No pressure, Ian, but you need to get this right
All Blacks coach Ian Foster has made his move. Come tomorrow night, at around 9pm, we should have a decent idea of whether he’s edged his way back into the hearts of All Blacks fans, or remains tangled in the debate about whether he should have the job ahead of Crusaders supremo Scott Robertson.
Ever since the All Blacks ended their northern tour by crashing to defeats to France and Ireland last November, many people with skin in the sport have been feverish to know what fresh ideas Foster garnered from the multitude of reviews and reports completed over the summer. We shall know soon enough. The 23-man team Foster named for the test in Auckland looks sound enough on paper.
The decision to switch lock Scott Barrett to blindside flanker sends the message that the All Blacks want to chuck more heavy metal in dark armour at the Irish.
Foster had other options in Akira Ioane and Dalton Papalii. But he wants Ioane to recover from a sore foot, and allow Papalii to return to top fitness after recent surgery for appendicitis.
Yet the prospect of Barrett operating at No 6 could, maybe, be part of a plan ahead of the World Cup in France next year.
Although Barrett’s only other run-on test start at blindside flanker, in the ill-fated World Cup semifinal against England in 2019, ended in him being replaced by Sam Cane at halftime, he possesses the skills to be a powerful unit in that role.
He could also help the All Blacks forwards deliver payback after they were schooled during the 29-20 loss in Dublin last year.
Foster has also been cautious with several of his selections for the clash at Eden Park.
With the World Cup in France a little over 14 months away, he surprisingly elected to name loosehead specialist Aidan Ross as his only new front rower in his squad on June 13.
There can be few complaints about George Bower starting at loosehead.
If you have watched the Crusaders this season, you could reason Foster could have paired him and hooker Codie Taylor with uncapped tighthead Fletcher Newell against Ireland.
But with Newell not in the squad, Ofa Tu’ungafasi starts at tighthead. The reserve props are France-bound Karl Tu’inukuafe and Angus Ta’avao.
The question that needs to be answered is whether Tu’ungafasi and Ta’avao can remain viable options for the World Cup. At present, they appear to be a shortterm option.
With midfielders David Havili and Jack Goodhue unavailable because they, along with fullback/
wing Will Jordan have contracted Covid-19, Quinn Tupaea deserved to be named at second five-eighth ahead of rugby league convert Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.
Foster hasn’t had it easy this week. Covid-19 forced him and assistants John Plumtree and Scott McLeod to isolate, with Joe Schmidt whistled up to assist with trainings.
Yet, despite the disruptions, the All Blacks can’t con themselves. A sympathetic public isn’t likely to issue the tissues if they suffer a first loss to the Irish in New Zealand.
Foster is adamant he will be at Eden Park, where the All Blacks haven’t been beaten since 1994. This represents a chance to start with a clean slate after the defeats in Paris and Dublin.
A victory would keep the lid on the simmering debate about Foster’s suitability for the job ahead of the World Cup.
There are no prizes for guessing what effect a loss would have. That lid would be blown sky-high.