Ian Foster's new youthful coaching team set to raise a few eyebrows
The men set to work under the helm of new All Blacks head coach Ian Foster are all but set.
And it would appear hopes of recruiting Joe Schmidt in an assistant role are all but over.
NZR today confirmed Foster’s appointment as head coach, after eight years as assistant under Steve Hansen.
Foster saw off a strong challenge from Crusaders head coach Scott Robertson and has been given a two-year deal.
NZR Chairman Brent Impey said Foster would be joined by four other coaches, who will be announced in due course.
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Last month, the Herald reported that Foster was trying to unite Hurricanes coach John Plumtree and Schmidt to join Scott McLeod on his ticket.
Schmidt has only said he intends to remain in Ireland to take a break from the game until June – a timeframe that would, potentially, leave him free to join the All Blacks coaching ranks for their next test series in July.
But rugby expert Scotty Stevenson has reported that Brad Mooar and Greg Feek are instead likely to join Plumtree and Foster, as well as Scott McLeod and David Hill, who are part of the current set-up.
Foster remained tight-lipped on the makeup of his coaching team when asked at a press conference in Auckland today.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B56hK9bgsEj/
“I can’t wait to tell you but I just can’t. As soon as we can, we will,” Foster said.
“I’ve got guys that are willing to challenge and I’ve got fresh voices in there that I think are going to really help us look at the game, to look at what we’re doing and add spice to it.
“I know they’re buzzing and there’s a bit of youth there, there’s a bit of overseas experience and there’s a bit of hardness in that group all designed to take this team to a new level.”
Impey described the mystery team as a “diverse group of thinkers.”
Outgoing @AllBlacks coach Steve Hansen has handed out some free advice for his imminent successor.https://t.co/U8AAjFDodn
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 10, 2019
“While we can’t confirm the full make-up of the coaching team today, we’re delighted with the quality they bring ? they have a wide range of coaching experiences,” he said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Foster said he was humbled to be selected as head coach.
“I feel truly privileged and honoured to be given this opportunity and I can’t wait to lead the team into the next chapter of what is a remarkable legacy,” he said.
“I’m incredibly proud of what we have achieved in the All Blacks over the last eight years and I’m excited and energised by a new coaching team who will join me.”
This article first appeared on nzherald.co.nz and is republished with permission.
Former Chiefs hooker Liam Polwart has been forced into an early retirement:
Comments on RugbyPass
The URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
1 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
1 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
3 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
3 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
3 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
4 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
38 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
4 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
2 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to comments