Strange week much ado about nothing
You couldn’t even accuse New Zealand Rugby (NZR) of smearing lipstick on a pig. With an overwhelming sense of significant change in the air – some of it fuelled by NZR’s radio silence this week – the All Blacks did, well, nothing. Not yet, anyway.
Head coach Ian Foster is staying, as expected, Sam Cane remains captain, Joe Schmidt’s role remains as flagged six months ago, and the squad for the Rugby Championship is all but a copy and paste job from the forgettable Irish series.
Indeed, for all the talk NZR would announce significant changes yesterday, highlighted by the possibility of a captaincy change, punters and pundits were left asking what the heck just happened after several well-sourced journalists swung and missed.
To be fair, a steadfast Foster, having opened his media stand-up in Auckland by reiterating he was the All Blacks coach (you got the feeling that inside, he was giving everyone the middle finger), has promised ‘‘a couple of changes’’. That’s the reality after days of meetings between NZR heavies, All Blacks management and senior players.
‘‘Out of respect for a couple of processes I need to not say anything more,’’ Foster said.
That seems to point to employment matters that may need finalising before NZR can serve up what some might see as scapegoats.
Given Foster said chief assistant coach John Plumtree helped Foster and Schmidt select the 36-man Rugby Championship squad, it’s unlikely the former Hurricanes head coach is going anywhere.
That leaves attack coach Brad Mooar, unwanted at the Crusaders after the 2018 season, defence coach Scott McLeod and scrum coach Greg Feek in the firing line.
‘‘Quickly, and I’ll let you know very soon,’’ Foster said when asked when changes would be confirmed.
Given NZR doesn’t do quickly, just when that is remains unclear, but time is ticking before the squad re-groups in Wellington on Monday morning. What’s clear is Schmidt’s role isn’t changing, although Foster did leave the door open by adding ‘‘at this stage’’.
Despite many tipping the former Irish head coach would take a hands-on approach, he won’t travel with the team or have an on-field role; rather, he’ll continue as an independent selector, and will provide Foster analysis of opposition teams.
Speaking of Foster, say what you will about his underwhelming record, he was assertive, confident and composed in front of cameras yesterday.
Sure, he let himself down with a needless remark to a journalist wanting one more question, but he did not appear to be a bloke who had essentially been thrown to the wolves after NZR chief executive Mark Robinson’s statement on Sunday.
‘‘I’m strong, I’m resilient, I think I’ve proven that. I believe I’ve got a great feel and relationship with my players’’, Foster said, admitting he did consider standing down.
So, onto South Africa, where the All Blacks play the world champion Springboks in back-to-back tests on August 7 and 14. That’s hardly what the doctor would order for an out of sync team that’s lost four of five tests, one bereft of ideas on attack, and one that quite simply looked lost against Ireland.
Which begs the question: What happens if the All Blacks get rolled against South Africa and/or cough up the Bledisloe Cup in September – the second most important trophy to the men’s national side after the World Cup?
Having also reviewed the All Blacks’ northern tour last year and played on, this rinse and repeat business can’t go on should the rot continue. No, that would call for big changes.
Under fire All Blacks coach Ian Foster admitted he considered standing down after the disappointing series loss to Ireland, but has decided he wants to stay on.
Foster fronted the media at Auckland Airport yesterday, speaking for the first time since last Saturday night.
During an initial address, Foster stated he was ‘‘strong’’ and ‘‘resilient’’ and doesn’t want to walk away.
‘‘As a head coach, there have been a lot of questions the past couple of weeks,’’ Foster said. ‘‘Let me tell you who I am, I’m strong, I’m resilient, I think I’ve proven that.
‘‘I believe I’ve got a great feel and relationship with my players. I’m strategic and I’m also accountable and I take that on board.
‘‘I promise you, I understand that and I’m really excited about the chance to show you what this team is made of, working alongside the players we’ve selected in this squad.’’
Confirming that he did consider his future as All Blacks coach, Foster said feeling the heat is part and parcel of the role.
‘‘There’s no about that I’m under pressure,’’ he said.
‘‘But can I just say, I’m always under pressure. I’ve always felt that pressure and external people will try to intensify that pressure but it doesn’t change the fact that as an All Blacks coach you live in that world all the time.
‘‘Does it hurt? Yes it does. The key thing for me is making sure everything I do is about insuring we have robust processes and make sure we have got the right people sitting in the right seats.’’
Foster confirmed there would be changes inside the All Blacks, but wouldn’t go into any details of what they would be.