Poll shows ABs coaching concern
A poll of more than 100 Super Rugby Aotearoa players have revealed 46 per cent believed New Zealand Rugby got the All Blacks coaching appointment wrong while another 26 per cent claimed they were ‘‘happy with Ian Foster but not the assistant coaches’’.
The pool was conducted by Country Sport Radio producer Sam Casey, who said he had asked more than 100 players 40 questions about the state of New Zealand rugby.
Casey revealed only 28 per cent were happy with the All Blacks coaching appointments.
Foster – Steve Hansen’s assistant coach for eight years – got the head coach’s job in a contest with former All Blacks loose forward Scott Robertson, who led the Crusaders to three consecutive Super Rugby titles.
Foster’s assistants are Scott McLeod (defence coach), John Plumtree (forwards), Brad Mooar (backs) and Greg Feek (scrum coach), with Grant Fox retained as a selector.
The survey – which included at least 15 players from each of the five Super Rugby franchises – asked players to rate the best coach they had had in professional rugby.
Highlanders and Japan assistant coach Tony Brown topped the poll with 17 per cent of the vote, with Robertson on 16 per cent, Dave Rennie, Warren Gatland and Jason Holland on 9.
Asked to name the best player in New Zealand rugby, 40 per cent opted for Beauden Barrett, 20 per cent for Ardie Savea and 12 per cent for Brodie Retallick.
More results from the survey – conducted between March and June – will be released on Country Sport Radio later this week.