Why the All Blacks need the support of the New Zealand public now
There’s talk of a disconnect between the All Blacks and the public.
Just a tick over 25,000 fans attended Saturday’s 57-22 win over Australia, in the second of two consecutive tests at Eden Park.
Of all the things said and written in the wake of that match, the most interesting came from All Blacks head coach Ian Foster.
While keen to accentuate the positive and commend those who did come and applaud the performance of his team, Foster said the crowd number was ostensibly not his problem.
That’s where Foster is wrong and, partly, why he is ill-suited to the role of All Blacks coach.
Among the many duties Foster has inherited is to become the team’s carnival-barker-in-chief. To be the team’s spruiker and to encourage those outside the All Blacks’ tent to want to come in and take a look.
The private part of the national coach’s job is clearly the most important. The hours in the dressing sheds, on the training paddock, in selection meetings and team rooms ultimately decide your coaching fate.
But there’s a public role too – one not dissimilar to that of a political leader – in which you need to win the hearts and minds of the public.
Steve Hansen was always charismatic. Among people he trusted and rated, Hansen was a popular figure.
But it’s fair to say that in his days as All Blacks assistant coach, he didn’t care greatly for the media and public. He neither trusted nor rated them and his public utterances provided ample examples of that.
But, partly with the help of media trainer Ian Fraser, Hansen softened. He became less quick to take offence or to be suspicious of outsiders and quickly won fans and journalists over.
If it’s true that supporters aren’t so attached to this All Blacks team, then that starts with Foster. And, far from Saturday’s turn out not being his problem, it absolutely is.
For as long as he dismisses the relevance of those outside the team bubble, the players themselves will follow that lead.
The connection between the fans and the team is important right now.
There’s every indication that Saturday’s game was the last we’ll see of the All Blacks this year and that the remainder of their test schedule will be played overseas. Starting in Australia, on August 28 and then onto the United States and Europe.
At this stage, every fit All Black is said to be available for that elongated tour and the various quarantining periods that it will demand.
But what if a player decides three months away from his family is too many? What if a player gets away and finds it too tough on him and the family he’s left behind?
Will the public begrudge him sitting the trip out or returning home before it’s finished? Or will he be labelled a snowflake, who’s paid handsomely to play rugby and simply needs to get on with it?
These are unique times for modern athletes. It’s not often they’ve had to pursue their careers to the exclusion of everything else.
Far from being the frolics that previous overseas trips have occasionally been, touring life has changed markedly since the onset of Covid-19.
I’d like to think the public would be sympathetic to the players. That they’d realise the sacrifice these men are making and not judge them harshly if they find being on the road too much.
Increasingly we are seeing that athletes can be vulnerable to mental health problems. That the pressures of high-performance sport are harder to absorb without the usual balance that family or freedom can provide.
When your world shrinks to hotel room, team room, bus, training venue, dressing room and playing field, it’s easy to feel as if the walls are closing in.
There’s lots of reasons why there needs to be a rapport between the All Blacks and the public, with gate receipts just one of them.
When you cease to be relatable or touchable or even admirable, then it’s easy for fans to turn away from you. Worse still is when those fans suddenly decide to turn on you.
Ian Foster needs to sell the idea that he’s just one of us. That he’s an ordinary bloke who doesn’t always have the answers and is just battling away like we are.
Rather than be irritated by or suspicious of us, he needs us to feel like he’s a relatable and likeable guy.
If he’s slightly more vulnerable and approachable, then the players are more likely to adopt that stance too.
As a team – and individuals – the All Blacks really need our support right now. And, for the first time in a long time, it appears as if they’re going to have to earn it.
Comments on RugbyPass
The game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
21 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA 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?
12 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.
12 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
5 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.
25 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
5 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…??? 🤑🤑🤑
37 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
37 Go to comments