Black Fern stalwart to hang up boots after Cup
Strap yourself onto the crazy coaching carousel and reflect that one English football club has had six managers in the three years since Ian Foster became All Blacks coach.
New Zealand Rugby’s stubborn clinging to the under-fire Foster is in stark contrast to the revolving door policy in most professional sports.
Just this week English Premier League club Bournemouth sacked manager Scott Parker four games into the new campaign.
Parker was shown the door after a 9-0 thrashing by Liverpool.
Football clubs around the world tend to be trigger-happy, while a 2018 study showed NBA basketball teams turned over coaches every 2.4 seasons in the previous decade. Three NRL clubs have unloaded coaches this season with the Warriors replacing Nathan Brown with Stacey Jones.
Four NBA teams will open the new season in October with new coaches.
Foster – who has presided over six All Blacks defeats in the last eight tests – has a 62.9% wins ratio record which would start to make bosses nervous in other global sports.
Yet NZ Rugby has only once replaced an All Blacks coach between same-season campaigns, back in 2001 when John Mitchell took over after Wayne Smith invited the national body to make the role contestable.
Foster, in 2022, has lost a home series to Ireland, seen his side slump to their biggest defeat to South Africa for 94 years, rebound with an outstanding win at Ellis Park and suffer a first-ever home defeat to Argentina.
Yet he remains in the job. NZR’s fealty is admirable in many respects – an employer showing faith in a key worker.
It’s also not out of step with rugby’s conservative tradition.
RUGBY
Rugby clubs and national bodies tend to lower the axe off-season. Under-performing coaches often see the writing on the wall and step down before being fired. Others agree to leave ‘‘by mutual consent’’ (often a euphemism for a sacking and negotiated settlement).
The Springboks don’t have the All Blacks’ high tolerance for under-performing coaches.
Ian McIntosh was sacked in mid1994 after a series defeat to the All Blacks in New Zealand.
Carel du Plessis was fired in 1997 with a 37% win-loss record.
Allister Coetzee had his contract terminated two years early in February 2018 after winning just 11 of 25 tests. Rassie Erasmus then led the Springboks to the 2019 Rugby
Kalezic (2018) mid-season.
Legendary Black Ferns halfback Kendra Cocksedge has confirmed she will retire after this year’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.
Cocksedge, the most-capped Black Fern in the team’s 31-year history, has long been a key part of the side’s dominance of international women’s rugby and played in two of their five World Cup wins in 2010 and 2017.
The 34-year-old trailblazer said yesterday she would finish a decorated career after the World Cup, the first edition of the women’s tournament to be held in New Zealand.
‘‘I have decided 2022 will be my last year playing the game I love. However, it’s not over for me yet. I have a massive job ahead of me,’’ Cocksedge said in a statement.
‘‘I am determined to finish on a high, wearing the red-and-black in the Farah Palmer Cup. I will also do all I can to earn my spot in the Black Ferns and fulfil my dream of playing in a Rugby World Cup on my home turf.’’
World Cup title.
France never sacked a coach until 2017 when the French Federation lost patience with Guy Noves after seven wins from 21 games despite winning nine French titles and four European Cups in a 12-year stay at Toulouse.
Ireland used to also get antsy. Ex-All Blacks hooker Warren Gatland was jettisoned after a 40-29 loss to the All Blacks in John Mitchell’s first test in charge in 2001.
Declan Kidney was given the old Garryowen after a record 60-0 loss to the All Blacks in 2012, Cocksedge has had a fine career following a Six Nations defeat to in the black jersey, debuting in 2007 Italy. and going on to play a record 64
Wales sacked Gareth Jenkins matches, scoring a record 382 (six wins in 20 tests) in 2007 after points. In 2019, she made history they failed to qualify for the Rugby when she became the first woman to World Cup quarterfinals. In came win New Zealand Rugby’s top Gatland for a 13-season stay, award, the Kelvin R Tremain Memheralding a period of stability after France, Greece and Spain. The Cavaliers, New York Knicks and orial Player of the Year. a tumultuous decade which saw ‘Tinkerman’ was marched out of Brooklyn Nets fired coaches. She was also recognised by Graham Henry (1998-2002) leave Leicester just seven months after Nine of the 30 NBA clubs had World Rugby as the international ‘‘by mutual consent’’. leading them to the title. new coaches in 2020-21 and there Women’s Player of the Year in 2015,
Rugby clubs worldwide tend to Ten EPL managers were sacked were a further eight changes in and was named as part of the World give coaches more time and jilted in 2021-2022, equalling the records 201-22 when some coaches were Rugby Team of the Decade for the coaches often get a second chance. set in 2013-14 and 2017-18, with sacked and others ‘‘mutually 2010s.
Most English Premiership coaches Watford chewing through three. agreed to part ways’’. ‘‘I feel incredibly fortunate for were in charge in 2019 when Foster Since 2019, Spurs and Four teams, the Charlotte the experiences rugby has given me. took the All Blacks. Manchester United are among Hornets, Los Angeles Lakers, I’ve had more opportunities than I
France’s multi-millionaire club clubs to have had three managers. Sacramento Kings and Utah Jazz can count and have had incredible owners generally demand bang for Big names aren’t immune from have made coaching changes for people alongside me who’ve their euro, but are reluctant to pull the boot. The ‘Special One’ Jose 2022-23. The Kings have had three inspired me to be my best every the pin during a Top 14 campaign. Mourinho has been sacked by coaches since last November, day,’’ she said.
The All Blacks were hailed as some of the world’s biggest sacking Luke Walton and then New Zealand Rugby chief executhe poster boys of succession clubs, including Chelsea replacing interim coach Alvin tive Mark Robinson paid tribute to planning after Graham Henry won (twice), Real Madrid, Gentry with Mike Brown, Cocksedge after what has been an the World Cup in 2011 and then Manchester United and who was fired by the Lakers unparalleled career. handed over to assistant Steve Tottenham Hotspur. after five games in 2012-13. ‘‘Kendra is a legend of the game. Hansen, who retained the title in It’s a similar sorry It’s rare for the NBA to Eight clubs – 25% of the 32-strong Her success is without peer, and it is 2015. It hasn’t worked as well – yet – scenario in Spain’s La Liga, go through a full season competition – had new coaches at testament to her work ethic to have since Foster took over from Italy’s Serie A, Germany’s without a coaching the start of the 2019-20 ice hockey such an enduring career in the Hansen. Bundesliga and France’s casualty. At least one coach season and another eight fired black jersey.’’
But the policy has been a hit at Ligue Un. was sacked every year for 46 coaches during the competition. Cocksedge had played 53 tests in Leinster where Leo Cullen has Current Chelsea manager years through to 2016, The corresponding figures were a row before she sat out last week’s been director of rugby since 2015, a Thomas Tuchel was sacked by according to the wearebasket. six and three in 2020-21 and six and match against Australia in Adeyear after locking his last scrum. Borussia Dortmund in his native net website. No-one was fired in seven in 2021-22. laide, and is likely to be the starting The Dublin-based outfit has since Germany and Paris Saint-Germain 2016-17, but Earl Watson was cast The Tampa Bay Lightning’s Jon halfback when they kick off their won four league titles and the 2018 despite winning titles at both clubs. out by the Phoenix Suns after three Cooper – in charge since 2013 – is World Cup campaign against AustEuropean Champions Cup. Tuchel was joined in the jobless games in 2017-18. the NHL’s longest-serving coach. ralia at Eden Park on October 8.
Exeter and Saracens, two of queue in 2020-21 by former France The NBA’s record for the fastest NHL coaches turned over their The Black Ferns are due to name England’s most successful clubs, national team manager Raymond sacking is 51 years old. Dolph coaches every 2.6 seasons between their World Cup squad on Septhave had Rob Baxter and Mark Domenech (Nantes) and World Cup Schayes was marched by the 2008-18. ember 13.
McCall in charge since 2009 and ¯fromOOriginally champion player Patrick Vieira Buffalo Braves after a first-round kato, Taranaki, 2010, respectively, so maybe there’s (Nice), who is now in charge at EPL loss in 1971. she is based in Christchurch and something to be said for continuity. club Crystal Palace. has had domestic success, too, win
Nine managers were sacked in ning four successive Farah Palmer Serie A in 2020-21, including Cup titles with Canterbury from Mauricio Sarri, who had led 2017 to 2020.
Juventus to a championship in the Should Canterbury beat Wellingprevious season. ton in tomorrow’s semifinal in
There were 23 managerial Christchurch, next week’s Farah changes in Italy in 2021-22, Palmer Cup final would mark her including three appointments at 100th game for the red-and-blacks. Genoa. Cocksedge made more history
Seven Italian clubs have started last year, becoming the first woman the 2022-23 term with new to reach 1000 points in New Zealand managers in the dugout. women’s domestic rugby.
There were 11 sackings in Spain ‘‘We have been exceptionally in 2021-22, including Ronald lucky to have her pull on the red and Koeman at Barcelona. He’s black of Canterbury, and given we bouncing back, though, as know how much she loves a stat; we manager-elect of his native hope the final numbers play out in Netherlands. her favour and she gets to finish her
Even the Wellington Phoenix time playing the game the way she parted with Ricki Herbert (2013), wants,’’ Canterbury chief executive Ernie Merrick (2016) and Darije Tony Smail said.
FOOTBALL
Lawyers, agents and real estate brokers tend to prosper most when new football coaches are appointed.
The turnover rate is dizzyingly high around the world’s top leagues.
Jurgen Klopp is the EPL’s longest-serving coach, having been appointed in 2015.
Watford – relegated to the second tier this year – have had six head coaches (and a caretaker) in the time Foster’s been with the All Blacks.
The Hornets’ sacked gaffers include Claudio Ranieri, who led Leicester City to the 2016 EPL title, but has been fired nine times by teams in his native Italy, England,
RUGBY LEAGUE
The Warriors have sacked five coaches mid-season in their 27-year existence – John Monie (1997), Brian McClennan (2012), Matthew Elliott (2014) and Stephen Kearney (2020) while Nathan Brown was replaced this year after telling the club he wouldn’t move to Auckland in 2023. Four more Warriors gaffers were let go in an offseason.
Since Foster’s had the All Blacks job, the Warriors have had four rumps in the hot seat – Kearney, Todd Payten, Nathan Brown and Stacey Jones in charge and will soon have a fifth, Andrew Webster for 2023.
Already this year, Trent Barrett has been sacked by the Bulldogs and Michael Maguire by Wests Tigers. Maguire will still coach the Kiwis at the World Cup in October. Sharks boss John Morris was ousted in 2021 and Kearney (Warriors), Paul McGregor (Dragons) and Paul Green (Cowboys) lost their jobs in 2020.
Green died suddenly at home in Brisbane in August, prompting a call this week from Trent Robinson, the Roosters’ head coach since 2013, for an independent body to support current and former NRL coaches.
NBA BASKETBALL
Gregg Popovich – about to tip off in his 26th season at the San Antonio Spurs – is the exception rather than the rule among NBA coaches. The 73-year-old’s been in south Texas since 1996.
A survey in 2018, by Kip Wright on onlinegambling.ca, showed NBA clubs replaced their coaches every 2.4 seasons over the previous 10 years.
In 2019-20 – Foster’s first year with the All Blacks – the Cleveland
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
Long gone are the days of Connie Mack, who coached the Philadelphia Athletics for 50 years, the entire first half of the 20th century.
MLB clubs switched skippers (as managers are called there) on average every 3.1 seasons from 2008-18.
Ten new coaches were ushered in for 2020. But former New Zealand Diamondblacks assistant Ron Roenicke lasted just one season at the Boston Red Sox before being sacked to make way for Alex Cora, who had stood aside the previous year for his role in a stealing signals scandal while with Houston in the Astros’ 2017 championship season.
Only four new coaches were on board for the MLB’s first ‘play ball’ in 2021 and four more in 2022. There were no in-season sackings in 2020 and 2021 but four managers have exited early in 2022, among them the Texas Rangers’ Chris Woodward, head coach of the New Zealand Diamondblacks at the 2016 World Baseball Classic qualifiers. Cleveland’s Terry Francona has been in his job since 2012, the current MLB record.
NFL
Thirty-two teams will be gunning for the Super Bowl in 2022. Ten will have new coaches. Seven coaches were fired at the end of 2021.
Two coaches were made to walk the plank during the 2021 regular season, including the Jacksonville Jaguars’ Urban Meyer, the first coach fired in a maiden season since 1978. He had had two wins and 11 losses in his first NFL campaign.
Seven coaching switches were made in the 2021 pre-season, compared with five in 2020 and three during the term.
NFL clubs averaged a coaching change every 3.4 seasons from 2008 to 2018.
The New England Patriots’ sixtime Super Bowl winner Bill Belichick has the longest tenure among current NFL coaches, dating back to 2000.
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE CONCLUSION
Other professional sports entities – many of them with far greater turnovers than NZ Rugby’s $189 million – are only too ready to change their coaches if their success, reputation and merchandising revenue are in peril.
Payouts to sacked coaches never seem an issue – Jose Mourinho has reportedly reaped around $140 million in severance pay from former clubs
Perhaps rugby, in a nod to its relatively recent amateur era, is more forgiving and more gentle than other codes.
Foster can at least take some solace that his 62.9% record is better than most of the coaches ushered off stage in other sports codes.
‘‘It’s not over for me yet. I have a massive job ahead of me.’’
Kendra Cocksedge, above with the World Cup trophy in 2017, looks ahead to the tournament in New Zealand later this year