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New Zealand newspapers call for Foster's axing as resentment swells
By AAP
New Zealand’s biggest newspaper has called time on All Blacks coach Ian Foster and wants New Zealand Rugby (NZR) to axe the beleaguered coach.
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The many Kiwis dissatisfied with Foster may soon get their wish, with local media reporting NZR should sack him if the All Blacks lose again this weekend in South Africa.
On Monday, the New Zealand Herald splashed a picture of a befuddled Foster on the front page with a rare editorial declaring “It’s time for change”.
“The Herald takes no pleasure in calling for him to go but Foster – a decent man who is out of his depth in a brutal business – must exit,” it reads.
The Herald declares the All Blacks “play bad rugby”, the latest example being a 26-10 loss to South Africa on Sunday morning (AEDT), New Zealand’s worst defeat to South Africa in 94 years.
The loss is New Zealand’s third straight defeat – their worst run since 1998 – in an ugly run of five losses in six.
“It’s the manner of the defeats that rally counts,” the editorial continues.
“Foster’s men are too easily put off their stride and too often cluttered and confused.”
In short: the All Blacks don’t look like All Blacks any more.
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And they’re no longer ranked accordingly.
The three-time World Cup winners, who sat atop the world rankings from 2010 to 2018, will drop to their lowest ever ranking of fifth in Monday’s update, behind Ireland, France, South Africa and England.
Australia lurk one rung lower in sixth.
Radio NZ reports NZR will sack Foster with another loss against the world champion Springboks in Johannesburg this weekend.
Foster was appointed in 2019 when New Zealand Rugby (NZR) chiefs opted for the long-term assistant to incumbent Steven Hansen over against Crusaders coach Scott Robertson.
Foster began his reign with a 16-16 draw against Australia in Wellington and claimed the 2020 Tri-Nations series, without South Africa, despite losses to the Wallabies and Argentina.
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Despite another Rugby Championship win in 2021, signs of underperformance were evident in New Zealand’s northern hemisphere tour, which ended with losses to Ireland and France.
The form slump has continued this season with a home series loss, New Zealand’s first in nearly three decades, to Ireland, and now the loss in South Africa.
Infuriating many, Foster declared this weekend’s loss to be “our most improved performance this year”.
“I felt in some areas we really shifted our game forward. In a game dominated by defence, we defended well, but our timing was out on the attack side and we’re going to have to have a look at that,” he said at Mbombela Stadium.
Foster said the All Blacks “know there’s a lot of pressure on and we’re feeling that” but wouldn’t be deterred in Sunday’s clash at Ellis Park.
“We’ve just got to have a deep breath,” he said.
“This (team) is still growing. It’s not where we want it to be but I still believe it can get there.”
Every forward in NZ rugby should be booked in for long sessions of powerlifting to bulk up and get some strength. We are so underdone here. The selectors look for athletes in the pack but now we need big bad bullies so the backs can fire up.
Yes i agree foster must co
I can take losses, but not in the manner we're losing.
There's no quick fix to this and Razor won't have a magic wand to wave at the many issues.
However, what have we got to lose in getting him started?
Could we be any worse? I don't think so.
At least we might see players in their preferred positions now and then.
Imagine Jordan at fullback and Ardie at 7 with Beaudie coming on in the last 20.
But the big change I'd like to see is the team smiling while they play.....
If I were England I’d be in serious talks with Razor about joining Eddie’s coaching setup and then taking over after next year’s World Cup.
Hi Graham, I think you read too much into this. The All Blacks are now just shit .. Cheers Graeme
Regardless of the result this coming weekend, all teams who play against the All Blacks under Foster will be targeting them now. Expect more record breaking losses to come if he stays.
A number of critics have tried to downplay the impact that Scott Robertson may have if he were to take over. One also has to consider the financial costs and complications of employing him at such an awkward stage in the rugby calendar. But the reality is now that no change = no hope.
And, for the record, I actually think that Robertson would make a positive impact (and I think the rugby world tacitly understands this).
As a Springbok supporter who first enjoyed regular Springbok wins over the mighty All Blacks but over the past thirty -odd years been given nightmares by the men in black I can truly say that while we may not win next Saturday at Ellis Park as a Bok supporter I have never felt more confident. The skill levels of the AB’s have plummeted and this is due to one factor only -pressure. The NZ press, supporters, commentators and coaches have repeated the same mantra for the past five years. South African rugby is boring. But what they have failed to understand is that you can only play as well as the opposition let’s you and when your prime attacking weapon is devastating runs from broken play and your opposition limits the number of time in a game you can depend on those situations two things must happen. You chose players who can neutralise the pressure and adapt to a more situational type play instead of trying to force the clean line break issue. NZ. have done neither of these things which is why they are world beaters in the Round Robins and so often come up short in must win games. They play Round Robin rugby in critical test matches.
Some certain truths there. The pressure is as great off field as it's ever been and on the field it has been applied by all good teams to stifle the AB attack.
However great coaching can negate those pressures almost entirely, with tactical nous and training.
The current regime has stuck with the 'pod' attacking systems which opposition teams learned to counter at least 4 seasons ago.
Ellis park should see a better performance from the ABs. The scrum will be more stable, forwards in unity and the attack better directed, as Jason Ryan's influence bites.
Improvement enough for the win? I doubt it, but expect a better challenge from the men in black, for Ian Fosters last match as coach.
Just last year Foster said he falls asleep watching the Springboks. Maybe if he actually did watch he would learn how to beat them
Foster's got to go. The ABs won't win the RWC next year with Foster in charge, he has 1 game plan, play with ball in hand but that plan is null and void when every other team knows how to defend against it. The ABs are going backwards at a rate of knots, the worst decline in AB history under Foster. The players look lost, devoid of any kind of confidence and that comes down to the coaching. A great coach will get the best out of his players, Foster is not doing that, he's making very good players into mediocre players. Get rid of Foster NOW!!!!
Agree with you mate. If NZRU believe Fozzie is the man to take them to the next level, they are daydreaming. We need to get Razor and Leo on the job before the EOYT.
Most fans have been asking NZR since Foster was mistakenly first appointed ffs !
the sooner the better. numbers don't lie.
How he ever got the job in the first place is beyond me. Guy has never won a trophy coaching at any level his entire life
Nepotism.
All true..