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'A total cop out' - Twitter reacts to axing of All Blacks coaching staff
By Stefan Frost
Ian Foster’s tenure as head coach of the All Blacks has received plenty of criticism on Twitter after his side fell to a hugely disappointing series defeat by Ireland.
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The 32-22 loss at the hands of the Irish in Wellington confirmed what many feared was coming. Not only had New Zealand lost at home against Ireland for the first time in their history, they had succumbed to a first ever test series defeat to the men in green.
With much of the blame being heaped on Foster’s doorstep, his job status looked to be in jeopardy. However, he has kept his job while John Plumtree and Brad Mooar have left the set-up ahead of the upcoming Rugby Championship, for which Foster has named a 36-man squad set to face South Africa.
South African journalist Brendan Nel wrote: “Ian Foster sacks John Plumtree and Brad Mooar, both exceptionally good coaches in their own right. So they’re the scapegoats. But the man in charge gets away scot free. As its the head coach that makes the decisions, how did he get away with that?”
Ian Foster sacks John Plumtree and Brad Moar, both exceptionally good coaches in their own right. So they're the scapegoats. But the man in charge gets away scot free.
As its the head coach that makes the decisions, how did he get away with that?— Brenden Nel (@Brendennel) July 24, 2022
New Zealand rugby writer Jamie Wall wryly noted how NZR had already forked out roughly £200,000 to buy Mooar out of his Scarlet’s contract.
@scarlets_rugby got paid $400K to release Mooar from his contract. Imagine what else that coin could have been spent on. I mean, good on Scarlets I guess…on par with their win over the All Blacks in 1972. https://t.co/j0oHtP6H08
— Jamie Wall (@JamieWall2) July 24, 2022
Ollie Ritchie, a sports reporter for News Hub, took to Twitter to point out the pitfalls of the coaching core that was supposed to benefit the All Blacks.
One of the reasons Ian Foster got the All Blacks job over Scott Robertson in 2019 was because of the strength of his coaching group. Two and a half years in, two of those coaches have been sacked and replaced by a member of Robertson’s initial team. Not a great look.
— Ollie Ritchie (@OllieRitchie1) July 24, 2022
Twitter user Spencer Lilley agreed with these scathing views and said he believes the sacking of two assistant coaches was a huge cop out done to protect Foster.
In all honesty sacking the assistant coaches seems a total cop out. Ian Foster should have fallen on his sword rather than let his assistants be the scapegoats for the poor performance of the team. What happens if the ABs fail in South Africa?
— Spencer Lilley (@heybigspencer) July 24, 2022
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One outraged fan noted: “Nothing says true leadership like throwing your employees under the bus so you can stay in power. Great work, Ian Foster, and what a great example! You and Frizell can go make a proper show of cleaning the sheds after next game to show you really get it!”
Nothing says true leadership like throwing your employees under the bus so you can stay in power. Great work, Ian Foster, and what a great example! You and Frizell can go make a proper show of cleaning the sheds after next game to show you really get it!
— Josef Gremlin (@JosefGremlin) July 24, 2022
Another fan boldly claimed this was the “worst All Blacks team of All time”, adding that he thought Sam Cane was not worthy of a starting spot in the team.
These are the facts :
-This is the worst All Blacks team of ALL TIME.
-Sam Cane wouldn’t start for Ireland, England, France, Wales, South Africa, Australia & Scotland.
-Ian Foster wouldn’t be deemed better than any of the above nations coaches.
They’re a shambles#AllBlacks https://t.co/r8EvaV3D9y
ADVERTISEMENT— Richie Allen (@Richie_Allen) July 22, 2022
Fans of other nations saw the humour in the decision and decided to mock the situation brewing in New Zealand.
As a France supporter, I’d like to thank you on behalf of the entire rugby playing world for keeping Ian Foster & Sam Cane in place. We were worried you’d make the hideous error of hiring Robertson from the Crusaders, but you have sensibly chosen to stick with Foster. Thank you.
— Me (@PedallingTruth) July 22, 2022
When was the AB's last " horror " run... 150 tests ago.. Not a bad run eh..!!..
I guess the only way back for Ian Foster to resurrect his coaching status (at least in the short term) is to win in South Africa.
I feel that a similar level of insecurity exists among some Bok's fans about the real form of their Springboks team at the moment, especially after Jacques Nienaber's trial test selections versus Wales, which didn't provide much of a form guide looking ahead.
There will be a lot at stake for both of these teams and their coaches and also for their lead up preparations for next years RWC.
Professionally, you would have to say that the All Blacks coaching staff will be burning the midnight oil more than usual for this years Rugby Championships, and there's plenty of amateur analysis of Ireland's game plan on YouTube if they are short of ideas.
Just what is going to happen when South Africans beat us??
I imagine Foster will get a salary increase along with the secret hand shake cretins in the NZ rugby Union
I'm inclined to agree with the French supporter. Tier 1 rugby nations should be celebrating that only a couple of chairs on the RMS Titanic were repositioned and the captain and head coach are still the same fools.
Anyone else notice that most of the comments are from Springbok supporters?
Trying to fuel the fire perhaps?
Too early to judge, after South Africa all will be plain and clear.