Why Foster is not the man . .
Were there ever to be such a thing as a Rugby World Cup of coaching, then New Zealand would win by a record margin. The sheer depth of rugby knowledge on these shaky isles is unparalleled. So appointing the next All Blacks coach should be a no-brainer. Scott Robertson, Jamie Joseph, Dave Rennie, Warren Gatland, take your pick, they would all do a good job.
But one man undoubtedly worries the nation. That may be fair, that may be unfair, but it is a fact, nonetheless. Most New Zealanders steeped in rugby are not comfortable with the idea of Ian Foster taking over the top job. They believe he got the position as All Blacks attack coach because he is Hansen’s mate and they do not see anything in Foster’s record that justifies his elevation to prime minister.
But while the All Blacks were munching all before them in 2013 Hansen was able to plant the seeds of an idea, swiftly watered and nurtured by Steve Tew, that continuity was all. It was a simple story. Hansen had learned from his time under Graham Henry. Foster was being similarly enlightened. Hey, we’re building a dynasty here.
But the dynasty of continuity has always been a sporting myth. It gained real credence when Bob Paisley took over from Bill Shankly as manager of Liverpool Football club. Paisley had been everything to Liverpool. He had been club captain, physiotherapist, reserve team coach and then assistant to Shankly.
Reluctant at first to accept the top job, Paisley won six league titles and three European Cups and would go on to become one of the most successful managers of all time. The boot-room tradition was furthered by Joe Fagan and Kenny Dalglish as Liverpool continued to dominate English football.
The club thought it had found the secret of turning base metal into gold. It all seemed so simple.
Only it wasn’t. Liverpool appointed Graham Souness as their manager and Souness was followed into the job by Roy Evans. The centre could no longer hold. Liverpool were in unmistakeable decline. The continuity theory was fine if you had a great coach taking over from a great coach. But anything less and it fractured.
That is the decision which now faces New Zealand rugby. Does Ian Foster taking over from Steve Hansen meet the definition of a great coach taking over from a great coach? I think the answer is indisputably no, however good a man Foster may be. Many would describe Hansen as a great coach but few would define Foster in the same way.
I do not believe that even Hansen fits the description. His record with and without Wayne Smith is noticeably different. He has also struggled to win both with Wales and then with New Zealand at this World Cup when his players have not been markedly better than the opposition’s. Nor has Hansen always inspired loyalty, both within his team and within New Zealand Rugby.
When Sonny Bill was asked about Hansen the coach, he pointedly replied, ‘‘For myself, there’s a lot of coaches that’ll be leaving this year. One thing that I’d probably put to the NZRU, [is that] it would be good to see a Pacific Islander or a Ma¯ ori in the coaching system that would have a bit of influence.’’
Was that a small dig at Hansen? I suspect it was. Williams obviously felt he was not getting the best out of ‘‘the island and Maori boys’’. But note Williams was not asking for a non-white coach in the top job, he was just pleading for some diversity in the system. And he has a good point. Hansen had too many palefaces in leadership roles. It was bound to be noticed by the Maori and Pacific Island players.
How extraordinary it is that Rassie Erasmus, with all the problems that South Africa have, was able to bring a team that diverse together. The same, on a much smaller scale of course, could be said for Jamie Joseph with Japan. The same could be said of what Dave Rennie achieved at the Chiefs. Hansen cannot make the same claim.
Joseph is Maori, Rennie is of Cook Islands heritage. One or preferably both of them has to be involved in the new All Blacks set-up. And you sense a shift, particularly with the news that Rennie was asked to apply.
I was told a few months ago that Robertson would either be the next All Blacks coach or the one after that. I think his time is now because he has worked with so many of the players, but much will depend on who he is able to persuade to work with him. He