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'Destroy all hope': Another Pumas loss would be the 'end of the line' for Foster

Sam Cane of the All Blacks is thanked by Puma players after The Rugby Championship match between the New Zealand All Blacks and Argentina Pumas at Orangetheory Stadium on August 27, 2022 in Christchurch, New Zealand. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

Less than two weeks after a ringing endorsement from New Zealand Rugby (NZR), All Blacks coach Ian Foster is under renewed pressure following a third successive home loss this season.

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Foster was confirmed as coach through to next year’s World Cup in the wake of victory over South Africa at Ellis Park, but a first ever home defeat to Argentina in Christchurch has again set alarm bells ringing.

New Zealand media on Monday said another loss to the Pumas in Hamilton on Saturday should be “the end of the line” for Foster.

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“One more loss and Hamilton, for the sake of a legacy 120 years in the making, has to be the terminus,” rugby writer Gregor Paul wrote in the New Zealand Herald.

“Everyone knows that defeat this week will destroy all hope, make it impossible to keep talking about micro improvements in skill execution while lamenting macro failures in decision-making.”

While Foster has been spared the axe, NZR have repeatedly shaken up his staff, sacking two assistant coaches after the home series defeat to Ireland, while bringing in a new forwards coach and selector Joe Schmidt as attack coach and strategist.

NZR seized upon the rousing win at Ellis Park as evidence the changes were working but the Christchurch shock further eroded fans’ confidence in the team.

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Until last Saturday’s clash, the All Blacks had never lost three successive home Tests in their 119-year history.

Their tally of four losses for the season so far has been surpassed only twice, in 1998 when they lost five under former coach John Hart, and in 1949 when they were defeated six times.

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With two Rugby Championship Tests against Australia and away matches against Japan, Wales, Scotland and England to round out the season, more unwanted history could be in store.

“But we have got a lot of faith that some of the things we’re building are paying dividends,” Foster said.

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Veteran All Blacks lock Sam Whitelock said better execution in Hamilton could right the ship.

“We have to make sure that we are taking every opportunity we get, and with Test match rugby you might only get one or two in a game,” he said.

“It’s something I know we’ll have a good look at over the next couple of days.”

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8 Comments
J
James 842 days ago

Man look at that photo of Codie Taylor and Fozzie. Looks like Taylor does not like him one bit.

W
Walter 842 days ago

Foster should have been replaced a long time ago, or even better not appointed in 2019 for start. you have to go with the times, modern, different play styles and not not sticking with the same old, same old. As Jase Ryan is there already, add Razor Scott Robertson and you will see a change very soon.

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GrahamVF 843 days ago

Colin, the AB’s struggle to win WC’s has seen them win almost at will during the four years between even cups only to lose at the sharp end of the tournament. They were lucky to beat a very mediocre French team by one point to win the cup in NZ for the second time. They have only won one cup outside of NZ. Their style of play doesn’t suit knock out rugby and games like SA in Bombela and Argentine are virtually cup finals because of the previous poor results. If they really don’t care win or lose but just go out to play they will dare much better. For the AB’s and the Boks their greatest enemy is their fear of losing.

C
ColinK 843 days ago

Loss to Japan......Loss to Scotland. Loss of our beloved team :-{ its nice for everyone else I guess. I do wonder if the laws of the modern game have been designed in a way that the All Black way of playing just does not work anymore. Get Razor in there and see if its a culture and coaching issue or something much deeper.

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Tom 4 hours ago
Will Bristol's daredevil 'Bears-ball' deliver the trophy they crave?

Also a Bristol fan and echo your sentiments.


I love watching Bristol but their approach will only get them so far I think. Exeter played like this when they first got promoted to the prem and had intermittent success, it wasn't until they wised up and played a more balanced game that they became a consistently top side.


I really want Bristol to continue playing this brand of rugby and I don't mind them running it from under their posts but I don't think they need to do it every single time. They need to be just a little bit more selective about when and where on the pitch they play. Every game they put themselves under so much needless pressure by turning the ball over under their posts trying to do kamikaze moves when it's not required. By all means run it from your goal line if there is a chance for a counter attack, we all want to see Bristol running in 100m tries from under their posts but I think until they learn when to do it and when to be pragmatic, they are unlikely to win the premiership.


Defense has been a real positive from Bristol, they've shown a lot of improvement there... And I will say that I think this kamikaze strategy they employ is a very good one for a struggling side and could be employed by Newcastle. It's seems to have turned around Gloucester's fortunes. The big advantage is even if you don't have the biggest and best players, what you have is cohesion. This is why Scotland keep battering England. England have better individuals but they look muddled as a team, trying to play a mixed strategy under coaches who lack charisma, the team has no identity. Scotland come out and give it full throttle from 1-15 even if they struggle against the top sides, sides like England and Wales who lack that identity drown under the relentless will and synergy of the Scots. If Newcastle did the same they could really surprise some people, I know the weather is bad up there but it hasn't bothered the Scots. Bristol can learn from Scotland too, Pat is on to something when he says the following but Scotland don't play test matches like headless chickens. They still play with the same level of clarity and ambition Bristol do but they are much better at picking their moments. They needed to go back to this mad game to get their cohesion back after a couple of seasons struggling but I hope they get a bit wiser from matches like Leinster and La Rochelle.


“If there’s clarity on what you’re trying to do as a team you can win anything.”

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