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'He gave me a discount': Warm Foster welcome in Razor heartland

(Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

All Blacks boss Ian Foster has reported that he has been warmly received in Christchurch ahead of this Saturday’s Rugby Championship match versus Argentina. Local rugby fans would have been hopeful that Scott Robertson, the repeat Super Rugby title-winning coach at the Crusaders, would have got Foster’s job following the national team’s shaky start to the 2022 season.

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The All Blacks lost three of their first four matches, a run of results that added to the gloom surrounding the end-of-year losses to Ireland and France in November 2021. That left Foster with a record of just one win in six matches and it was felt he would lose his job if the All Blacks finished their two-game series in South Africa winless.

However, he somehow guided his team to a job-saving 35-23 Ellis Park win over the Springboks in their round two Rugby Championship match and the NZR last week green-lighted Foster remaining in charge of the All Blacks until the 2023 World Cup finals in France.

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That decision would have disappointed Crusaders boss Roberston, who hasn’t been shy about his Test-level ambitions, recently telling The Big Jim Show that he wants to win two World Cups, one with the All Blacks and another with an overseas team.

That ambition came with the warning that he is tempted to soon seek out employment abroad but the threat didn’t sufficiently convince the NZR into making a change. This decision would surely have annoyed Christchurch-based supporters who want to see Robertson in charge of the All Blacks but Foster hasn’t felt any negativity in this city this week while preparing his team to face the Pumas.

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Foster hasn’t shied away from embracing the locals, revealing at his team announcement media briefing that he used his midweek down day to venture out into Christchurch while also going for lunch at a spot overlooking Lyttelton Harbour.

“Pretty good,” replied Foster when asked about the reception he has had so far during his Christchurch stay. “I had a seafood chowder at the Governors Bay pub yesterday [Wednesday], and they were very excited to see me.

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“And then I bought three second-hand vinyls at Penny Lane on Colombo Street and he [the owner] said I was the first All Blacks coach to visit. So I am two out of two. It is great being here.

“It cost me 30 bucks, he gave me a discount,” added Foster, whose purchases were a 1970s compilation of New Zealand hits and two albums by Canadian singer-songwriter Bruce Cockburn.

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C
CO 11 minutes ago
Forget Ireland, the All Blacks face the real alpha of Europe next

I cannot believe that you don't think the French rugby team coach and captain are not discussing putting Jalibert on the bench in favour of Duponts club teammate that doesn't even play at 10.


This is a terrible, massive insult to a 10 and I'm sure Dupont would also be very enraged if benched for a player that doesn't even play halfback.


A good captain would've insisted to the coach that it was an idea of madness and either select Jalibert or replace him with another 10 if you want him to be reserve.


Jalibert may not be the world's finest tacklers but that's often not a tens main strength that the loose forwards and second five cover. An intercept pass is never great but they happen.


When any player is playing for his club then it's club first, respect doesn't need to be shown to opposition players simply because they're internationals.


Who exactly are you claiming Jalibert hasn't respected? If it's Toulouse international players then it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure this bench demotion out.


The outcome of selecting Jalibert to the bench and he then throwing his croissants out the window of the team bus immediately prior to playing the Allblacks is a disaster that will be team disharmony as any team mates of Jalibert are in a state of anger and revolt so a performance that will be sub optimal against a team that is thirsting for revenge against France.


I don't know about you but the Allblacks are very upset they've lost twice in a row to France and want to put out a statement performance so this preparation by Galthie of creating havoc looks to me like a coach that is clueless.

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