The Fozzie and Foxy show All Blacks great explains why he stayed on
When Grant Fox’s phone rang and it was Ian Foster on the other end, there was only ever going to be one outcome. So much for the All Blacks legend’s plans to take a step away from this team he holds so dearly in his heart.
Fox, one of the finest No 10s to ever pull on the All Blacks jersey, had served eight years as a selector under Steve Hansen and had decided that the end of the Big Bear’s tenure as head coach would also mark a fitting end to his own.
He had a business that urgently needed his attention, family (including a son who is rather good at golf) he could also do to invest more time in and he figured it was someone else’s turn to take charge of the complex process that is assessing and gauging the immense talent pool that exists in New Zealand rugby.
Fox had even gone as far as to say his official goodbyes to the 2019 squad in Japan as they concluded their World Cup campaign on the anticlimactic note of winning the bronze medal playoff.
But then that phone call came. It was Foster, Hansen’s assistant; he had won the nod in the two-horse race for the top job and he had one pretty simple request: put those retirement plans on hold, if you don’t mind.
‘‘I’m going to have to find a way to reintroduce myself to the team,’’ Fox said with a smile as he detailed for Stuff his change of heart. ‘‘I did genuinely change my mind. It happened after Foz knew he had the job, it was a phone call with him, and some things he said I don’t want to elaborate on.
‘‘At this stage it’s just for one more year. But what I’m learning is you can never say never. I was pretty firm that my time was up and here I am again.’’
Read between the lines what you will. The likelihood is that Foster’s preferred successor in the Fox independent selector role did not pan out, and that the new head coach was left with a hole to fill. So he made the phone call and went back to plan A.
Of course Fox was never going to say no. He respects Foster too much. Most importantly, he loves the All Blacks too much.
‘‘It’s a privilege and honour that people think I can still contribute,’’ said the man who played 46 tests, won a World Cup and scored 645 points in the highest arena for the All Blacks. ‘‘That’s humbling. But I do love this team and have immense respect for Ian. Some players have left, there are going to be some changes afoot, and a new coach will bring new ideas.
‘‘I’m excited to work with this chance for us to continue from a selection side,’’ said the new head coach. ‘‘We’ve got two of the three selectors back, there’s an understanding of what we’ve been doing and also a new perspective from Plum [John Plumtree].’’
Fox is genuinely excited by the crew Foster has put around him. Plumtree brings presence, experience and a mix of geniality and hardness as forwards coach. Brad Mooar is the innovative, rising young coach who will plot the attack (pending his release from Scarlets), while Greg Feek is a highly regarded scrum guru who knows exactly what’s required to set piece at the top level.
Throw in Scott McLeod continuing with the defence portfolio and Fox considers it an ideal group to take up where Hansen left off.
‘‘Plum has got a wealth of coaching experience and brings a head coach’s mindset to the table,’’ said Fox. ‘‘He’s coached in South Africa, the UK and Ireland and he’s a caring man but a tough man and that will be a nice mix for us.
‘‘We grew a lot last year in our defence because we changed it. Scotty gets the chance to carry on and finish that. Feeky is a former All Black, is deeply passionate about this team, he’s had to plan to coach against us and now he gets a chance to coach for us and can bring some ideas from up north.
‘‘And Brad Mooar, if we can get that across the line, comes highly regarded and has been very successful with the Crusaders. Foz has a great relationship with him, and he’ll bring some fresh ideas.’’
Fox is enthused about unearthing new talent to replace some of the older players who have moved on. He’s also encouraged by the mix of freshness and continuity Foster has presided over.
‘‘It wasn’t broke. Let’s be clear on that. The fact there’s been some continuity speaks to that. But it won’t be all the same because Foz is his own man, he’s got some ideas and they’ll freshen it up and make changes where it’s considered they’re needed.’’
Besides, shrugs Fox, after the events of Japan it is not the All Blacks who sit atop the game’s pecking order right now.
‘‘A lot of people genuinely want the contest, want to sit on the edge of their seat . . . well, you just have to be careful what you wish for because if you want to sit on that edge you won’t always get what you want. We all want international rugby to be healthy and competitive and it’s certainly that way right now.’’
‘‘What I’m learning is you can never say never. I was pretty firm that my time was up and here I am again.’’ Grant Fox