Get over it ‘move on’, says Foster

All Blacks coach Ian Foster is disappointed by his side’s fixture clash with the Black Ferns but says critics of the scheduling error need to move on.

The All Blacks will begin their northern tour against Japan in Tokyo tonight, a match that is set to kick off 40 minutes before the Black Ferns face Wales in their World Cup quarterfinal in Whanga¯rei.

Government minister Kiri Allan was among those who slammed New Zealand Rugby over the scheduling blunder, which could force fans to miss out on watching one of the country’s two top teams.

NZR have since apologised for the clash, admitting the Black Ferns’ possible quarter-final wasn’t taken into consideration when scheduling the All Blacks’ fixtures. And Foster believes the apology is sufficient, though he and his players are among those dissatisfied with the matches overlapping.

“It’s nothing to do with either team,” Foster said. “It’s pretty clear New Zealand Rugby has owned up to an error.

“In some ways, the world has to accept an apology and move on a little bit. It’s not what everyone wanted but it is what it is.”