Schmidt best man to be next ABs coach
Foster looks locked in to take over but a reliance on dynasties can be dangerous
Full marks to Wayne Smith, for stepping out of the inner sanctum and openly endorsing — in his own humble way — Ian Foster as the next All Blacks coach.
But Smith, the soon-to-be-retired All Blacks assistant coach, is backing the wrong man.
This is probably a redundant argument, because the inside word is that All Blacks assistant Foster is already locked in when Steve Hansen steps aside after the 2019 World Cup. If it’s a done deal, it is a dangerous deal. Things are becoming too chummy, at Rugby HQ.
New Zealand Rugby boss Steve Tew’s succession plan worked a treat regarding Steve Hansen, a man some of us got so, so wrong in terms of head coach ability. We derided Hansen, and he’s rubbed our face in the dirt well and truly, without any gloating on his part, it must be emphasised.
Hansen emerged from Team Graham Henry, and has taken the business of winning in style to another level. Important to say that his path to the top involved coaching Wales, where the players loved him and he would have grown in terms of dealing with the stresses of being an international head coach.
Hansen is amongst the best coaches the All Blacks have ever had. You could argue his record is second to none. His ability to keep on keeping on owes much to that Bear-with-aHeart personality. He’s a man who learns, adjusts, adapts. Players trust him. He has strength. He commands.
The stand-out coach in world rugby — apart from Hansen — is another Kiwi, Joe Schmidt. That’s who the All Blacks should be targeting, somehow, without offending his Irish paymasters.
Foster has done nothing, in terms of winning titles, to suggest he is head coach material. Far from it, actually. He has been a brilliant foil to Hansen, but there is a huge difference between head and assistant coaches.
Foster is Steve Hansen-lite. Personality wise, he is extremely well liked.
I’m told that important tactical changes to the All Blacks’ game can be credited to Foster, and, like Hansen, he may well be able to improve with age and experience. But there comes a time with all dynasties when in-breeding becomes dangerous. The Crusaders are a prime example of that.
Schmidt — whose achievements include plotting Ireland’s first win over the All Blacks — has a priceless world view, a reputation as a master tactician and by far the greatest potential to take the All Blacks forward in a significant leap. The All Blacks should always be looking to raise their game. Schmidt’s fastidiousness, his ability to improve players, is already legendary through what he has achieved in Europe and particularly Ireland.
The new All Blacks assistant coach will bring in new ideas, of course. But no New Zealand-domiciled coach gets close to matching what former Blues assistant Schmidt has achieved and experienced in Europe.
Interviewed on Newstalk ZB, Smith revealed to sports host Tony Veitch his frustration with those who criticise Foster’s record at the Chiefs. But Smith is on thin ground there — Foster’s failure was put in context by the success which immediately followed his departure.
Finally, Smith deserves an avalanche of accolades for his huge contribution to New Zealand rugby’s success, and the classy manner in which he achieved that.
He is often called the Professor, for his rugby intelligence, but a key to his success is a genuinely selfless attitude. It was always about improving the players, the team, with Smith. He won trust, confidence.
He can be a prickly character — ask some media people on that score. Yet there is a humility which extends to questioning his own position as All Black coach in 2001, which helped cost him the job.
Even yesterday, he questioned his right to promote Foster as the next All Blacks coach. He has every right — I just happen to believe he’s not right. Schmidt has the greatest potential to take the All Blacks forward. If Foster takes over, they will be lucky to stand still.