Right at the end the Ian Foster doubters were proven right.
The noisy and nagging critics of the straight-talking All Blacks coach got to see him bow out how they’d always imagined – as a loser.
But how close did he come to proving them, and the New Zealand Rugby suits who decided to send him to the World Cup as a dead man walking, wrong in the most delicious way.
In the end the difference may just have been Sam Cane’s red card that saw the All Blacks fall at the final hurdle to the Springboks. Even then, Jordie Barrett, who nailed a 50-metre penalty against Ireland in the quarter-final, had the chance to win it with another long ranger here.
Foster leaves his post for shiny new thing Scott Robertson with 32 wins and two draws from his 46 Tests. He’s never lost a Bledisloe Cup, and won four from four Rugby Championships.
The Cane red card might also cost him a knighthood – all the previous Kiwi World Cup winning coaches go by “sir” – but he says he has some good memories to take to his next role, whatever that might be.
“I would say there were a lot more up than downs,” Foster said of his time in charge.
“I’ve been privileged to be with a special group of people. What’s the highlight? 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. I couldn’t be more proud.”
Foster has been in an unusually light mood in the week leading up to the final, cracking jokes at his last press conferences. It was almost as if he felt the pressure lighting the closer he got to the end of this campaign and to getting home to mow his lawn.
But the hurt was intense on Saturday.
“For us it’s heart-breaking and I look at the effort of our team. We gave ourselves a really good chance in that second-half especially after the damage that red card created,” said Foster.
“It would be wrong to say we had all the chances, they had chances too. There was a pressure cooker environment. To get ourselves back, score that try, it’s disallowed and we get another try.
“We gave ourselves every chance, but it wasn’t to be. We are all gutted. We so desperately wanted to win this but I am equally proud. The attitude to play there against a mighty team. We contributed massively to a final which had a lot of drama.”
Like Foster, Springboks coach Jacques Nienaber is on the move, but that’s his own choice.
Ian Foster walks past the Webb Ellis Cup. (Photo by Michael Steele – World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)
He had some classy words for his defeated rival.
“I don’t know a lot of coaches actually, none except him,” Nienaber said. “He’s the only guy I ever have conversations with. That speaks to the kind of person he is.
“Before the warm-up game we had at Twickenham, there was a cocktail function a day or two before where myself and my wife and him were chatting away for 40 minutes about life and family.
“I am happy for us but my heart breaks for him because I know what it feels like. He is an exceptional human being and an unbelievable coach.
“He has been written off numerous times but the quality team the All Blacks are, they find a way. If you look at sports teams in the world, all of them, they are probably one of the most successful teams, they always have been. He is a leader of that and he is a quality individual.”
Foster tried to pin down what makes the South Africans so tough.
Their run of three one-point knockout wins to ice this tournament will go down in legend.
“They just know their game,” Foster said.
“They are strong. Experienced. Clearly they have learned how to fight in dark place. You can’t argue with the three tight wins in this tournament. They’ve got the ability to play the game at their pace.”
James in NZ
Roar Rookie
Thank you to our Ozzie hosts for having us here. You guys are true blue rugby fans.
Dools
Roar Rookie
It's ????world talking
Dools
Roar Rookie
????
Dools
Roar Rookie
????comment
Guess
Roar Rookie
Barnes gifted them 3 points
Malmesbury Missile
Roar Rookie
Yes of course! What a plonker! So Barnes tackled high, Barnes chose to turn down shots at goal, and Barnes missed kicks at goal? Of course he did! Chop! :happy:
West Aussie Exile
Roar Rookie
Classy post match responses and behaviour from both sets of players and supporters. Foster does deserve credit for his resilience -to put up with all the criticism (warranted or not) and keep fronting up -an impressive person. Congrats to SA and any SA supporters on Roar . I feel for our NZ friends -should be proud of their team
ScottD
Roar Guru
You are full of it Pete. All the AB interviews showed players and coach who were very complimentary if the Boks. Time to get that chip off your shoulder mate
Diesel
Roar Rookie
Can’t wait for Razor - a bloke with personality, passion and a born winner! Bring it on!
Smiggle Jiggle
Roar Guru
They did. Did you turn it off? Cane and Ardie congratulated the Boks post match.
Overthehill
Roar Rookie
So....you want compliments or humility suggest you hold your breath and look at any Wallabies match.....you might go blue in the face.
QED
Roar Rookie
NZR+ all-access behind-the-scenes video. Camera in the face of the players in some of their darkest moments. I have watched this about three times. Really struggling to find all these 'salty" NZers' you speak of. Foster was so hesitant that the first thing he said in the presser was "Firstly I want to congratulate South Africa on what they have achieved. They have shown a lot of character and tenacity throughout the tournament. That's three close games they have come out on the right side. They are doing something right. So hum congratulations to them on a magnificent tournament." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zogwk1mvePs&list=PLO5QRRx0U9SkFxuXX7gtDY4KMUQytmxUF&index=1&ab_channel=AllBlacks
QED
Roar Rookie
Meanwhile Back on planet reality, Sam Cane. “I would like to say well done to South Africa, back to back, they have been a fantastic team, they have had a heck of a tough road to the final, they have showed time and time again they find a way to win, so well done South Africa”
QED
Roar Rookie
PSTS, This is one of the most disingenuous posts I have read. You clearly did not watch the after match interviews with Sam Cane or the full 13 min pressed with Foster and Cane. They repeatedly gave credit to the South Africans and how they played. Including Foster’s answer to a journo question on why ask the Boks are so hard to beat “They just know their game,” Foster said. “They are strong. Experienced. Clearly they have learned how to fight in dark place. You can’t argue with the three tight wins in this tournament. They’ve got the ability to play the game at their pace.” “While I am so proud of what we did and how we worked we have to give it to South Africa, they are a quality team. They have had a few close victories in this tournament and are a different class. It’s special for them but it equally hurts for us. I can’t ask for much more than we did, we couldn’t put more out on the park.”
Loosey
Roar Rookie
I think the 2011 RWC final was closer. :silly:
Guess
Roar Rookie
There’s nothing to compliment them for. Barely won with help of barnes and dumb tmo
Andrew
Roar Rookie
Ha ha a nice way to describe it. I wasnt a fan of Fozzie's appointment as I felt the AB's were losing their way under Hansen from 2017, so promoting Hansen's assistant wasnt the right way to go. However I think he did a great job getting the AB's to the final and despite it all they could still have nicked a win. My fear is that South African, French, Irish and (when they get their act together) English rugby will continue to develop whereas NZ and Aus have been going backwards over the last four years. The South Africans leaving the super rugby competition was a major blow in that regard. I don't see how NZ and Aus can develop a similar level of competition between themselves whether or not the Pacific countries, Argentina and Japan are involved. Hence I think we are not far off selecting overseas based players for the All Blacks (which has been a factor in South Africa's incredible depth). Regardless of what one thinks about Foster as a coach, there is no doubt he didnt have the player resources at his disposal as many of his predecessors did. So I thank him for his service, and wish him all the luck whatever he does next.
countryboy17
Roar Rookie
Aren't you an Australian? Why are you even making comments like that? STFU and come back in four years time.
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Yep Decoy, but the tail of the shirt has been tucked away in the wrong place, & now being full of it, he now lets it flow!!
piru
Roar Rookie
Sure But we're specifically talking about the All Blacks