'We're desperate': All Blacks boss Ian Foster's plan to respond against Springboks
After keeping his job in spite of his side’s historic series loss to Ireland, All Blacks head coach Ian Foster’s focus has now turned to the Springboks.
Looking to bounce back from a groundbreaking series defeat at the hands of the Irish, Foster has an enormous task broadening on the horizon in the form of a two-test tour of South Africa to open his side’s Rugby Championship campaign.
Few All Blacks teams have endured as a tough start to a test season as this current group, which failed to fire in their three-test series against what is now the world’s top-ranked side.
Now they must respond by restoring pride in the national jersey and the All Blacks brand in their upcoming away matches against the reigning world champions in expectedly hostile environments in Nelspruit and Johannesburg.
Even more challenging is that the All Blacks must produce far better results in the face of intense public backlash, which has stemmed from the series loss to Ireland – New Zealand’s first against the men from the Emerald Isle on Kiwi soil.
The series defeat was also their first in New Zealand since 1994, and with four losses from their last five tests, the All Blacks currently sit in a worst-ever World Rugby ranking of fourth place.
As such, Foster has it all to play for in South Africa as he looks to repay the faith shown in him by New Zealand Rugby, who have opted to retain him as All Blacks boss – for the time being – despite immense external pressure not to do so.
With his job hanging in the balance, the next two tests shape as make-or-break fixtures for Foster, and the man in question is well aware of the situation at hand.
“We’re desperate,” Foster told media on Friday following the announcement of his Rugby Championship squad at the end of a tumultuous week both on and off the field.
“We’re desperate to perform against South Africa, and you have to be, but it’d be much nicer hearing us talk about a great performance over there rather than what we’re putting up with now.
“There’s a lot riding on it, and what’s riding on it is that we want to get our games going to the levels that we want, and that we want our fanbase and our country to be proud of us, clearly, but what an exciting challenge.
“We’re going to South Africa, we’ve got two tests in this Rugby Championship, we’ve got both tests away against South Africa.
“Couldn’t be harder in many ways, but when your back is against the wall a little bit, then this is a great place for the All Blacks to be, and we’ve got to respond.”
That much is easier said than done, though, especially when the Springboks head into the upcoming matches on the back of a three-test series win over Wales.
Although they dropped the second test against the Welsh after fielding an overhauled and inexperienced team, the Springboks acquitted themselves well in the final test, comfortably accounting for the tourists to back-up their tense series-opening win.
South Africa’s ability to respond to defeat and grind out hard-fought victories was a far cry from what the All Blacks showcased against Ireland, as was the dominance of their forward pack compared to that of New Zealand’s.
Having surveyed the success of the Springboks over Wales from afar, Foster highlighted the battle up front as a particular area that the All Blacks will need to win if they are to reap their desired rewards in South Africa.
“Clearly made a lot of changes in that second test, and you could see them resting some players, but building through that third test,” Foster said of Jacques Nienaber’s side.
“They’re physical, they’ve got some areas of their game where they really are focused on, particularly around the mauling game, the driving game, and that’s an area that hurt us in that third test, so we’ve got some clear areas we’ve got to improve.”
The inclusions of Highlanders duo Ethan de Groot and Shannon Frizell at the expense of prop Karl Tu’inukuafe and No 8 Pita Gus Sowakula may go some way to helping the All Blacks match the physicality of the Springboks forwards.
However, even if De Groot and Frizell do feature in South Africa, vastly-improved efforts from across the entire All Blacks squad will be required in order to achieve the goals Foster needs to ensure his position as All Blacks head coach remains secure.
“There’s no doubt I’m under pressure, but can I just say I’m always under pressure, and I’ve always felt that pressure,” Foster said.
“External people will try to intensify that pressure, but it doesn’t change the fact that, as an All Blacks coach, you live in that world all the time.
“Does it hurt? Yes it does. It does mean that the key thing for me is to make sure everything I do is about ensuring that we have robust processes to make sure we have got the right people sitting in the right seats.”
The All Blacks and Springboks will play their first test against each other at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on August 6 before squaring off again at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on August 13.
Comments on RugbyPass
The rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
76 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
1 Go to commentsexcellent 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.
2 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 comments