'Tough times are always needed to create success': The greatest mind in New Zealand rugby implores NZ public to show empathy
One of the greatest rugby brains New Zealand has ever produced has come out in defence of new All Blacks coach Ian Foster and captain Sam Cane.
Wayne Smith, who was an assistant coach with the All Blacks for both their 2011 and 2015 World Cup triumphs, has implored fans to have some empathy for Foster and Cane during the “difficult times” the New Zealand national side are currently experiencing.
In a message to the NZ Herald, Smith has given his take on the All Blacks’ current predicament. The two wins, one loss and two draws that new head coach Foster and new captain Cane have led their side to is the worst-ever opening five matches for a new All Blacks coach.
“These are difficult times for Ian and Sam,” Smith wrote. “One of the greatest eras in All Blacks history has ended on the back of McCaw, Carter, Woodcock, Muliaina, Mealamu, Nonu, Smith, Kaino et al retiring. Most of them centurions; all greats of our game.
“This is a cycle – it’s happened before and will happen again. There are future greats of our game in this current All Blacks team. Yes, there are mistakes being made, both on and off the field.
“A couple of losses amplifies those. That doesn’t mean these blokes are no good. I hear often that Ian Foster was unsuccessful as Chiefs coach – by the way, he led the Chiefs to a final and a semi – but this criticism doesn’t allow for continual learning, for getting better with age and experience.
“Tough times are always needed to create success. The All Blacks are going through these at the moment. I’m pretty sure that this team will come through these like those before them and new legends will be forged.”
All Blacks fans have become accustomed to seeing their side emerge victorious week after week and those expectations haven’t changed despite the transition from one coaching legacy to another.
The rest of the world have also slowly caught up with New Zealand over the last decade – not necessarily because the All Blacks are doing anything wrong.
“There are so many ways you can play, so many variables and ever-changing law interpretations,” said Smith. “Given that, there is invariably a need for debate. Sometimes, conflict occurs. The All Blacks have an overriding philosophy of ‘disagree and commit’ when decisions are made. The captain and coach aren’t working alone in this.
“To bring all this together is difficult. It takes time. It takes courage to confront norms, make changes, stick your neck out. It often doesn’t work, and you get poor results. Then, as [All Blacks mental skills coach] Gilbert Enoka often says, you adapt, adjust and overcome.”
Smith himself experienced some tough times with the All Blacks during a short stint as head coach from 2000 to 2001. He was also on hand when New Zealand fell to their worst-ever World Cup finish in 2007.
31 wins from 31 matches isn't a bad return – and Buck Shelford has now given his take on the #AllBlacks' current predicament.https://t.co/0A6mXdPnlD
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 18, 2020
Smith and his fellow coaches were all apportioned blame for the losses, but the coach has tried to remind fans that professional rugby players and coaches are people too and should be treated with empathy.
“As Sam Cane said the other day, captaining and coaching the All Blacks can be brutal if results don’t go your way, or you are perceived to be ‘not up to it’,” Smith said.
“There is always a frenzy of social media and journalistic activity. That’s life. I’ve been through it. It takes huge self-belief and resilience to withstand it and carry on.
“What critics need to remember is that you are talking about good people. Everyone on this earth has a talent. Sam’s and Ian Foster’s talents aren’t any more special than others who you pass on the street, but they are certainly more recognisable and measurable.”
Following the 2011 World Cup win in New Zealand, Smith helped the Chiefs secure back-to-back Super Rugby titles, before re-joining the All Blacks ahead of the 2015 competition.
The former All Blacks flyhalf now works in Japan as the Kobelco Steelers director of rugby.
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Comments on RugbyPass
Anna, 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 commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
8 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
61 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
8 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
61 Go to comments