New Zealand coach Ian Foster must come home from South Africa with at least one win to save his job with two losses enough to see Scott Robertson in place when the All Blacks play Argentina later this month.
That’s the inside scoop from New Zealand rugby writer Paul Cully, who outlined the precarious and “extraordinary” nature of Foster’s predicament on Thursday.
Later Thursday the All Blacks named their team for the first Test on Sunday (AEST) with Beauden Barrett given the No.10 jersey ahead of Richie Mo’unga. There was no place for Roger Tuivasa-Sheck in the squad while Caleb Clarke returned a first call up since 2020.
Clarke played all five of his Tests that year and was in good form for the Blues early in the Super Rugby season before suffering injury. He takes the spot of Sevu Reece on the left wing while Will Jordan remains on the right wing and Jordie Barrett at No. 15 jersey under lock.
Samisoni Taukei’aho starts at hooker while Angus Ta’avao is back from suspension, having had it cut from three games to two for undertaking the safe tackling course on offer.
Codie Taylor has missed out altogether with Dane Coles covering from the bench.
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While New Zealand Rugby CEO Mark Robinson has failed to guarantee Foster’s position beyond the two matches in against the Springboks over the next two weekends, Cully said he “understands that NZ Rugby has indicated to the head coach that one win, at least, is required to secure his employment.
“Even that might not be enough to see him through to the Rugby World Cup, although the remaining four Rugby Championship Tests against Argentina and Australia – three of which are in New Zealand – would give Foster the chance to put some more capital in the bank.
Former Argentina centre Marcelo Bosch is the special guest with Roar experts Brett McKay and Harry Jones as they preview the Wallabies’ TRC campaign. Listen here or find us on your podcast app of choice.
“Conversely, if Foster fails in South Africa, a swift removal would give the incoming All Blacks coach two weeks to get his feet under the desk before the Test against the Pumas on August 27.”
Cully went as far as to suggest that, with the Pumas Test scheduled for Christchurch, it could be “Scott Robertson’s first Test in charge could be in front of an adoring home crowd.”
Robertson raised some hackles with comments last week that he would happily coach a nation other than the All Blacks if he continued to miss out on the job he was passed over for in 2019.
“If there is another country – I wouldn’t go to a club now – I really want to go to Rugby World Cup. I genuinely want to go to a couple. It’s one job [All Blacks coach] and when someone doesn’t give it to you, you have to think differently about what opportunities are out there,” he said.
Robertson is under contract to NZR and is considered the only candidate should Foster meet a rapid demise.
South Africa’s coach Jacques Nienaber was reluctant to comment on Foster’s situation but said all coaches were two bad games from losing their jobs.
“If I comment on what is happening in their camp and how he [Foster] feels, then that will be speculation,” Nienaber said.
“I don’t know what their deal is or how things operate between him and the CEO.
“As coaches and players, we know that when you represent your county there is always going to be pressure.
“Especially countries that have a rich rugby tradition like South Africa and New Zealand. There’s always going to be pressure.
“If you are a coach or a player you are two poor games from being dropped, and you are two poor games away from being fired. That is the reality and one lives with that.”
Nienaber said both teams would be desperate to win a battle between long time rivals.
“We’ve got no control, and we can’t expand energy on thinking about how they are feeling, how desperate they’d be and what would they change,” Nienaber said.
“We’ve got no control over that, so the moment you think about those things, you’re wasting that energy.
“We can only control what we can control. We must make sure that they’re not more desperate than us on the day.
“That we can control, but we can’t control how they tackle the game, what they want to do with our maul, and our style of play.
“We need to stay in that reality. They’ll be desperate, and they’ll always be desperate. When two great rugby sides meet, there’s always desperation.”
For the first time in 13 years, and just the fourth time in the history of New Zealand sports betting, the All Blacks are underdogs going into a Test match.
The All Blacks are paying $2.00 in the head-to-head market for the Rugby Championship opener in Mbombela, with the Springboks at $1.87 on NZ TAB.
All Blacks match-day 23
Decoy
Roar Rookie
The hidden problem here is that whatever processes emerge at one level of system are likely to repeat at other levels of system. For the first time in a very long time (but not without precedent), AB rugby has obvious conflict and dissonance at board/CEO/management level, and that will inevitably manifest at player level. That is what is unfolding here, disjointed, incoherent playing in a context of disjointed and incoherent selection/coaching/leadership. A few years ago the Boks found themselves in a similar situation, and everyone (even Biltong!) gave up. Whether we like him or not, Rassie pulled them out of the doldrums. Every successful rugby team (including the AB) can only achieve sustained success in a context of coherence. We are in for a longish ride with the AB, but the boat will again be steadied, very likely around a talismanic leader in the system. The level at which that person presents (Board, CEO, coach) is less important than the personal attributes of that person. I'm increasingly leaning towards Razor, not for his coaching abilities, but his talismanic leadership qualities.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
If Razor is supporting SA this weekend I never want him as an ABs coach. NEVER!!!!! I cannot see Razor being the traitor many on here are. No way!!!
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Lara do you believe the ABs are only wanting 1 win? Think a bit about that.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
RM is great when the forwards dominate but cant handle anything like equallity or even being on the back foot. His kicking is too innaccurate and he wants to run around beating tackles rather than setting up tries or scoring tries. Things BBs does way better at.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Name 1 test where the ref blew full time at the 30 min mark NH. Repeating the same thing constantly doesnt make it true. You are having a busy little morning with all your anti NZ comments arnt you.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Is Razor that dumb? Maybe I dont want him as Abs coach then if he only wants Crusaders in his side despite others like BB being superior to the Saders option.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
You are just writing with hatred and making stuff up or using a 1 off result to justify your arguement. Abs will lose to Scotland will they? yeah good statement for a laugh I guess.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Rennie has had 2 bad seasons and is still the Wallabies coach
Jacko
Roar Rookie
And what would you have done Nick? Put a new coach in before the SA tour and watch them flounder? Do you actually believe they could have got Robertson all signed up and got all current contracts sorted in a week? If thats the case why has Ireland just renewed EARLY the coaching staffs contracts? Why not just leave it to the last week and do it then?
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Schmidt doesnt want to travel a lot so if its Schmidt its a temporary appointment.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Should we be quoting Alan Jones as gospel on Aus rugby Brett?
Jacko
Roar Rookie
NH thats a real grab in the dark. Hansen is the most successful coach ever according to his win %. Im no Foster fan but I will never want the Abs to win and I cannot support the grubs who are wanting that.
Old Bugger
Roar Rookie
Henry also recruited players who were U20 winners so Hansen, is no standout in that regard. But, Hansen did choose a lot of these players in 2012, based upon their first season in SR and, he then lost a lot of experience post 2015, when players called it a day. Oh and btw, Henry was a two-time SR winning coach and should've got the AB job a lot earlier than he did while Hansen, was at the same time, an NPC winning assistant-coach before being lured overseas by, of all people, Ted Henry. Foster didn't get any cup winning U20 players but he did inherit, a very experienced AB team and for all of that, he still managed to garner himself an unwanted, win/loss record. And if I recall, the most tries in a year included wins against teams, that were not ranked in the top-10, at the time.....so, he was in a no-win situation - score a big win and get rubbished, for being involved in those matches or score a small win and get rubbished, for being involved in a crappy game, from his own side. There's nothing amazing in that situation but IMO, it all boils down to how you play, with the cards you've been dealt. To that end, it is becoming patently clear that Foster has no idea whatsoever, about how to play any card game let alone, a game where he gets, a stacked hand.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
NH hows about you have Gats for the England coaching role if you like him so much. We dont want him as NZ coach no matter what you say.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Really? Thats just pathetic. You dont like the coach so you want your nation to lose? Keep rootin for the opposition then as thats your team by the looks of it.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
NH it wouldnt be Robertson v Cheika tho would it. It would be ABs v Arg and Arg arnt the ABs. Big difference.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
With so many suggestions this week of players, coaches and teams throwing their results just to get rid of Foster Im surprised anyone bothers with such a rigged sport tbh. I do not believe anyone is throwing tests just to keep Foster as the Abs coach or that any NZ player will throw the ABs game to get Robertson in.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
I think he was injured which is why Smith was called up during the series.
WEST
Roar Guru
Like the cut of ya jib Winston :thumbup:
WINSTON
Roar Rookie
Agreed. Just because Foster was a poor club coach also didn't make him a good international coach. Give Scott the All Blacks, they could become world beaters again