The pains of a nation: 'There wasn't a single player in our 31-man squad who had lost a game at a Rugby World Cup.'
After a period of “either sulking or planning” the All Blacks are moving on, admits their new head coach, Ian Foster. There was no third Rugby World Cup crown in a row last year in Japan, after England produced the kind of physical performance in the semi-final that New Zealand rarely come across.
Foster was part of Steve Hansen’s coaching staff that day in Yokohama and is now at the start of his own reign in charge. The pain of that defeat certainly lingered for a while, but no more.
“At the end of the day, we were a group where there wasn’t a single player in our 31-man squad who had lost a game at a Rugby World Cup. So, Tokyo hurt,” Foster admits.
“It does not matter how well you prepare, it is what it is. You get reminded of it and you have two choices. Either sit back and think ‘woe is us’, or accept that’s sport, we were beaten on the day and we have to be better. To be fair, we are just starting to get excited about a new challenge. There is no point mulling too much over the past.”
Fortunately, Foster is no stranger to the New Zealand setup after eight years as an assistant working alongside Hansen, a run that included an unbeaten calendar year in 2013 and 2015’s Rugby World Cup triumph.
His appointment however was far from automatic. Foster faced fierce competition from Scott Robertson, fresh from guiding the Crusaders to the third straight Super Rugby title.
Riding with the hot hand in Robertson might have made sense to the New Zealand Rugby Union. Foster’s pitch had to be good. It must have delivered.
“I didn’t go into it thinking I was competing with other people. I went into it being tough on myself. Did I have a plan for this group that I felt was going to be the right thing for the All Blacks,” Foster told Telegraph Sport last month in Paris, following the conclusion of World Rugby’s Player Welfare and Laws Symposium.
"You will never get it done," Gus Pichot was told by the former chairman of World Rugby – which is exactly why he is now pushing so hard for change.https://t.co/LuusAMrtBP
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“I spent a lot of time planning that, worrying about that. But actually, once I had it clear in my head, the process after that was relatively simple, because all you have to do is go in and say ‘Here is my plan’. I am sure they were presented with some other really good plans, but they chose mine and I have to go and deliver that.”
Whether his predecessor, Hansen, had an easier start or not following on from the 2011 Rugby World Cup win is debatable. Foster is certainly well-qualified. After close to 150 appearances for Waikato as a first-five he coached the Chiefs to two Super Rugby finals over a seven-year spell before joining Hansen’s staff. His own group contains John Plumtree (forwards), a smart appointment to go with Scott McLeod (defence) and Greg Feek (scrum).
The fact that New Zealand added Scarlets head coach Brad Mooar far later than usual should illustrate how highly Foster rates Mooar’s attacking philosophies. One of that contingent might end up sitting in the head coach’s office down the line. It was only once Foster joined the All Blacks setup eight years ago that the top job came onto his radar.
“I never had it written down on a bit of paper that I wanted to coach the All Blacks,” he admits. “But I think once I was fortunate enough to get the [assistant] job eight years ago, afterwards I felt I was almost accountable to the group to stand [for the head coaching role].
“On the basis that, if we really believed in what we had done over the last eight years, and we felt there was some good stuff in there, then it was clear that I was the one to put my hand up and go forward with that. I felt a degree of responsibility, but also it is a massive privilege to do the job. Let’s just go and have some fun with it.”
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In terms of personnel, Foster believes this is a better starting point for the All Blacks than post-2011 and post-2015, with more experienced players available. Consider some of the names who hung up their test boots after winning the final at Twickenham five years ago – Dan Carter, Richie McCaw, Jerome Kaino, Keven Mealamu, Ma’a Nonu and Conrad Smith.
There are holes to fill at lock and No 8, with Brodie Retallick on sabbatical and Kieran Read now retired after winning 127 caps. But in New Zealand, as Foster notes, there is always someone. Foster’s contract only runs until the end of 2021, although, as he points out, two-year contracts have always been standard practice for All Blacks head coaches.
Warren Gatland is now back in New Zealand coaching Foster’s old side, the Chiefs, seemingly waiting in the shadows. Robertson too, not forgetting either the unattached Joe Schmidt. That pressure to immediately deliver, Foster believes, is something to embrace rather than fear.
“A two-year deal was on the cards for whoever got the job. Personally, I would not have it any other way,” Foster says. “We’re coaching the All Blacks – we have to go well. And if we don’t go well, it doesn’t matter how long your contract is, you still have to be the right person in that seat on the bus.
“That’s my job – to make sure that I am the right person.”
Comments on RugbyPass
excellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
9 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
9 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
9 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
9 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
9 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
41 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
1 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
3 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
3 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to comments