Tana Umaga calls out 'bandwagon' All Black fans for treatment of Foster

RP are also a bunch of clowns for randomly hiding/blocking/censoring/moderating comments.

I respect Tana. Hes a legend. And I agree the boot got put in to Fozzy, and the team, in unacceptable ways. But I’m not sure we want AB fans who never express disapppointment or criticise their team when they underperform. Because it's been hard! We're the same fans who saw the All Blacks suffer three-straight losses on home soil for the first time ever, after losing the Irish Series, and then the shock defeat at the hands of the Pumas (25-18) in Christchurch. We also saw the end of year collapse in the last 15 m to England which luckily for us resulted in a draw. This year the All Blacks suffered their worst-ever defeat ever - 35-7 against the Springboks at Twickenham. They also lost to France in the very first game of the RWC. I agree we need to stop the personalised attacks on players and the coach! But the Black jersey means too much to us all to not express legitimate disappointment and concerns..

Disagree with Tana and it has nothing to do with “band wagons”. Foster’s record speaks for itself and regardless of final RWC results, new thinking is required at AB HC level - AND at NZR. It is also NOT dis-loyal to hold a coach and team accountable for prior results nor to choose not to renew a contract. The fact that this team played a blinder is great but is not the whole campaign. I think the mental gurus have this team cycling their celebration and building focus much better than the 2019 campaign but we have still not arrived. Also, Tana is not really an expert in coaching so while he is welcome to an opinion - no more than anyone else.

Fully agree with Tana. The NZ rugby public are fickle in this regard. Alot of these comments are saying “if we win the World Cup, it will be because of Joe and Jason not Ian" how childish. They may not think themselves as bandwagons but i’m here to tell you all, you are. Nothing wrong with that either, but you are bandwagons. As for us loyal AB supporters who have been behind the boys from the start, we are backing them all the way. Can’t overlook the Pumas though. I know you bandwagons are, but us realists understand the threat they pose and it won’t be easy. I’m hoping for a Springbok v Allblack final, after that record loss we suffered against them at Twickenham. What did you lot have to say about Joe and Jason after that one bsndwagons? Oh that’s right it was all Ian’s fault😏 Fickle fans

hey tana i respect you man so much like to me you are the shit man the real deal all in however foster was crap mate without jason and joe those changes brought about by public demand for fosters head have born the fruit of what we are seeing today oh yes i was on that bandwagon cheering hard and yes i would have held the axe to chop off his useless head(at the time before jason and joe) but i can tell you tana hand on heart when jason and joe were added i was stoked when jason said steely eyed dropprd EVERYTHING ELSE he was doing cause his country needed him and i always wanted joe smidt the prick who more than once outgurued us with Ireland no tana i knew we had more than an even shot now and the results /influence were immediate SA scrum getting shunted the maul getting better that twenty minutes of blistering attack against SA in the RC no my brother the new track that was being cut was easy to see for all new zealanders hence we are just one big happy family …. again we arent jonny come latelys “were forgettin about the last one get yourself another”

The New Zealand Rugby Public and the World have witnessed the “chaotic, incompetent and pathetic basket case that is the NZRFU.

I don’t like Foster as a coach. The way he was treated was the worst example of corporate management I have ever seen.

Stephen Hansen wanted Foster and was quite public about his views.

Then the way Graham Henry “influenced” the selection panel to block Scott Robinson was simply motivated by Hansen and Henry’s personal dislikes, nothing to do with the “outcomes he has achieved as a coach”

Then the Review of the NRFU which came out on the 30th of August 2023 is damning of an “Old Boy’s Network” that has operated in New Zealand for over 100 years.

“Not Fit For Purpose” was a damning description of the NZRFU

Tana’s hitting Chris Masoe in the face with a “Handbag” with such force it broke a cell phone in the handbag. Mind you Masoe cried.

I have never heard of “something” so weak as an Ex All Black Captain hitting a fellow player with a handbag.

Tana that takes the cake. There are millions of Rugby Fans in the World of all different personalities but I guarantee you are the only one that has “hit a player with a handbag”

Tana is in the NZRFU “Boy’s Club, and if he keeps his head down and doesn’t hit anymore players with a handbag or doesn’t wear make up in public he’ll be fine.

Remember Fans pay your salary, you cock.

If we win 🏆 it won't be Foster's doin, as good as the win was we just sneaked home. The prase Sam Cane got for just doin his job somes up last 4 years. Bandwagon ,bloody hell Tana what you on.

I will always support the AB’s, that doesn't mean blindly agreeing with everything to do with the team. I didn't believe that Fossie was the right coach and I still hold that opinion. It's a personal opinion and I'm allowed to hold/ express it. That doesn't make me a fair weather or disloyal supporter. I felt that we would be eliminated in quarters, I am over the moon to be proven wrong. Fossie and team have exceeded my expectations so well done. That however still doesn't change my opinion of the last 4 years.

Fossie is a professional coach with a fixed term contract. His results were not great. Any professional, results based organisation will review this. His contract was not renewed as his employer desired better results and believed that a change would deliver this.

If the AB’s win RWC'23 then Fossie can stick two fingers up at me and many others, I sincerely hope he ends up in that position. Please prove me wrong, either way I will still be an All Blacks fan.

No Tana, the bandwagon got climbed back on when Jase Ryan & Joe Schmidt joined the coaching team & turned things around. The ABs would’ve got here quite easily without Foster, maybe faster.

Credit where it’s due - that was a phenomenal performance in the QF. As kiwis we demand a lot of our Rugby team, we are quick to criticise when it’s not performing and quick to praise when they deliver what we have come to expect as normal. While criticism can be harsh - arguably it’s the high standards that we demand as a nation that keeps us near the top. But let’s not get too carried away, in four years of Foz you could pretty much remember 2 great performances, once when his sack was imminent and the other on the weekend. AB rugby has been built on consistency - not one off affairs.

I would argue the things Umaga points out as unfair are the things that have turned this tenure around. The threat of the sack brought adversity which has pulled the team together. Foster was forced to find two new assistants to save his job, both have done amazing work to counter the clear lack of tactical and strategic nous beforehand. The fact Foz doesn’t have a job next year has clearly focussed his mind. Prior to that, Foz was coaching like he had all the time in the world, tweaking this, tweaking that, dithering along with no clear direction. I know from myself there’s nothing quite like a deadline or the threat of negative consequences to focus the mind. Prior to this, Foz had the same employer his entire career and rose from within. He’s never experienced an environment with consequences for underperformance until now.

So yeah, perhaps we are too harsh as a nation but the huge criticism has been an obvious catalyst for the change that was needed. That said and done, we are happy to praise good performance when it’s deserved, so let’s jump on that bandwagon.