All Blacks boss axed for not reapplying for his own job - but remains in charge
New Zealand entered the World Cup knowing coach Ian Foster will be departing after he chose not to reapply for his job.
As a result he will leave his role with Crusaders boss Scott Robertson coming in to replace him. Foster served as assistant to Steve Hansen before taking on the main job after the World Cup four years ago and has overseen a difficult tenure with calls for him to be sacked previously.
Foster was critical of the process that the NZR (New Zealand Rugby) underwent to decide on their next coach. He was vocal about wanting his bosses to hold fire on making any coaching decisions until after the tournament and made it known he wouldn't throw his hat into the ring.
He said back in March: "As I said last week, I felt the best thing for our team and for our entire management group was to have this process done after the Rugby World Cup. That hasn't happened but we will accept the decision and move on. My sole focus remains unchanged.
"It is to lead this All Blacks team and management group in our planning and preparation so that we go to France with the goal of winning the Rugby World Cup and making this country proud. I won't be re-applying for the job of head coach."
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Foster also told NZME: “I have sat back and looked at a whole lot of views that have been put out there. Some have been frustrating to hear and a particular frustration is that there seems to be a focus on setting timetables based on what some preferred candidates feel is right for them versus potentially what is right for this All Blacks team."
Ian Foster has been in charge of New Zealand since 2019Robertson, who has led the Crusaders to the Super Rugby title every year since being appointed in 2017, is widely regarded as among the finest coaches on the planet and interest in him has mounted every year since he took charge in Christchurch.
When Eddie Jones was sacked as England boss last year, Robertson was among the coaches who were linked with the vacancy. NZR chief executive Mark Robinson addressed fears about the talented coach heading elsewhere, especially as it was between him and Foster for the All Blacks job back in 2019.
Those concerns eventually led to the country's chiefs accelerating their plan to appoint someone for the next World Cup cycle. He said previously: “There’s been a huge amount of talent leave our shores and coach in different places. We’ve said often that we value Scott incredibly highly – he’s a really strong coaching talent.
Scott Robertson has excelled at the Crusaders"We’d love to be in a position to keep all our coaching talent in New Zealand, that’s not always possible, but we have regular conversations with our key talent in this space and will continue to do that.”
New Zealand, who won the World Cup back-to-back in 2011 and 2015, head into the tournament in France as Rugby Championship winners but were humiliated by rivals South Africa at Twickenham recently as the Springboks recorded a record 35-7 victory.
The All Blacks opened the tournament against France at the Stade de France in Paris on Friday night, falling to the hosts 27-13, in a result that merely puts more pressure on Foster's shoulders.
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