With everything to lose

three weeks’ time, it is likely New Zealand Rugby will look favourably upon his application.

If, however, New Zealand lose tomorrow, he can probably forget it. Foster – or Fozzie, as he is known – has a lot to lose.

Is it a distraction? Is the lack of certainty over Hansen’s successor causing any uncertainty?

Or perhaps it is a good thing. Maybe Schmidt’s authority is undermined by the fact that he is about to exit stage left? Maybe Ireland’s players are starting to listen more to Farrell.

The interesting thing is, you might have expected New Zealand’s media to be all over this. If England were potentially going to be left without a head coach in a few days, and the favourite to take over was sitting in a press conference yesterday, you can be sure there would have been questions about it. But according to journalists who have been covering New Zealand at this World Cup, there have been very few interrogations about New Zealand’s succession plan.

Why? This is the most prestigious job in world rugby we are talking about.

Perhaps it is because everyone in New Zealand simply expects to win the tournament. Whatever it is, Foster would not be human unless he was feeling the pressure. He is potentially just weeks away from securing his dream job.

In a small field – with Warren Gatland having signed a fouryear deal with Waikato Chiefs and Schmidt insisting he wants to take a break from coaching – only Crusaders coach Scott Robertson is seen as a realistic alternative, although if Jamie Joseph continues to perform miracles with Japan that might change.

Foster, though, is the heir apparent in New Zealand’s game of thrones. He eventually warmed up a little. What had Ireland done well to win in Dublin last year? ‘‘I can’t remember it,’’ Foster replied with a smile. ‘‘No, that’s not true. We just got beat by a good Irish team. But we don’t get too stuck in the past,’’ he added. ‘‘It’s about what happens this week.’’

True. But maybe, just a little, it is also about what will happen in the next few years.

– The Telegraph

PHOTOSPORT/AP Ian Foster was in a somewhat prickly mood during an All Blacks media conference this week. Foster is considered the favourite to succeed Steve Hansen, above left, as All Blacks coach after the World Cup but that may change if New Zealand fail to defend their title.