Blowtorch aimed directly at Foster

Strong criticism from a coaching legend has the new All Blacks chief feeling the heat this week.

This was probably the last thing Ian Foster needed – the old gaffer, Sir Graham Henry, coming out and adding to the scrutiny this first- year All Blacks coach finds himself under, heading into just the second test match of the year.

Of course when your team under-performs to the level the All Blacks did last Sunday in Wellington, held to a 16-16 draw by a new-look Wallabies side in their own first match under their new coach, a certain amount of attention is inevitable. It goes with the territory.

Foster accepted as much this week in Auckland when he spoke about his anticipation for Bledisloe II at Eden Park today where the All Blacks haven’t lost a match since 1994, and haven’t been rolled by the Wallabies since 1986. A repeat of last week’s subdued effort would be simply unthinkable.

‘‘I love these weeks,’’ said Foster defiantly. ‘‘ These are the weeks there’s a real edge around the camp. We know we’ve got to respond. We want to respond from our own standards perspective and we’re excited about doing that. We said last week was about putting a marker down. We did and so did they and we’ve got to respond.’’

The All Blacks are no stranger to these positions. Just last year they were humbled 47-26 by the Wallabies in Perth only to strike back in Auckland seven days later with a 36-0 demolition job of their own. Foster will be hoping for a similar response on Eden Park today, but knows there are no guarantees.

But what of this pressure that’s been building around Foster? It’s real for starters. His appointment has not been without its critics and after that opening effort in Wellington, where the All Blacks’ forwards were outmuscled, and their backs stilted, it has intensified. There are many out there in this country who do not believe NZ Rugby got it right with this decision – and they’re not backward about saying so.

Henry’s comments at the Wairarapa Bush rugby awards function on Friday night will have done nothing to lessen the scrutiny on Foster, who served eight years as Steve Hansen’s deputy, and shaded the uber-successful Scott Robertson for the All Blacks top job in the wake of the 2019 World Cup failure.

You might think Henry would be Team Foster, given the continuity link between his regime, Hansen’s and now Foster’s. But his words on Friday night did not appear to indicate so, when he told the crowd in attendance: ‘‘Dave Rennie is a fabulous coach. New Zealand Rugby c . . ked that up. They should have been connecting with Dave and [Japan coach] Jamie Joseph and other people around the world to keep them involved. [But they] didn’t contact Dave Rennie for three years, and Dave Rennie is fabulous, so he’s going to do a great job with Australia.’’

And the 2011 World Cupwinning coach did not exactly provide a ringing endorsement of Foster when he was steered in that direction. He said it was ‘‘too early’’ to provide any sort of a judgment on the new man’s suitability, but, pressed to choose between Rennie and Foster, endorsed the Wallabies coach as the better operator.

‘‘I think we stuffed up quite frankly because he [Rennie] is a quality person and a quality coach and you’ve seen it straight away with the Wallabies,’’ he said. ‘‘They will play for him, and that’s no disrespect to Fozzie, that’s just circumstantial.’’

As mentioned, Foster will not be judged on two tests. He will box on through what’s left of 2020 and 2021, and most likely through until the next World Cup, unless things go really pear-shaped. Better informed judgments will be made in due course.

But there is no mistaking this is an early juncture he needs to respond to. Or his team needs to.

The All Blacks were horrible last week. The forwards had their moments but never got on the front foot against a committed pack. And the backs failed to establish any rhythm or flow with a paucity of quality possession. What’s more tactical adjustments were absent. When the match was there to be stolen, there was simply no plan to set up for a dropped goal.

Foster has heard the comments about the team’s ‘‘ aura’’ being lost and so forth, and brokers no argument with them because he accepts they failed to meet their own standards last week.

‘‘Is it time for a statement? Yes it is,’’ he says. ‘‘We want to get our levels to where we want to be, and there’s a group here working really hard to do that. But we’ve got to learn quick.’’

The sky won’t fall in if these All Blacks don’t produce a Bledisloe bounceback. But Foster’s world will get more uncomfortable as they head to Australia for the Rugby Championship. Captain Sam Cane and his pack (minus key lock Sam Whitelock) must lead the response, and fullback Beauden Barrett must ignite the backs into something more incendiary.

Then, and only then, will New Zealanders be happy. Maybe even Sir Graham among them.

‘‘Is it time for a statement? Yes it is.’’

Ian Foster

All Blacks coach