Cane has confidence of coach as captain, Foster intent on staying in role
Bay of Plenty’s Sam Cane has retained his position as All Blacks captain despite scrutiny and speculation veteran lock Sam Whitelock could replace him.
Cane’s retention in the role for the Rugby Championship, and coach Ian Foster’s continued public backing, ensures the openside flanker’s captaincy appears safe.
The announcement was made yesterday after six days of silence from New Zealand Rugby and All Blacks. Foster addressed the media and took questions from the floor.
Foster also stated his intent to remain in the head coach role after four losses from the team’s last five tests and their first home series defeat in 27 years.
“I believe in him as a person, as a leader,” Foster said of Cane. “The easiest thing to do when a series doesn’t go your way is to point the finger and blame and want people’s neck. I’ve got a lot of faith in Sam and the leadership group around him. We all know there’s a high degree of accountability when you put on an All Blacks jersey and we need to be better.”
Despite the expected changes to his assistant coaches, Foster moved to dismiss suggestions Joe
Schmidt will soon assume an expanded role beyond the selector/ analyst position he has now started.
“He’s working with me behind the scenes on the strategic areas we feel we need to move. I’m excited to have him on board. He’s not travelling with us to South Africa and at this stage hasn’t got an on-field role but he is working hard with me.”
Conjecture surrounding Foster’s future and that of his assistant coaches reduced the minor tweaks to the All Blacks’ Rugby Championship squad to a footnote. Recalling Highlanders prop Ethan de Groot, who has lost 7kg since being dropped for the July series, and blindside Shannon Frizell for Blues prop Karl Tu’inukuafe and Chiefs loose forward Pita Gus Sowakula are unlikely to shake the foundations.
Responsibility ultimately remains on Foster’s shoulders to instigate an immediate form reversal in South Africa — a notion that shapes as a hugely challenging task. Results are the only means by which to quell ongoing demands for further change.
“I love the passion of our fans and I love the opinions. That is what it is. All I can assure people is the person I am and my role. I’m not here for any other reason other than to do my best for this team.
“Right now I can understand the frustration that we’ve lost a series. My job is to put perspective around that and to make sure we take the lessons and this All Blacks team comes out stronger. I want to be part of the solutions.
“Both tests away against South Africa couldn’t be harder in many respects but when your back is against the wall then this is a great place for the All Blacks to be. We’ve got to respond.
“We’re desperate to perform against South Africa but you have to be. It would be much nicer to hear us talk about a great performance over there than what we’re putting up with now.”
"The easiest thing to do when a series doesn’t go your way is to point the finger and blame and want people’s neck."
All Blacks coach Ian Foster