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'We'd be foolish to close our mind to it': Ian Foster on World 12s
All Blacks head coach Ian Foster says the controversial World 12s proposal needs to be approached with an open mind before a decision is made on its feasibility.
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The “radical” concept – backed by the likes of former All Blacks head coach Sir Steve Hansen, ex-Springboks boss Jake White and former New Zealand Rugby chief executive Steve Tew – was launched by ex-RFU chief executive Ian Ritchie earlier this week.
It has since dominated the talk of the rugby world as it has promised to be rugby’s equivalent of cricket’s Indian Premier League, with 192 of the best players from tier one and two nations set to be auctioned off to eight franchises for a three-week tournament to be held annually in August and September.
The first edition of the tournament is scheduled to be held in London, with the venue set to change each year.
Each of the franchise’s squads will consist of 24 players, with 12 players to take to the field in each match, and games are set to last for half an hour and will be played under numerous law adaptations designed to make the game easier to understand.
Furthermore, World 12s aspires to generate $500 million in next five years, which Hansen told Stuff could help limit the mass exodus of players from countries like New Zealand and Australia to financially-rich competitions in the northern hemisphere.
However, the proposal has been met with a mixed reception, with sceptics raising issues over player welfare, the tournament’s ability to gain access to players in the European leagues and the imminent scheduling clash with the Rugby Championship.
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The latter concern directly impacts Foster given it could leave him bereft of his top players for at least a portion of upcoming Rugby Championship campaigns, but he told reporters on Friday that he remains open to the World 12s concept.
“Obviously we’re hearing about these things and have been thinking about it for a while,” Foster, who worked as an assistant under Hansen in the All Blacks coaching set-up between 2012 and 2019, said.
“It’s like everything in the game. Whenever a change is proposed, it often seems too radical and too far-fetched to work.
“There are a lot of reasons why it doesn’t seem to fit, certainly doesn’t seem to fit from a timetable perspective from my view in terms of the Rugby Championship, but, also, I think we’d be foolish to close our mind to it.
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“If it’s a radical new idea that could be good for our game, then it’d be good to get around a table and have a chat to see how it could work.”
Comments on RugbyPass
1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
54 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.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 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.
10 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.
54 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.
3 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
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
54 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
54 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
54 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
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