team isn’t Irish - it’s very likely that none of the Irish players said that at all and, thus, we’re not being arrogant. Second, since half the Irish team is Kiwi - it’s very likely the Kiwi players were predicting a NZ SA World Cup final. Which they got spot on. Good on them!
163 Go to commentsAha. An Irishman with logic! Follow the flow: - Ireland peaks with a >80% win record between 2020 and 2023. And then… - crashes out of another QF at the WC; - Beat a poor French Team; - Beat 6N wooden spoonists Italy; - Play shite against eventual wooden spoonists Wales; - Lose against the most boring, “the worst English team ever” , a team widely regarded as unable to attack; - scrape through against Scotland. This article, No - Trimble, is on the money! Except for one glaring statement: _The Springboks have a few aces in the hole in this debate being the reigning world champions and official world number ones_ There is no debate, boys and girls. There it is. In black and white. “Reigning World Champions and OFFICIAL world number ones”. Come July, the overrated Andy Farrell and this overhyped team are going to enter into a world of hurt.
86 Go to commentsI’d like to know what homoerotic events Daniel enjoyed at 8th man. I clearly missed out!
19 Go to commentsThis article is missing some detail, like some actual context or info about what led to him abusing the ref.
2 Go to comments*They used to say that football is a gentleman sport watched by hooligans and rugby is a hooligan sport watched by gentlemen. How times have changed.*
3 Go to commentsexcept ot wasnt late wasnt late at all so dont know why you all saying its late he commits early and its your fault fir not paying attention
30 Go to commentsNot sure the Bulls need another average utility back in their ranks. Chamberlain has been ok for the Sharks but is by no means an X-Factor player. Bulls bought several utility backs which they barely use. A typical example would be Henry Immelman who plays mostly Fullback. The Bulls however have rarely played him this year and he has played wing or centre. Bulls want to build depth but seems like they have too many surplus players
1 Go to commentsABs lost against a side playing without a hooker - The guy playing, had one shoulder. Line outs were a gimme for the ABs, and the last 8 minutes 14 played 14 against a team that had been smashed 3 weeks in a row… Yet with all that possession, with all that territory, with all the advantages they actually had, especially in the last 8 minutes, they couldn’t buy a point. Those last 8 minutes determined if they outplayed the Boks or not. History will show that the Boks completely outplayed the ABs, especially in those last 8 minutes, the business end of any rugby match
228 Go to commentsWould’ve, could’ve, should’ve, didn’t.
228 Go to commentsKok will become a fan favourite
1 Go to commentsI am really looking forward to Leigh Halfpenny playing his first Super rugby game for the Crusaders Playing a long side his former Welsh and Scarlets team mate Johnny McNicoll.Johnny has been playing great, back in a Crusaders jersey.The attack has strengthened big time. Also looking forward to David Havili at 10. David is a class act, it also allows Dallas McLeod to remain at 12. A good thing.
1 Go to commentsIf he had stopped insisting on playing in the backrow, instead of wing, where everyone told him he should, he would have been a Bok years ago….
11 Go to comments‘Salads don’t win scrums’ 😂 I love that.
19 Go to comments