Foster must be the great innovator
New All Blacks coach Ian Foster said it was up to him to prove he could be innovative when NZ Rugby confirmed he would replace Steve Hansen.
That’s no surprise. He has to say that.
Foster, like everyone else involved with the All Blacks during the failed World Cup campaign in Japan last year, will have undergone intense selfscrutiny following the miserable semifinal defeat to England.
The All Blacks won’t play their first test of 2020, against Wales in Auckland on July 4, but there have already been significant changes to the management team; Foster, having retained Scott McLeod as defence coach, has invited John Plumtree, Greg Feek and Brad Mooar to be his other assistants.
Retaining Grant Fox as a selector provides stability.
When Hansen replaced Graham Henry in 2012 he pimped up the attack by formulating ways for players to back their instincts and exploit space more often.
That, combined with the willingness to hunt for tries off turnover ball, resulting in the All Blacks winning all their games barring a draw with Australia and a loss to England in the last game of the year in London. Foster has promised to be innovative. The World Cup, he said, was a great catalyst for change.
It’s up to him to provide proof of this to help the All Blacks regain their swagger after being taken apart by England at Yokohama Stadium.
Hansen, upon his arrival in 2012, wasted no time in making things happen with bold selections.
Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith, Sam Cane and Brodie Retallick were to become stars over the next eight years.