The All Blacks left for a high-pressure tour of South Africa on Friday and senior players responded to what they believe is a hurtful response to the Ireland series defeat.
Ian Foster and his team have been smashed from pillar to post by former players, fans and media as they slumped to fourth on the world rankings.
A two-match run against their biggest rival will pile further pressure on the team, but there is every chance it could have been even worse fronting up the Springboks at home.
Veteran No.9 Aaron Smith railed against “hurtful, ridiculous and ruthless” criticism of the team and coaching staff since the Ireland defeat. Two coaches were sacked in the aftermath but Foster survived and it appears he has the support of his players.
“The last two weeks there has definitely been a lot of outside noise,” Smith told reporters.
“As a group we had a good meeting on Monday, and a lot of it is around these are the right people in the room and us players have to do our part, get our stuff sorted, get our preparation right.
“There’s nothing better than the challenge of playing South Africa in South Africa, we know what’s coming, and it’s up to us as players to own our part of it and get our own stuff right.
“The pressure of wearing the black jersey, or coaching it, is big. We know that, and it’s every time. We’ve had a couple of results not go our way, but it wasn’t for lack of effort as a group. The two days in Wellington were positive steps towards what we’re going to put out in South Africa.
“I’ve got a lot of love for Fozzie (Foster) … you always feel for the men in the room. You know they care, and to see a lot of the bad stuff around him and Sam Cane, it’s hurtful and it’s actually gone… it’s ridiculous how ruthless it’s actually been.”
Smith was asked if the criticism had gone too far and replied: “I think we can all admit that.”
Beauden Barrett said he had been “hiding under a rock” since the Ireland reverse.
“It’s a unique challenge for this leadership group, coaching staff, and team,” BB said.
“We’ve got to remember it was just a three-game series, and we can’t search for too much. The answers will be in the room, in the circle and within this team.”
Barrett also had praise for Foster, as did Richie Mo’unga earlier in the week.
(Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images)
“He’s a strong man, but he’s also not afraid to speak out and share how much it hurt last week and what he went through. It hurt us a lot as well, seeing our coach, our leader and us as players what we went through. We’re all in it together, and with Brad [Mooar] and [John Plumtree]having to move on as well, it all hurts.
“All we can do now is come together strongly, tightly, embrace this trip and I know our game will improve.”
Foster has taken on extra work as attack coach with Mooar’s sacking.
“It reminds me of Fozzie in the past,” Barrett said.
“It seems really natural to him. I think he’s already thrived in that role. It’s obviously a big role he’s in at the moment filling the head coach, taking the backs and the attack, but we’re right behind him.
“If anything, it’s about simplifying things rather than adding any layers to what we’re doing and ultimately, we’ll be out there playing with a free head, not a cluttered one. We’re all excited for the subtle shifts or changes that we’ll make.”
Jock’s Thorny stitch up
Australia’s team also left home on Friday, bound for Argentina and with far fewer dark clouds hanging over them despite also losing a home series 2-1, to England.
Reds fullback Jock Campbell, who is in line for a debut in the next three weeks, said his parents would be anxiously awaiting team news and ready to jump on a long-haul flight should he make the 23.
Earlier this year Campbell’s Reds coach Brad Thorn compared him to Maroons rugby league legend Darren Lockyer and ex-All Black Ben Smith.
Asked about the comparisons, Campbell laughed: “That was obviously a bit of a stitch up I think from Thorny but obviously a compliment to be named as similar to those type of players.
“Ben Smith is someone I’ve looked at a fair bit because we are quite similar – not the biggest, strongest, fastest, and stuff like that. So I think part of his game was just consistency, always making the right decisions. I look at a lot of players around the world and try and just snag you know, a few qualities that they have.”
He said he had studied New Zealand’s fullback roster closely.
Jock Campbell. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
“They’ve got a couple there who do a lot of things really well. I watch them and and how they get their hands on the ball and what positions they put themselves in to make it easier for them to get good carries.”
Campbell was used at fullback and on the wing by Thorn and said he had no preference of position.
“The ability to play multiple positions only can strengthen your chance to get into sides like this and if you’re limited to one position it makes it a lot harder,” said Campbell.
“Consistency is a big part of my game. Doing the little things is what I pride myself on – in skills and stuff like that. So that’s my main focus at the moment. It’s just being consistent and being good in most areas.”
Moffett calls for Robinson resignation
Former NZR chief David Moffett says incumbent Mark Robinson should return from the Commonwealth Games and resign.
Earlier this week, legendary All Blacks coach Steve Hansen accused New Zealand Rugby of presiding over a series of failures and said the relationship between the All Blacks players and the board was “the worst it’s ever been”.
Moffett told radio on Friday the situation was “debilitating for everyone, but especially the fans.
” If Robinson cared about the fans he’d be here speaking directly to the fans and saying ‘these are the mistakes we’ve made, this is what we’re doing to correct it and I am going to be accountable’. “
NZR have opted to “say nothing” in response to Hansen’s comments, according to a leaked internal memo.
“How out of touch are these guys in New Zealand Rugby? Saying nothing is the least favourite option?” said Moffett, who also led the Australian rugby league and Welsh Rugby Union in his career.
“He should be back here, fronting the media, holding up his hand – not leaving it up to guys like Foster to front the media on this bloody shambles. It’s chaotic in there at the moment.
“Steve (Hansen) said that he might one day make a good CEO. Well the CEO of New Zealand Rugby is not the place to learn how to be a CEO. You have to hit the ground running and your judgement has to be spot on. But the worst piece of judgement at the moment is the guy refuses to front the media.”
Rhys Bosley
Roar Pro
I think if they get Razor in it would make a huge difference, there are key selections alone that held the ABs back. Foster looks to have fallen into the selection politics trap that plagues Aussie rugby, of selecting to keep key stakeholders happy. They should stop selecting the captain based on how much he looks like Richie McCaw and give big Sam the job, with Smith and Retallick as backups. Bring Blackadder and Grace into the squad and also George Bridge. They need to select a proper back row on game day, not two sevens and not a lock at 6. Papalli and Savea are both better than Cane, they should compete for 7 and the bench, depending on the opponent. Moanga is their best 10 and should always start if available, with one of the Saders, Jordan or Bridge at fullback.They also need to spend a load of that private equity money, buying out Laumape’s French contract and bringing him home. He never should have been passed overand allowed to leave in the first place.
piru
Roar Rookie
I'm not annoyed at any players for their performance (or effort for that matter). Maybe Smith for his comments (ironically though he'd be one of the few you'd say was in the discussion for best in his position) - it's the organisation as a whole. I don't even know if annoyed is the right word. Exasperated maybe, seems we've been on autopilot, assuming we'll just get success because we're the All Blacks
Rhys Bosley
Roar Pro
I am not suggesting that New Zealand should swan around accepting a decline in standards. There is just a big difference between working to get better and getting annoyed at current players because they aren’t good enough.
piru
Roar Rookie
I don't disagree with any of that, my point is I don't accept it. I don't know whether the coach needs replacing or pathways need attention or talent identification and development is the issue. What I do say is it has to be addressed. We're quite happy to swan around as the All Blacks when things are going well, but that glory has always had to be earnt, and it's time we got to work earning it again.
Rhys Bosley
Roar Pro
Sometimes the cattle just aren't good enough. These are the facts as I see them: - There isn't a player in the current All Blacks squad who can lay an unchallenged claim to being the best in the World in his position. -None of the players are as good as their counterparts in the 2015 squad and if they played in 2015, they are getting old in the tooth and aren't as good as they were. -In particular New Zealand just doesn't have World beating forwards coming through. Whether they get a new coach or not I think the All Blacks are going to struggle to meet the expectations of the New Zealand public. It will just be a matter of whether ABs fans decide to adjust those expectations, or to be miserable until a new generation of players arrives, which could take five or ten years.
piru
Roar Rookie
Well I don't and won't accept that. If we accept mediocrity that's what we'll get
Rhys Bosley
Roar Pro
A lot of disappointments can come from expecting your team to be the best, when there are several teams in the World who are now fundamentally better.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Haha yes always Reiko's fault but he aint playing out of position as he is a 13 in every aspect of his rugby.
Guess
Roar Rookie
Yes it happens when a team has no plan. Also was it rieko's fault he was playing out of position?
WEST
Roar Guru
I’d agree with some of that. NZR has been lead by clueless, arrogant behaviour. It’s time to grow up and start being held accountable. Matt Williams has a point, in recent history there’s clearly been a lack of judgment from the leadership of NZRU. It looks like with a Chief Executive like Mark Robinson it’s only getting worse! Look at what happened with the Black Ferns debacle, then the Silverlake circus between the Players Association and the provincial RU. Now ARU are making almost regular statements about getting away from NZ.. Yet M Robinson has no response, which is funny considering NZRU started it by trying to tell ARU you can only have 3 teams.. Of course the SA side of Super Rugby has ended in a disaster. Now this review nonsense with Foster, even though they did a review six months ago.. Robinson doesn’t put out a press release, but a tweet, throwing Foster under the bus.. funny thing they have actually now appointed two of the coaches that Razor applied with when he wanted the job! Anyway, the days of NZ rugby being above criticism are over. It’s time for the All Blacks and especially NZRU to start listening to criticism because it could actually start to help it improve. On win some, lose some. I have no problem losing, but it’s in the way we’re losing I don’t like, making 29 unforced errors isn’t good enough, getting penalised for dumb sht! Isn’t good enough. Turning up to play against a team like Ireland with no clear plan or strategy isn’t good enough. Ireland clearly were the better team, by a long margin. But the ABs need to get smarter and the leadership needs to improve.
piru
Roar Rookie
I'm sorry Smithy but you are All Blacks and you are expected to be the best. A loss is one thing, being thoroughly outplayed and out thought in two straight games is another. Attacks are obviously not on, but you can't expect to have no bad press or criticism
Big A
Roar Rookie
@West Hey Westie – have a read of today’s article – couldn’t have put it better my self – the AB’s are on the nose and deserve everything that comes their way – quoting Matt Williams “After trampling all over Super Rugby, then alienating every national union in the south and possibly forcing the Springboks north, is it any wonder New Zealand Rugby and its team find themselves isolated and boxed into a corner created by their own self-serving actions?”
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
No doubt people catastrophise things now like never before. Anybody suggesting the players or coaches aren’t giving it their all should be made to attend a training session and tell them in person.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Yeah, people attacking him here based on what he said need to get a life. It sounded humble and reasonable to me
wigeye
Guest
do you have to make a big deal always tim
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Muzzo maybe its some fans that need to grow up. His contract says he IS a coach and his paycheck backs it up. Its Robertson thats starting to act like a spoilt child. if you dont pick me Im going elsewhere" Is extremely juvenile and I really wanted him as the ABs coach but that is starting to influence me towards others. Remember the way Deans carried on? Well I say shut up Robertson and let the circus continue with out you.
wig6
Guest
Tim spinner
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Maybe Foster should man up, grow some & resign, as it's obvious he's not a coaches rear end, Jacko.
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
True Colvin, as I really like that young fella Gilbert, as he looks as though, with time, will possibly be a future AB.
Waxhead
Roar Rookie
@TSR go watch youtube highlights of B Smith's career.. At same age as J Campbell is now Smith was world's no 1 FB and stayed no 1 for 5 years. Jock has not even played 1 Test yet. Their styles are not similar cos Smith rarely made an error, was fantastic under the high ball, routinely carved teams up in attack, was a great fearless defender, long astute open feild kicker and captained most of the teams he played for. Jock is good player but can't do any of those things now. Maybe he'd like to have a similar style one day but I don't think he'll achieve it :laughing: