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All Blacks fans should do the right thing and admit fault
PARIS – Sitting by himself in the changing rooms at Ellis Park, coach Ian Foster shed some tears after a famous All Blacks win. It wasn’t just an important result for rugby-mad New Zealand – the pressure, strain and scrutiny had been far more personal for Foster.
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Armed with pitchforks and torches behind the safety of their keyboards, some All Blacks fans called on New Zealand Rugby to “sack Ian Foster” ahead of that Test in Johannesburg last August.
Including a historic series defeat at home to a red-hot Ireland, the All Blacks had fallen to a disastrous run of five defeats from six starts. One more would’ve been it for coach Foster.
“We were playing for our coach’s job,” veteran Aaron Smith said on NZR+. This was more than just a rugby game; this was about a man’s livelihood, passion, and pedigree as a Test rugby coach.
New Zealand Rugby chairman Mark Robinson flew to South Africa for the match, which all but confirmed rumours and reports that this would be Foster’s last dance if the All Blacks were beaten once again.
But an inspired All Blacks outfit overcame the world champion Boks 35-23. After returning to New Zealand, NZR publicly backed coach Foster through to the Rugby World Cup.
“We’re very excited about the potential of this incredibly capable and experienced coaching trio (along with assistants Joe Schmidt and Jason Ryan) going forward,” NZR chair Stewart Mitchel said on August 17.
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15 months after that ‘unpopular’ decision – it was at the time as All Blacks fans desperately called out for Crusaders boss Scott Robertson as a replacement – Foster has repaid the faith shown in him by the NZR board.
Foster and the All Blacks have overcome doubt and ‘underdog’ status to charge into a fifth Rugby World Cup decider. In what will be a fitting end to Foster’s tenure, South Africa stands in New Zealand’s way of glory.
But before a ball is kicked or a pass is thrown, All Blacks fans should do the right thing and admit fault in their judgment. Win or lose, Foster deserves praise, plaudits and appreciation from those who questioned him so publicly.
Following the commanding 44-6 win over Argentina in Friday night’s semi-final, coach Foster offered a grin as he was asked about proving people wrong at the World Cup. While his eyes initially said one thing, Foster’s speech told another story.
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“I am proud to be part of this group, the coaches are linking well with the players and there is a nice synergy about it. But you know, one more week,” Foster told reporters.
“There’s not a personal agenda here, this is about the All Blacks and the team. Things have happened to individuals and to me, but the team comes first. Right now we’re making a lot of those decisions together as a group and it is working well.”
For the last four years, Foster has come under relentless criticism during a tough period for the All Blacks. But Foster rarely responds – he just goes about his business which is the way of the All Blacks.
Along with assistants Ryan and Schmidt, the New Zealanders have turned their form around. They beat Ireland – a team on a 17-Test unbeaten run – in a blockbuster quarter-final in front of 50,000+ Irish supporters just over a week ago.
But while the players have been praised for the All Blacks’ near-perfect execution in their two knockout Tests so far, coach Foster hasn’t received been highlighted as one of the heroes of New Zealand’s World Cup campaign.
That’s outrageous.
It’s shockingly wrong.
Foster has smiled through press conference after press conference in Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux and even London as he continued to trust in the very team that had believed in him so greatly. The All Blacks have shone when they needed to, and so has their coach.
When the full-time siren sounds on Saturday, win or lose, Foster should be regarded as an all-time great All Blacks coach.
If winning four Rugby Championship titles wasn’t enough, as well as four Bledisloe Cups and Freedom Cups, Foster has made a World Cup final in his first attempt as head coach.
Sir Graham Henry couldn’t even do that.
So, whether the All Blacks win the sport’s ultimate prize or not, Foster has led a written-off All Blacks team to the World Cup final.
New Zealanders, it’s time to give credit where it’s due.
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?
227 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
227 Go to commentsWould’ve, could’ve, should’ve, didn’t.
227 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