Turnovers, turmoil and turnarounds
Ian Foster’s fight for survival hinged on significant changes behind the scenes. Richard Knowler reports.
For more than two years All Blacks coach Ian Foster remained loyal to his support staff, even as the dark clouds gathered on the horizon.
That was until Foster’s paymasters at NZ Rugby became anxious, which accelerated changes at a rapid pace.
The catalyst for the turmoil about to unfold began when Ireland exposed the All Blacks’ shortcomings during their historic 2-1 series win in New Zealand last month, a clear indication the men in black hadn’t absorbed the painful lessons from the defeats to France and Ireland in November.
Foster, forced to convince NZ Rugby why he was still the right person to coach the All Blacks through to the World Cup in France next year, appeared to have been backed into a corner.
An extraordinary series of events then unfolded, as he sacked two assistants before the 2022 season was anywhere near the halfway point.
Forwards coach and co-selector John Plumtree and attack coach Brad Mooar, who were recruited by Foster when he beat Scott Robertson for the job in late 2019, were told their careers with the All Blacks were over.
Respected Crusaders forwards coach Jason Ryan was signed up to fill Plumtree’s role, Foster declared he would take over the attack portfolio for the two Rugby Championship tests against the Springboks in South Africa and exIreland coach Joe Schmidt, as forecast, officially began his role as an independent selector following the retirement of Grant Fox.
It was a remarkable switch in circumstances, as Foster scrambled to find ways to get his underperforming team to fire.
It wasn’t the first time he had tinkered with his coaching group, either; in April he added Andrew Strawbridge and ex-All Blacks forwards coach Mike Cron in the roles of skills consultant and informal mentor.
Even as the scrutiny from NZ Rugby intensified during a rigorous review after the 2021 season, a consequence of the All Blacks losing to France and Ireland, Foster insisted on keeping his coaching crew intact and their contracts were extended through to the World Cup.
This meant Foster would have Greg Feek and Scott McLeod, who were in charge of the scrum and defence, Plumtree and Mooar on board through to the global tournament.
Then, suddenly, the relationship between Foster and Plumtree and Mooar, was shattered. Foster told them they were no longer wanted.
‘‘Oh, horrible, there is no other word for that,’’ Foster later said, when asked about telling the two men they were out of a job.
‘‘[They’re] good men, but my role is to do what I think is best for the team and put the team first and sometimes that’s at the detriment of an individual.
‘‘I don’t think it’s a massive judgment on them at all as coaches. It’s just [that] we kind of need to make a bit of a change.’’
While the exact reasons for the dumping of Plumtree and Mooar remain murky, and they have not spoken publicly, one thing remains crystal clear: Foster was a survivor.
Having been called to a meeting with NZ Rugby CEO Mark Robinson, who had labelled the series defeat to Ireland ‘‘unacceptable’’, and senior manager Chris Lendrum, Foster had to explain how the All Blacks were going to improve against the Springboks.
But this saga was far from over. We were to see more of Foster’s fighting qualities in the weeks ahead.
When the All Blacks were beaten 26-10 by the Springboks in Mbombela, his career was again in the balance and it appeared he had to deliver a win in Johannesburg to convince NZ Rugby he deserved to remain as coach.
And Foster did. The All Blacks produced a much-improved performance for a 35-23 win in front of 62,000 fans at Ellis Park in Johannesburg which was followed by his senior players stating he still had the trust of the changing shed.
It put an end to the All Blacks’ form slump, after three consecutive defeats. Foster’s recent record, however, remained open to scrutiny: seven tests, five losses and two wins.
Another review, again with Robinson and Lendrum, was commissioned when Foster returned to New Zealand, and it was recommended to the NZ Rugby board he remain in the job through to the World Cup.
On Wednesday, at a press conference in Auckland, NZ Rugby chairman Stewart Mitchell and Robinson sat alongside Foster to say he had their full support.
They also made one more significant announcement: Schmidt would join the coaching staff on a fulltime basis, filling the vacancy created by the departure of Mooar.
One of the most turbulent periods involving an All Blacks coach during the professional era had come to an end. It’s now all or nothing.
With about 13 months remaining until the World Cup, NZ Rugby has backed Foster to bring back the Webb Ellis Cup. Everyone with a vested interest, including the supporters, hopes NZ Rugby has made the right call.
It’s now up to Foster to prove this. That starts with the test against Argentina in Christchurch next Saturday.
How Foster’s turnover of staff compares to his predecessors:
Sir Steve Hansen (2012-2019)
By comparison to the Foster era, it was very stable.
At the beginning of his tenure Hansen recruited
Aussie McLean (defence), Mick Byrne (skills), Foster (backs) and Mike Cron (forwards).
After two years, Hansen switched McLean to the role of analyst. The defence job was absorbed in-house.
Wayne Smith joined the All Blacks as defence coach between 2015 (which coincided with the World Cup that year) and October 2017. When Smith stepped aside, McLeod replaced him for those duties and has remained in the role.
Sir Graham Henry (2004-2011)
Hansen (forwards), Smith (backs), Cron (scrum) and Byrne (skills) were Henry’s trusted offsiders.
When the All Blacks crashed out of the 2007 World Cup, beaten by France in the quarterfinal in Cardiff, Henry convinced the NZ Rugby board to put their faith in him, ahead of Robbie Deans.
Apart from King Country’s Ivan Haines, all NZ Rugby board members voted for Henry to return.
Despite the shock defeat, Henry didn’t throw his assistants under the bus, and in 2011 the All Blacks won the World Cup in New Zealand.
John Mitchell (late 2001-2003)
One of the most turbulent periods involving an All Blacks coach during the professional era had come to an end. It’s now all or nothing.
Mitchell had a modest number of staff, compared to Foster, Hansen and Henry.
Between late 2001 and the 2003 World Cup in Australia, Mitchell worked with Robbie Deans as his assistant. Between them, they shared the majority of the workload.
Among those to assist during that period were Mark Shaw, Kieran Crowley, Richard Loe and Ross Nesdale.