There's no way around it anymore – Ian Foster must go

Fully on board with all of that and love the comment about the back of the ruck. Have you read Cully on StuffNZ? I don't always agree with him, but I do in this one and he's someone I always feel has a point, even when I don't agree; like all the really good sports writers. I have tremendous respect for Mounga and the Barrett backs, but I am not sure whether BB and Mounga are necessarily a good fit in terms of personality. I have been struck by BB in huddles doing the talking and to my perception Mounga looks in his body language like the junior. At one level that is quite right - he is. At another level, I still see 10 as the guy who leads the backs and 15, with his wider and deeper vision of the field is the guy who can add perspective. I think Mounga is a cooler head but also not so dominant a personality, whilst BB is a hotter head with a very dominant personality. In the clinch moments there's something to be said for both, but I think we have seen on several occasions that BB when at 10 has made 'hot headed' decisions (as you reference) when a cool head would surely have done what the ultimate cool head (Carter) did. I don't think Mounga feels like he's the leader of the backs at 10 right now. I think both players are wonderful, so this isn't a dig at them, but sometimes you put two personalities together and you don't get an amalgam greater than the sum of the parts you get one of those promising but slightly dud rock supergroups. To me this is just another of many personnel issues in the team that would test any coach to the limit (including Razor or Rennie etc.). I think some serious investment in specialists like sports psychs and organisational psychs to work on this and some other things would be a really good idea - and I am not generally a big fan of that sort of thing because my starting point is that this is just a game with a ball and you bash people, which is not complicated as a concept.

Fair point about Fosters responsibility. Hopefully during his internship he was looking further in front than the back of the ruck so would have seen what the forwards were/were not doing. I think an issue is the cattle he has on hand, as you say. Both physically and especially mentally I think we are lacking. That composure piece, that all the great teams had, we just seem to be missing. The last period of AB reign, or the QLD team recently retired, they were teams that had belief and confidence, and found ways to win, but also knew HOW to find ways to win. This team seems to believe they will find a way, but just don’t actually know how to. Look at the times a field goal could have made a difference but none taken. Now, yea, MacCaws ABs could have taken more than they did, but they knew when they had to and weren’t afraid to.

Paulo, I thought he was responsible for the backs as an assistant, not the forwards? Right now, there is no answer in the forwards. I just don't see the players who are best in the world at 6, 8 or once you go past Retallick and Whitelock in the locks. I would probably also add that the front row is not that flash either. It isn't that they are poor, it is that they aren't 1 or 2 in the world. On some days they may manage for a bit. I don't think enough attention was given to developing forwards capable of really doing the grind at the lower levels of the game from schools through to Super level. Maybe there is just a bit of a generational issue? Maybe just a bit too much shift to speed and seeing ruck and maul as details? I see the side playing the best plan they can given the inherent weaknesses. I would have preferred Razor to Foster, but I think he'd have faced the same problems and also struggled. I would also say that if Plumtree can't get the forwards performing at All Black level (1 or 2 in world in positions) then who can? I think Razor would have been more effective at getting players motivated to their maximum effective level, but if that is still a few points off the best in the world? I would prefer to see people get behind a coach who was a legitimate choice, even if not my preference, in a period of real transition than take the easier option of bagging him, especially when so many never gave him a chance in the first place. I recall the constant crap thrown Laurie Mains' way and he probably was the visionary who started the road to the last 15 years success as much as anyone. 2020 probably isn't as bad as 1992, certainly not as bad as 1994, doesn't rate with 1998 or 2001. Opposition from Oz was better then but... I don't see you as falling into the category of those taking the easy option BTW. But I see a lot of it from others.

JibbaJabbaJacko. Sad really. And wonderfully ironic that you can pot shot Australian fans who are stupid enough to moan about refereeing decisions when we lose but then go to the same pathetic place when the ABs occasionally lose. Cane and Foster didn't mention the ref once when analysing their performance - maybe take a cue from them

OLLY OLLY OXEN FREE!! LOL

I completely agree - well argued and spot on Hard for backs esp a relatively inexperienced international 5/8 like Mounga to go well when the forwards are going backwards We have fallen into the Chieka/pooper trap of picking the captain and trying to build a team around ... guess what - unbalanced and undersized backrow ... while chopping and changing the backline and players out of position there .. looks and feels way too much like the Wallabies under Cheika Fair enough we dont have the cattle we once had, however pick players in position, pick players in form, have a plan B ....

Akira is a damn good player, but has long had a history of going missing for large periods during matches. He has lifted his work rate massively in the last 12-18 months and only now deserves his shot.

The only all blacks that showed up today and matched the Puma power was Sotutu and Whitelock. You can't fault Whitelock he tackled everything he could and put in a hit or two. But the rest of the team not so much. Coles is more interested in cheap shots and slapping players when they aren't looking but backed out of every big collision. Frizell tried hard but lacked the real go forward and was just outplayed by his opposite number Kremer (7s are blindsides in Argentina like the Boks). Some days your opposition just have a blinder. Savea is clearly an openside and not an 8 or 6, so go figure why he keeps getting picked there. If Savea was deployed at 7 where he should be, he would be far more effective at doing what opensides are supposed to do such as support wide channels, pilfer and disrupt rucks. Pretty clear Sotutu is the premier in form 8 atm in NZ. He made a sizeable difference when he came on. Foster needs to take ownership and make better selections. Cane had a decent game but just wasn't effective at the breakdown. He and Savea should be competition for the 7. If Savea is playing better then make Whitelock captain. Don't make Cane irreplaceable just because he is your captain. Due to the pack being bullied around the park the backs just never had front foot ball. McKenzie looked dangerous when he came on and seems to be more suited as a 10 than 15. Mo'unga's issue is he just hasn't transitioned his game from the more running, open style of SR to the tight and tough nature of international test level. He is a talent but needs to cut the 50/50 decision making out and run the game better. Maybe watch some old tapes of Carter. Beauden should be competing for 10 but I get why you wouldn't want to leave him on the pine. But his strength is spotting a gap and accelerating through it, easier to do playing flat at 10 than from deep at 15. His game is much better suited as a running, Larkham style 10 than at 15 where he is getting wasted and becoming ineffectual. Most of the great 15s are positional players with great tactical boots. Christian Cullen being the notable exception. Reiko is just not a test level centre. The guy is a good player, good pace and knows how to get to the try line (but not put it down) but that's about it. He doesn't have the tackling ability, handling and distribution skills or reading of the game. He is pretty much the exact opposite of Conrad Smith or Jonathan Davies. And that is one of the key issues with the ABs atm, there is the talent there but there are too many players that are getting played out of position either due to legacy Hansen selections or due to their reputations. It's as if Foster still thinks he is an assistant to Hansen. If Mo'unga and Cane are your starters, then have the cojones to bench Beaudy and Savea. Or play them if you think they are better. But find a proper 6 and start Sotutu at 8. Find your test level centre pairing (I think Goodhue is better at 13). The one consolation is the blooding of some new talent (Sotutu, Clarke ect). Next years Mitre 10/SR will be a very important one for NZ as it will really show which players stand out in their positions and should be pushing for All Blacks spots.

Hi Pilferer, have a look All Black YouTube Channel. Ian Foster and Sam Whitelock press conference on Monday. He will answer your concerns.

Broken play stats show that's how a lot of tries are scored in test matches, you sore from them or you get into there red zone and get penalties. Broken play comes from stealing line out, great tackle results into a knock on, a strip tackle, a poor kick from the attacking team and a great kick chase from the attacking team. On issue Ian Foster want to address is a more physical pack. So at times we can win that way say like England. One area letting us down is our skill set at times in turn not taking our opportunites. He clearly would have demonstrated this to the NZRU selection pannel.

A new game plan is what they are trying to achieve. The laws in the game changed, which created this rush defense ( better offside ruling would help ). AB's want to combat that by not playing like everyone else ( same with the Wallabies ). It separates you from the pack. Other international teams getting fitter and upskilling it has closed the gap.

I agree we don't often get tested enough. Going through this early is a blessing. The second cycle of 2015 player excess has happened.

Kaino and Akira Ioani should have been a straight swap, he is only now getting a chance at 6.

20 years.. In the 90's Wallabies, Boks, and England had good success as Did the AB's Perhaps everyone is also getting a bit better. That Pumas team would have beaten most teams playing like that.

Thanks, will have a look.

I see what you mean, Australia in the box seat, if they can win their two games against Argentina. if they cant do that, it will come down to the last all blacks vs argentina game.

Steve Hansen had a terrible record with Wales.

Very well said. I really enjoyed Fosters press conference on monday gave some insights to what they are trying to achive. Fosters also leading a new coaching group time is needed.

Great comments Olly. I agree. I feel the AB's and Wallabies are the only two sides that want to play rugby in a new way. To combat this rush defensive ( that boarders offside ).

Have a look at Foster's press conference on monday. You can find it on YouTube, All Blacks channel. I found it insightfull. He also talked recently in team naming aganist Argintina on why he's chosen his centers. Find it in All Blacks channel and Rugby Pass channel on Youtube.