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Team Foster vs Team Robertson: The coaching teams which could decide the next All Blacks boss
As contenders for the All Blacks head coaching job dwindle by the day, attention will soon turn to not just those who remain, but their scramble to assemble compelling running teams.
Over the next three weeks Ian Foster and Scott Robertson are expected to engage in a head-to-head battle to replace Steve Hansen.
Before embarking on their respective interviews, the behind-the-scenes chess game of pulling together coaching teams is well underway.
The Season: Hamilton Boys High School – Episode 2
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New Zealand Rugby made it clear the decision to appoint the next All Blacks head coach will be swayed by the collection of assistant coaches as much as it will the new lead man.
With Jamie Joseph, Tony Brown, Dave Rennie and Warren Gatland all now committed elsewhere, this is where permutations get interesting.
Hurricanes coach John Plumtree is believed to have emerged as one key target.
From Wales to Ireland, South Africa, Japan and Wellington, Plumtree is a vastly experienced mentor who has enjoyed success in both head coaching and assistant capacities.
Alongside Chris Boyd he led the Hurricanes to their maiden title in 2016 as defence coach. Under Plumtree’s guidance, that season the Hurricanes did not concede a try in three successive playoff matches.
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The 54-year-old former Taranaki loose forward/lock is a tough task master who also held the forwards coaching brief previously – notably under Joe Schmidt with Ireland from 2013-14.
Sources have indicated to the Herald that Foster may try uniting Plumtree and Schmidt to join Scott McLeod on his ticket.
While Ireland failed to progress beyond the quarterfinals of two World Cups under Schmidt, they did rise to be recognised as the world’s best team last year and the Kiwi mentor remains widely respected for his tactical knowledge of the game.
Despite his next move being the subject of constant speculation, Schmidt is notoriously guarded with his intentions.
At this point he 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.
Nothing is set in stone, and cards remain close to chests, but the fact Plumtree and Schmidt have worked together previously would give symmetry to Foster’s potential coaching team.
Former All Blacks prop Greg Feek, who worked as Ireland scrum coach for five years, is another potential recruit.
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Details about Robertson’s team are, at this stage, more difficult to ascertain. He is expected to bring Crusaders forwards coach Jason Ryan through, and is believed to have approached Blues coach Leon MacDonald about joining him.
MacDonald played a leading role in Robertson’s coaching team during his first Super Rugby season as the Crusaders broke their nine-year title drought.
MacDonald then moved back to Tasman, but recently appeared to rule himself out of contention by stating publicly his focus is solely on the Blues.
If Robertson, Plumtree or MacDonald were to join the All Blacks, the Crusaders, Hurricanes and Blues face the prospect of being told mid-December their coach won’t be returning post Christmas.
That’s far from ideal six weeks out from the start of their season but another byproduct of the process to replace Hansen playing out at this time.
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Former Blues coach Pat Lam has, meanwhile, revealed he knocked back the opportunity to apply for the All Blacks job.
Lam, along with 26 other candidates, received an invitation from NZR head of high performance Mike Anthony on October 29 – three days after the All Blacks semifinal loss to England – outlining the process to apply.
Having signed a four-year contract extension as Bristol director of rugby in May through to 2023, Lam opted not to contest the role.
“I received a letter inviting me to apply for the role but I pretty much replied straight away and respectfully declined because I’m in a dream job,” Lam said.
“I’m very happy with what I’m doing here. I couldn’t be in a better place at the moment as I continue to grow as a coach.
“There’s obviously clear candidates. Fozzie is there as front-runner and my good mate Razor has done a fantastic job.
“There’s a lot of good New Zealand coaches everywhere. The process doesn’t look too different to ones I knew about when I was down there. You can’t complain about that and at the end of the day they’ll get the right man for the job.”
This article first appeared on nzherald.co.nz and was republished with permission.
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Comments on RugbyPass
A wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to comments