Foster lines up heavyweight team for tilt at top job

Ian Foster hasn’t spent eight years under Steve Hansen’s tutelage not paying attention, with the incumbent All Blacks assistant said to have already assembled a formidable support team in his pitch for the soon-to-be-vacant top job.

Foster confirmed in the lead-in to today’s bronze medal playoff at the World Cup in Japan, that he remains committed to applying for the head coach’s job when this campaign ends.

He had previously declared his intentions in this area and he made it clear in Tokyo that the semifinal loss to England had not dissuaded him from that objective. But he otherwise refused to speak on the quest, saying it was not appropriate while the team was still fulfilling its commitments at this World Cup.

Stuff understands that Foster’s bid to become the next All Blacks head coach contains a heavyweight support crew which he is hoping will be enough to tip a now tight and intriguing contest his way.

The semifinal defeat has opened up an appetite for change, with successful Crusaders coach Scott Robertson, former Chiefs mentor Dave Rennie and Japan boss Jamie Joseph all prominent in speculation around potential successors.

But sources indicate that a ‘‘rock star’’ of the game has already been lined up as a key part of Foster’s coaching team that he will pitch to New Zealand

Rugby’s appointments committee when the job officially opens up.

One New Zealand Rugby board member in the loop is said to have been very excited by the level of support Foster has assembled, while another source indicated it was an ‘‘impressive’’ group.

The last time the All Blacks coaching job was fully contestable was post-2007 when successful Crusaders coach Robbie Deans challenged incumbent Graham Henry without a full support team in place. NZ Rugby was won over by the strong team pitch of Henry, Hansen and Wayne Smith and reappointed the trio on the basis they would take on board the lessons of the tournament failure.

That group then formed the basis of back-to-back World Cup triumphs and a prolonged era of success on the international stage, with Hansen eventually taking over from Henry after the 2011 victory.

Now Foster faces a similar challenge to Henry and co in 2007 – convincing the NZ Rugby board that he can rebuild the programme on the back of a disappointing World Cup result in the form of last Saturday’s semifinal elimination at the hands of England.

So who could Foster have enlisted on his coaching support team? Well, there’s possibly no more enticing a prospect than former Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt who initially appeared to remove himself from contention for vacant gigs on the basis he was taking some long overdue time off to spend with his family.

But Schmidt recently confirmed he has some ‘‘humbling’’ offers in front of him and has hinted that he could be back involved in rugby as early as June or July next year.

That just happens to be when the All Blacks resume their international programme for 2020.

And it is thought that a support role, such as the one Foster will require, might be the ideal way for the Kiwi to ease his way back into coaching after the time he needs with his family.

Vern Cotter is another top coach with overseas experience who could potentially be enlisted as part of a new setup.

Expect NZ Rugby to move swiftly.