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Ian Foster reflects on the ‘privilege’ of coaching All Blacks
By Finn Morton
There was no fairytale ending for Ian Foster as the All Blacks’ head coach. For a man who’s come under immense scrutiny, backlash and criticism, it wasn’t the ending Foster deserved.
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About 15 months on from the horrors of the series loss to Ireland and the defeat in South Africa that almost ended his career, the All Blacks fell painfully short of Rugby World Cup glory
Playing against Siya Kolisi’s Springboks at Stade de France, the All Blacks were dealt a hammer blow when skipper Sam Cane was shown the first-ever red card in men’s World Cup final history.
Including a yellow card to flanker Shannon Frizell, the New Zealanders played about 65 minutes with 14 men. But credit to the All Blacks, they were always in the fight.
It was an ending fit for a final as Jordie Barrett missed a penalty, and the All Blacks continued to pester the Springboks’ defensive line in search of championship glory. But it wasn’t to be.
New Zealand were bested by their old foes 12-11. In Ian Foster’s last game in charge as the All Blacks’ head coach before Scott Robertson takes over, the Kiwis showed plenty of determination, grit and passion.
But the Boks held on. Coach Foster was visibly hurting – and almost lost for words – as he sat down at Saturday’s post-match press conference. The Ian Foster era has finished.
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“I would say there were a lot more ups and downs. It’s a privilege. I’ve been privileged to be with a special group of people,” Foster said when asked about what memories he’ll cherish after coaching the All Blacks.
“What’s the highlight? probably today. We lost but as a coach, you want your team on the big stage and to put their best foot forward which they did. We didn’t get the result in the circumstances that we had to adapt to but I couldn’t be more proud.”
This All Blacks outfit has come a long way in two months under coach Foster. As New Zealanders will forever remember, the team was embarrassed against the Springboks in August.
New Zealand were handed a record 35-7 defeat at Twickenham which led many to write off the All Blacks ahead of the Rugby World Cup. But they continued to chip away behind the scenes.
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While they managed to beat Ireland and Argentina in the knockout stages, it was the Springboks’ final in the end. But the All Blacks should hold their heads up high.
“Heck of a final. Always high emotion on both sides of the fence this will be no different,” Foster told reporters.
“12-11, I want to congratulate South Africa for what they’ve achieved. they’ve shown a lot of character and tenacity throughout this tournament. That’s three close games they have come out the right side so they are doing something right.
“For us it’s heartbreaking and I look at the effort of our team, the way we played and came back and gave ourselves a really good crack at that, the second half, particularly after the red card in the first half and the damage that decision made Overall, incredibly proud of our team but we’ve got a disappointed shed.”
Fifteen months ago, Foster was a huge part of the problem, having damaged the ABs brand & coached super talented players into mediocrity, causing the NZRU to enforce unprecedented change. Unheard of in our proud history. Foster then became a figurehead small part of the solution riding on the backs of new coaches Jase Ryan & Joe Schmidt, & the efforts & resilience of some incredible players. That we came close is testament to Rugby NZ's gutsy intervention. All the best to Foster on his next gig.
Reading some of these comments below is quite troubling but abundantly clear to me that some of you need to find another hobby.
Today is about reflecting on what was one of the most entertaining and nail-biting World Cup tournaments thus far. That being said a huge Congratulations to South Africa you weathered the black storm and came away victorious. Amazing defence throughout this tournament and worthy winners and Champions of the world for a record 4th time!!! Hats off to the Spring Boks green machine 🙌🏿🙌🏿 👍🏿
It was a bitter pill to swallow for our All Black team and the millions of its supporters but we have to suck it up and give credit where credit is due. Never mind about blaming refs and dicks in a booth 😂 it’s over, it’s history and now it’s time to move on to a new All Black chapter that we should all be excited about! To our beloved All Black side who showed incredible character, courage and belief to keep pushing but were pipped at the post. You have nothing to be ashamed about it just wasn’t your day.
Over the past 120+ years our team’s history is steeped in success (unmatched by any other team in the history of sport) and although we were beaten today, we will pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and be excited for what lies ahead. That’s what us Kiwis do……and it’s something some of you clowns commenting out there need to take on board. fn losers!
Mr Foster you are awesome, thank you so much for giving us a chance to take out the world cup! Many thanks to all the coaches, staff and players, you are all legends. You guys won the rugby Championship and Blebisloe Cup and came so close to bringing home the RWC…Te Kaha my team Te Kaha. May The Lord Jesus Christ Bless you all and keep you and your families safe, Amen.
Not many coaches can take a team to a world cup final and be in the fight right till the end with 14 men. I literally gave up, while watching the game, and accepted that NZ will win so close was it.
For most the ABs 130+ years they have been the dominant force in world rugby.
But not all that 130+ years of ABs, eg 88-91, 98-03. But as 2017 to 2023 (NOTE, both Hansen & Foster periods) increasingly showed, this period can be clearly added, ie it was hot/cold ABs; the legendary ABs when hot, when cold the Abs of constant errors & aimless kicking.
This RWC didn’t deviate from that, ie the ‘hot ABs’ in the pre-RWC Rugby Championship, ‘cold ABs’ pre-RWC & V France, ‘hot ABs’ V Ireland & then … ‘cold ABs’ in that Grand final, ie again constant errors & aimless kicking came back, eg Cane’s latest brain fade & card (to add to his history of them) despite all the discipline preaching, AB knock ons, more aimless kicking (ie so many not even out of their own half) & those missed kickable points, including the arrogant penalty kicks to lineouts rather than through the posts (did no-one remind them of 2007!!).
Congratulations to AB & the Foster TEAM on an OK RWC but especially the payback against Ireland. Legendary? No.
Looking forward to the NEW coming All Black era. Hope they develop back to their legendary status ie out of the current period they remain in ie FACT, the ‘hot/cold ABs’ of 2017-??.
Final chapter for the worst coach in the history. This guy never should have coached the all blacks. Coach the all blacks is a privilege only for great coaches.
And Razor is a great coach to do win 🏆 in 2027
He was unlucky to follow in the footsteps of legends. He had a decent win persentage and the teams that did beat the All Blacks were all good teams all be it just on the day.
Many fans were very harsh on this gent.