Foster loses even if he wins ABs job
The loser in the All Blacks coaching race will be Ian Foster. Even if Foster gets the job he will have to battle the perception that he was handed the job before he even sat down for his interview: that he didn’t have to fight for it.
He will start on the back foot and although he can play his way out this situation with clever strokes and a winning All Blacks team, it is a difficult position from which to start an innings.
And yet the premise on which this perception is built on – the recruitment process is a rather grandiose form of rubber stamping – doesn’t bear scrutiny.
‘‘He is one of the best allround coaches we have seen in the past 10 years,’’ Sir Graham Henry said of Dave Rennie at a fundraiser in Invercargill last year, as reported in the Otago Daily Times.
‘‘He’s one hell of a person and a great coach – the way he is able to connect with the players on another level is fantastic,’’ Sir Graham added, in support of Rennie replacing Steve Hansen.
Yes, this is the same Sir Graham whose position on the NZ Rugby panel to appoint the next coach is being viewed as the big tick for continuity and for Foster. Sir Graham is his own man. The idea he would happily be used as part a shallow appointment process, to provide cover to NZ Rugby, is at odds with the Sir Graham whose independent mind was also evident during his World Cup commentary duties.
Of course, Scott Robertson has huge appeal as the agent of change. But it is possible to separate our own personal preferences from taking an objective look at the recruitment process and conclude that no matter who gets it, the All Backs coaching job won’t come easy to the winning candidate?
That’s not to say Foster doesn’t have a head start, as Hansen acknowledged at the end of the World Cup.
NZ Rugby’s emphasis on a strong coaching team tilts the balance towards Foster because he already has been working with the Super Rugby coaches for years.
For example, when the All Blacks discussed playermanagement plans with the Super Rugby franchises Foster was part of those conversations, alongside Hansen. And when Foster tours with the All Blacks it presents a perfect opportunity to build relationships with New Zealanders overseas, such as Joe Schmidt.
These are key factors that weigh in Foster’s favour.
However, having an advantage is significantly different than having been assured of the job before the recruitment process even began.
Many still have reservations about Foster, his lack of a Super Rugby title at the Chiefs and his long spell as All Blacks assistant coach when others were out there as head coaches building their own strong resumes.
These are fair question marks and no doubt these even weigh on his own mind and he will walk into that interview room as nervous as Robertson.
But if Foster gets the job it will be in part because he interviewed well, presented well and recruited a strong team. He clearly deserves the benefit of that doubt.