All Blacks coach Ian Foster rides out storm, promises change – ‘I am excited to show you what this team is made of’
- Back-to-back losses to Ireland mean New Zealand will go into next month’s world champions against the Springboks with one win in their last five matches
- Foster has retained flanker Sam Cane as captain and gave no indication that he would be changing any of his assistant coaches
All Blacks coach Ian Foster has survived the storm of criticism that followed the midyear series loss to Ireland, at least for now, and on Friday promised change ahead of two Rugby Championship tests against the Springboks.
Foster’s head was on the block after last week’s humiliating 32-22 defeat at the hands of the Irish in Wellington, which resulted in the All Blacks losing a home series for the first time in the professional era.
Facing the media for the first time since his post-match news conference on Saturday, Foster said that he had never considered stepping down from the job he was handed in 2019.
“I am strong. I am resilient,” he told reporters in Auckland after announcing his squad for the Rugby Championship. “I believe I have a great feel and relationship with my players. I’m strategic and I’m also accountable. I am really excited to … show you what this team is made of.”
Back-to-back losses to Ireland mean New Zealand will go into the tests against the world champions in Mbombela and Johannesburg early next month with only one win in their last five matches.
New Zealand Rugby chief Mark Robinson said in a media release on Friday that “thorough conversations” had been held, and would continue to be held, around the All Blacks set-up.
“There’s no doubt I’m under pressure, but I’m always under pressure,” Foster added.