FOSTER - NOW GONE 🎉 - congrats kiwis

[Gumboot]

Robinson: No major comments till later in the week.

FFS.

[Guy Smiley]

a minute ago

“The appointment of the coach is the board's responsibility, management provides insight, we will provide that to them.”

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a few seconds ago

Robinson confirms that any discussions on Ian Foster's future will include the New Zealand Rugby board. The timing on those discussions is still yet to be determined.

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a few seconds ago

“Serious conversations with players are private and we don't comment on them,” says Robinson. “We'll take stock, we'll comment later in the week.”

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a minute ago

"We've been having conversations right through this time with Foz. We believe we know where we stand, just have to work that through with him."

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2 minutes ago

So confirmed that Ian Foster keeps his job - for now at least

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3 minutes ago

"We'll be making no further comment until that time which will likely be the middle or latter of the week coming up"

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3 minutes ago

"The main priority is to get everyone home. Then we take stock, meet with management as soon as we can, and debrief how the tour went."

[Kiwias]

No point in watching the presser any longer.

[Chilli]

He won convincingly at Ellis Park.

He should stay.

[Gumboot]

He won convincingly at Ellis Park.

He should stay.

...at Ellis Park.

[Ymx]

"That [the victory] was for all of us," Savea said. "For me personally that is my coach and I back him 100 per cent, side-by-side. He's been under a lot of pressure. I know he doesn't want to make it about himself, but I just want him to know that we have got his back and all the players have got his back.

"He's a great coach and he's got great coaches beside him, who back him 100 per cent. And I hope everyone that listens, that reads this, backs us."

Asked about whether he thinks that Foster should continue in the role, Savea reiterated what he'd already said.

"As I said he's my coach, that's it," he said.

Shut the fvck up Ardie

[Chilli]

He won convincingly at Ellis Park.

He should stay.

...at Ellis Park.

Hell no! We have enough average coaches of our own.

[Kiwias]

"That [the victory] was for all of us," Savea said. "For me personally that is my coach and I back him 100 per cent, side-by-side. He's been under a lot of pressure. I know he doesn't want to make it about himself, but I just want him to know that we have got his back and all the players have got his back.

"He's a great coach and he's got great coaches beside him, who back him 100 per cent. And I hope everyone that listens, that reads this, backs us."

Asked about whether he thinks that Foster should continue in the role, Savea reiterated what he'd already said.

"As I said he's my coach, that's it," he said.

Shut the fvck up Ardie

And every other player who feels the need to speak out.

[Gumboot]

Shut the fvck up Ardie

And every other player who feels the need to speak out.

Well said. They need to keep clear of this conversation.

[Ymx]

From listening to both Cane and Ardie, it was clear that the players put everything in to this game. They were shattered, tanks were on zero.

That is not sustainable to need to go to that level every game in order to win.

[Kiwias]

Shut the fvck up Ardie

And every other player who feels the need to speak out.

Well said. They need to keep clear of this conversation.

As do former coaches who were instrumental in getting the SFM the head coach's job.

[Kiwias]

From listening to both Cane and Ardie, it was clear that the players put everything in to this game. They were shattered, tanks were on zero.

That is not sustainable to need to go to that level every game in order to win.

I would argue that to win against a rampant Boks team at Ellis Park should require that level of commitment.

[Ymx]

This is the board.

Stewart Mitchell
Chair

Stewart Mitchell is a former Canterbury Rugby Football Union Chair (2012-14) and board member of the Crusaders (2008 - 2014). Stewart is a qualified accountant and highly experienced strategic and human resource consultant. He has over 20 years' experience in various governance roles and has considerable experience working with Councils and both private and public sector Boards, across a broad range of industries. Stewart played representative rugby in both England and NZ and was a member of the NZ Colts (U21 team 1972 -1973). Stewart joined the Board in 2014.



Farah Palmer
Deputy Chair
Māori Representative

Dr Farah Palmer (ONZM) was elected to the Board in December 2016. The former Black Fern (35 Tests, 1996-2006) captained the team to three consecutive Rugby World Cups, was inducted to the World Rugby Hall of Fame in 2014 and has served on the New Zealand Māori Rugby Board since 2007. Palmer is a senior lecturer in Massey University's School of Management and Director of the University's Māori Business & Leadership Centre (Te Au Rangahau)



Ajit Balasingham
Elected Board Member

Ajit is a business advisor with more than 20 years of proven commercial success, since leading a management buy-out of transport and contracting company United Carriers. A Northland Rugby Union Board member since 2008 he helped the Provincial Union turn its finances around and was Chair from 2014 to 2020. He has also been an observer on the Board of the Blues Super Rugby club and served as interim CEO. Ajit is a Fellow of the Chartered Accountants of Australia and New Zealand, and member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants with industry accounting experience stretching back more than 30 years. A member of the Institute of Directors he is currently on the Boards of property and quarrying business United Infrastructure Ltd and the Alzheimer's Society of Northland.



Bart Campbell
Appointed Board Member

Bart Campbell is a sports marketing professional with extensive experience over 25 years across the UK, North America and Australasia. Over 17 years in London Bart had several leadership roles as Executive Chair, Group CEO and Group COO at sports marketing agencies including TLA Worldwide, Chime Group plc's CSM and Essentially Group plc. In 2019 he started a boutique events agency, Left Field Live, working with blue chip rights holders to take their content to new markets of strategic importance, with a focus on Asia Pacific and North America. Bart moved from London to Melbourne in 2013 and was a shareholder and Chair of the NRL club Melbourne Storm and Super Netball team Sunshine Coast Lightning until May 2020. Bart has been a member of the NZR Board since 2020, served as a NZR representative on World Rugby Council and an elected member of the World Rugby EXCO board. From August 2020 Bart has been a director of Rugby World Cup Limited, the arm of World Rugby tasked with commercialisation and delivery of Rugby World Cups.



Rowena Davenport
Appointed Board Member

Rowena Davenport joined Gallaway Cook Allan in 2021 as Chief Executive to provide leadership and support to the firm and its partners. Rowena holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Otago and has a background in finance and strategy. Prior to joining Gallaway Cook Allan she was part of the Executive Team at MTF Finance, with responsibilities that included funding, risk management, and leading strategy development and execution. Her ability to think strategically, with a focus on people and culture, saw her get involved in governance, joining the Board of the Otago Rugby Football Union (ORFU) in 2014. In 2019 she was appointed Chair of the ORFU Board, the first female Chair of a major Provincial Rugby Union in New Zealand. Rowena has also served as a member of the New Zealand Secondary School Rugby Strategic Advisory Group and interned on the Board of Dunedin City Holding Limited in 2018. In recognition of her role and contribution to rugby governance, on International Women's Day 2022, she was awarded a World Rugby Executive Leadership Scholarship. Rowena believes that a high performing organisation comes from having a clear strategy, with effective leadership that supports collaboration, and is focussed on delivering value to the organisation and its stakeholders.



Mark Hutton
Appointed Board Member

Mark Hutton has 25 years of international finance and private equity investment experience including being a founding Director of Evergreen Partners and Direct Capital, New Zealand's leading private company investor. A Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors, Mark also holds a governance role with agri-business company Scales Corporation, where he is the Chair of the Remuneration and Governance Committee. He was also on NZR's Appointments and Remuneration Committee in 2011. His extensive CV includes appointments as a non-executive director for twenty operating companies since 1994, while he has acted as Promoter for four NZX Initial Public Offerings. Educated at the University of Canterbury, Mark's passion for rugby includes two three-year stints on the Board of College Rifles Rugby Football Club in Auckland.



Bailey Mackey
Elected Board Member

Bailey Mackey was elected to the New Zealand Rugby Board at the 2020 Annual General Meeting. Mackey is also the Founder and CEO of Pango Productions – a privately owned film and television company, as well as the founder of tech startup and online production management tool KAHA. Mackey is the representative for the Creative sector on the Prime Minister's Business Advisory Council. In 2017, he was named Māori Entrepreneur of the Year.



Rt Hon Dame Patsy Reddy
Appointed Board Member

Former Governor-General The Rt Hon Dame Patsy Reddy has had extensive experience in governance and consulting roles in both the private and public sector. Dame Patsy has served as a non-executive director of Telecom Corporation, Sky City Entertainment Group, Air New Zealand, New Zealand Post and Payments NZ Ltd. She also served as Chair of the New Zealand Film Commission, Deputy Chair of New Zealand Transport Agency, and Chair of Education Payroll Ltd. Her extensive CV includes major consulting roles as Independent Reviewer of Intelligence and Security in New Zealand and Independent Facilitator of the Joint Working Group on Pay Equity among others and she was a Chief Crown Negotiator for Treaty Settlements. Dame Patsy has also had significant involvement in governance of creative and charitable organisations, including as Trustee of the New Zealand International Festival of the Arts, the Victoria University Foundation, the Victoria University Art Collection Trust, the Spark Art Trust, the Wellington Jazz Festival Trust, and Sky City Community Trust. She was a founding Trustee and advisory board member for New Zealand Global Women and has chaired the Board of the New Zealand Film Archive. She is currently a Trustee of the NZ Symphony Orchestra Foundation and the Aspen Institute New Zealand. In 2014 she became a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the arts and business and was made a Grand Companion of the Order and received the Queens Service Order (QSO) in 2016. Educated at Victoria University of Wellington with an LLM (First Class Honours).



President and Vice President

NZR has two Officers: The President and Vice President, who represent NZR and New Zealand at important functions and events, locally and globally. The President and Vice President (along with the Chief Executive Officer) attend New Zealand Rugby Board Meetings, although they are not considered Board Members and may not vote on Board matters.

These positions are elected for two year terms. In 2022, Max Spence became President while Matthew Cooper was elected Vice President.



Max Spence
President

After graduating from Lincoln College (now University) in 1976 Max Spence has committed his professional career to the agricultural and horticultural sectors. In May 2019 he completed 35 years’ service with Fruitfed Supplies, a part of PGG Wrightson. He stepped down as the National Manager of Fruitfed Supplies in June 2019. He was Chair of the Nelson Bays Rugby Union from 1996 to 2005, Chair of the Tasman Rugby Union for the period 2006 to 2008 and was on the Board of Crusaders Franchise Ltd from 1999 to 2010. He is a life member of the Nelson Bays Sub Union and in 2013 became the first Life Member of the Tasman Rugby Union.



Matthew Cooper
Vice President

Matthew Cooper has been Chief Executive of Sport Waikato since 2001, where he has led the organisation’s key strategic projects focused on increasing participation in play, active recreation and sport. He is a current Trustee with the Halberg Foundation and also a graduate of the University of Waikato.

A former All Black, he played 26 matches between 1987 and 1996, including eight test matches as well as one test for Croatia in 1998. He is probably best known for his 124 games for the Waikato Rugby Team from 1990 to 1999, where he to date is still the highest points scorer for the Waikato Rugby Union. He also played 63 games for Hawkes Bay from 1985 to 1989.


Our Patron

The New Zealand Rugby Patron fills an honorary role as the figurehead for the organisation. Throughout the 20th Century the Governor General traditionally held the role of Patron. Former All Blacks Captain Sir Brian Lochore was Patron until his passing in August 2019, and Ian Kirkpatrick, was elected as his successor at the NZR Annual General Meeting in 2020. Kirkpatrick was an All Black (# 666) from 1967 to 1977, playing in 38 Test Matches, including nine as Captain between 1972 and 1974. He was made a Member of the British Empire for services to rugby in 1980 and inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame in 2003. He is also Patron of his local rugby club in Poverty Bay and remains an active supporter of club and representative rugby.

[Chilli]

I'll just leave this here.

https://rugby365.com/news/i-found-it-qu ... -park-win/

[Grandpa]

I'll just leave this here.

https://rugby365.com/news/i-found-it-qu ... -park-win/

What an ungrateful arsehole Foster is....

[Grandpa]

The backs were allowed to look good, because finally the forwards did their job... hell of a difference when you get front foot ball...

And fcuk Foster for taking three years to finally get the basics right... not nearly good enough...

[Ymx]

Jason Ryan can take that credit.

[convoluted]

If Razor had been told to prepare to take over, then musing on it this morning you'd imagine that there would by now be a signed and sealed contract.
Thus an Ellis Park outcome would have been irrelevant.
If there is not already a done deal, then it is surely far too late for the remainder of this Championship.

Regardless, there may have been a misread on here as to what Robinson meant during that nothingness of a press conference:

New Zealand Rugby boss Mark Robinson has refused to endorse Ian Foster's future as All Blacks head coach.
... A matter of hours after the All Blacks' dramatic 35-23 response at Ellis Park snapped their three-game losing run, Robinson fronted media via Zoom in a bizarre press conference where he outlined Foster's future will be determined once the team arrives home early next week, but offered no other insight into the likely outcome.

During a 20-minute press call Robinson was asked a number of different ways whether Foster will remain in charge for the All Blacks next Rugby Championship test against Argentina in Christchurch in two weeks, and whether Crusaders coach Scott Robertson and his team are on standby.

With each deflection, Foster's tenure became more undermined and seemingly less likely to continue.

... Robinson, possibly constrained by employment law process, began by praising the inspired All Blacks performance against the Springboks in a hostile atmosphere but with each probe he left Foster further in limbo ...

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/all-bl ... CAGER2C5A/

[convoluted]

Caleb Clark... jesus. That missed tackle was a howler...

His defence is woeful - just so casual and clueless ...

To be fair to Clarke, one of his arms was in the crock of the Bok's trailing elbow.
Placing the trailing arm in that position might well be a long-standing deliberate ploy by the Bok winger to assist him in throwing off defenders who might go around his hips. It certainly had the effect of spinning Clarke around like a pole dancer, particularly as the Bok arm would have been sweaty and slippery (if not deliberately greased up each water break by the dirty cheating Bokke fckers ).
The next time, the trailing arm wasn't there and Clarke went around the hips again and was able to cling tight as he slid down to take the toes into touch and save a try.

[Ymx]

If Razor had been told to prepare to take over, then musing on it this morning you'd imagine that there would by now be a signed and sealed contract.
Thus an Ellis Park outcome would have been irrelevant.
If there is not already a done deal, then it is surely far too late for the remainder of this Championship.

Regardless, there may have been a misread on here as to what Robinson meant during that nothingness of a press conference:

New Zealand Rugby boss Mark Robinson has refused to endorse Ian Foster's future as All Blacks head coach.
... A matter of hours after the All Blacks' dramatic 35-23 response at Ellis Park snapped their three-game losing run, Robinson fronted media via Zoom in a bizarre press conference where he outlined Foster's future will be determined once the team arrives home early next week, but offered no other insight into the likely outcome.

During a 20-minute press call Robinson was asked a number of different ways whether Foster will remain in charge for the All Blacks next Rugby Championship test against Argentina in Christchurch in two weeks, and whether Crusaders coach Scott Robertson and his team are on standby.

With each deflection, Foster's tenure became more undermined and seemingly less likely to continue.

... Robinson, possibly constrained by employment law process, began by praising the inspired All Blacks performance against the Springboks in a hostile atmosphere but with each probe he left Foster further in limbo ...

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/all-bl ... CAGER2C5A/

Thanks for the hope!


Can’t find a link to the whole zoom. But here’s some analysis of it.

I think most of you watched it already

[Enzedder]

The euphoria of a good win is one thing but it hardly compensated for 3 years of shit decisions, selections and tactics.

Now you know what it was like as a Chiefs fan for a decade.

Suffer you bastards.

Ymx - Robinson has been trying to get rid of Foster for ages. It's not his call though.

[Ymx]

Yep, sounds like it’s the board.

Although, Robinson was responsible for the extension and was backing him then.

As mentioned above, if he is going they would need a replacement immediately. So the wheels would have been in motion well ahead of the game. Who knows, maybe Robertson is already signed up?

The fact that Robinson is refusing to discuss it, it is telling.
He actually said “there is a process to” then quickly went back on it and said “some discussions to be had”.

Please let it be true !!!!

[Gumboot]

Yep, sounds like it’s the board.

Although, Robinson was responsible for the extension and was backing him then.

As mentioned above, if he is going they would need a replacement immediately. So the wheels would have been in motion well ahead of the game. Who knows, maybe Robertson is already signed up?

The fact that Robinson is refusing to discuss it, it is telling.
He actually said “there is a process to” then quickly went back on it and said “some discussions to be had”.

Please let it be true !!!!

Yep, that was my impression, too.

[convoluted]

Ardie isn't listening to you guys telling him to keep quiet:

The All Black loose forward (Ardie) said that the review during the week highlighted just where they could improve and find opportunities after ‘being suffocated’ at Mbombela Stadium last week.

“It was amazing, last week it felt like we were suffocated, it felt like a brick wall,” he said.

“When we actually reviewed the clips, our coach Foz identified a few critical things that we needed to work on.

“When we saw it, it was actually quite evident. There was some of it that we executed today. That’s a big ups to the people who are sorting that out.”

[Guy Smiley]

Just imagine…

a coach who explains things.

[convoluted]

To add further complication:

Despite the fierce criticism Foster has faced, there has always been something of an inconvenient truth at play: the players like him and rate him as rugby coach. Even sources who are effectively neutral in the debate will tell you he genuinely reviews well and has the respect of the playing group ... the ‘Foster can’t coach’ narrative has never been backed up by player feedback. They did it for the coach in South Africa, and the word is the players wanted to stand behind the coach as he gave his post-test press conference.

[convoluted]

Yikes.
To make things even still more complicated .......... ............

(Foster) "I’m about to hop on a plane, go home, and probably mow the lawns around the pool. I’ll be giving feedback, no doubt,” said Foster. “My expectation is I’m the All Black head coach and [next] weekend I’ll be going to Christchurch and assembling for a team until I’m told anything different.”

[Guy Smiley]

Show me a team that doesn't stand behind their coach...

it's such a needy thing to hold up. As Razor is the Peoples' Choice currently, let's go down to Christchurch and ask the Crusaders' players how they feel about him. Let's call into the other franchises while we're at it and ask those guys. Maybe we could ask the Maori ABs how they feel about Clayton McMillan as well, just for kicks because he looked like he was having a fat time in the coach's box.

As for Foster and his expectations... I expect to win Lotto every time I buy a ticket. So what.

[Kiwias]

I am convinced that the SFM will pick BB at 10 for the first Pumas test.

[Dan54]

"That [the victory] was for all of us," Savea said. "For me personally that is my coach and I back him 100 per cent, side-by-side. He's been under a lot of pressure. I know he doesn't want to make it about himself, but I just want him to know that we have got his back and all the players have got his back.

"He's a great coach and he's got great coaches beside him, who back him 100 per cent. And I hope everyone that listens, that reads this, backs us."

Asked about whether he thinks that Foster should continue in the role, Savea reiterated what he'd already said.

"As I said he's my coach, that's it," he said.

Shut the fvck up Ardie

And every other player who feels the need to speak out.

Why are players not allowed to speak? Have we got to point as a rugby nation that we want automatums who only speak what we want them to say? Hell it's what Havili said to after test too, and I don't have a problem with that.

[Dan54]

Show me a team that doesn't stand behind their coach...

it's such a needy thing to hold up. As Razor is the Peoples' Choice currently, let's go down to Christchurch and ask the Crusaders' players how they feel about him. Let's call into the other franchises while we're at it and ask those guys. Maybe we could ask the Maori ABs how they feel about Clayton McMillan as well, just for kicks because he looked like he was having a fat time in the coach's box.

As for Foster and his expectations... I expect to win Lotto every time I buy a ticket. So what.

I guessing that could be his way of saying I expect to be coach, so will get full pay out if I get dumped??

[Kiwias]

Shut the fvck up Ardie

And every other player who feels the need to speak out.

Why are players not allowed to speak? Have we got to point as a rugby nation that we want automatums who only speak what we want them to say? Hell it's what Havili said to after test too, and I don't have a problem with that.

I don't have a problem with players talking about the game etc., but believe that comments by the players about the coach are utterly meaningless. No player could be expected to say anything even remotely critical about the coach.

[Guy Smiley]

And every other player who feels the need to speak out.

Why are players not allowed to speak? Have we got to point as a rugby nation that we want automatums who only speak what we want them to say? Hell it's what Havili said to after test too, and I don't have a problem with that.

I don't have a problem with players talking about the game etc., but believe that comments by the players about the coach are utterly meaningless. No player could be expected to say anything even remotely critical about the coach.

Just for laughs, ask them how they feel about the win loss record over the last 3 seasons.

[Ymx]

Show me a team that doesn't stand behind their coach...

it's such a needy thing to hold up. As Razor is the Peoples' Choice currently, let's go down to Christchurch and ask the Crusaders' players how they feel about him. Let's call into the other franchises while we're at it and ask those guys. Maybe we could ask the Maori ABs how they feel about Clayton McMillan as well, just for kicks because he looked like he was having a fat time in the coach's box.

As for Foster and his expectations... I expect to win Lotto every time I buy a ticket. So what.

The context of it with him expecting to be the coach is actually a bit misleading. He at first said he had missed the press statement by Robinson. He then said he wasn’t aware “not sure” of what the process would be.

He said he expects to be the all black coach only because he was talking about continuing as normal until he hears otherwise.

[Dan54]

And every other player who feels the need to speak out.

Why are players not allowed to speak? Have we got to point as a rugby nation that we want automatums who only speak what we want them to say? Hell it's what Havili said to after test too, and I don't have a problem with that.

I don't have a problem with players talking about the game etc., but believe that comments by the players about the coach are utterly meaningless. No player could be expected to say anything even remotely critical about the coach.

Mate you obviously didn't see the players get rid of Link MacKenzie from Wallaby job. But even if you didn't want to be critical, wouldn't you just shut up?
I thimk perhaps we don't want the players to say anything we don't agree with. If I reviewing a coach I would always ask senior players their opinion anyway.
I just think in a world where everyone who knows very little (and not suggesting posters here) can say what they want publicly, why do we expect players to not be able to voice an opinion. I have heard TJP and Weber (and a few more) comment on gay rights etc, so surely they can comment on what they do for living!!!

[Dan54]

Why are players not allowed to speak? Have we got to point as a rugby nation that we want automatums who only speak what we want them to say? Hell it's what Havili said to after test too, and I don't have a problem with that.

I don't have a problem with players talking about the game etc., but believe that comments by the players about the coach are utterly meaningless. No player could be expected to say anything even remotely critical about the coach.

Just for laughs, ask them how they feel about the win loss record over the last 3 seasons.

They have commented on it, and said they knew they weren't good enough )noone moaned about that) and Mounga said last week although they knew we were all disappointed as fans and although we had the right to be thay had the right to not care what we thought. So it works all ways.

[Kiwias]

Why are players not allowed to speak? Have we got to point as a rugby nation that we want automatums who only speak what we want them to say? Hell it's what Havili said to after test too, and I don't have a problem with that.

I don't have a problem with players talking about the game etc., but believe that comments by the players about the coach are utterly meaningless. No player could be expected to say anything even remotely critical about the coach.

Mate you obviously didn't see the players get rid of Link MacKenzie from Wallaby job. But even if you didn't want to be critical, wouldn't you just shut up?
I thimk perhaps we don't want the players to say anything we don't agree with. If I reviewing a coach I would always ask senior players their opinion anyway.
I just think in a world where everyone who knows very little (and not suggesting posters here) can say what they want publicly, why do we expect players to not be able to voice an opinion. I have heard TJP and Weber (and a few more) comment on gay rights etc, so surely they can comment on what they do for living!!!

Calm down, mate. I am not talking about muzzling players across the board. I am saying that players should just shut up about coaches.

[Dan54]

I don't have a problem with players talking about the game etc., but believe that comments by the players about the coach are utterly meaningless. No player could be expected to say anything even remotely critical about the coach.

Mate you obviously didn't see the players get rid of Link MacKenzie from Wallaby job. But even if you didn't want to be critical, wouldn't you just shut up?
I thimk perhaps we don't want the players to say anything we don't agree with. If I reviewing a coach I would always ask senior players their opinion anyway.
I just think in a world where everyone who knows very little (and not suggesting posters here) can say what they want publicly, why do we expect players to not be able to voice an opinion. I have heard TJP and Weber (and a few more) comment on gay rights etc, so surely they can comment on what they do for living!!!

Calm down, mate. I am not talking about muzzling players across the board. I am saying that players should just shut up about coaches.

Mate if players can't talk about coach whether for or against, surely they can't talk about anything to do with game. So do we tell them not to discuss tactics etc? Or they only to make coment if they agree with what we think. I would have no probs with a player saying we need to go in a new direction or something like that. Are you upset that players that Ryan is doing good work with forwards?
I see Sam W coming out behind Foster tonight basically saying that all of them are responsible for losses etc, so do we think he would not know, or isn't allowed to have an opinion?
Boy there will be some boring aftermatch interviews if players are muzzled this much.

[Kiwias]

Mate if players can't talk about coach whether for or against, surely they can't talk about anything to do with game. So do we tell them not to discuss tactics etc? Or they only to make coment if they agree with what we think. I would have no probs with a player saying we need to go in a new direction or something like that. Are you upset that players that Ryan is doing good work with forwards?
I see Sam W coming out behind Foster tonight basically saying that all of them are responsible for losses etc, so do we think he would not know, or isn't allowed to have an opinion?
Boy there will be some boring aftermatch interviews if players are muzzled this much.

You are twisting and stretching my words beyond normal. I am specifically and exclusively saying I don't think it is good for players to be asked whether they support so and so as the coach. There is only one possible answer if the player wants to stay in the squad.

Sam W spoke about the players' responsibility to perform and I don't see any issue with that. Similarly, I enjoy hearing players talk about how they varied their play to give them a better chance to win, as I would enjoy hearing players comment on the contribution a coach has made to improving their play.

That is all fundamentally different to saying "I reckon so and so is an excellent coach" when the team's performance suggest that is clearly not the case. We have won only two wins out of the last seven test matches and dropped to 5th in the world rankings.

[Gumboot]

Mate if players can't talk about coach whether for or against, surely they can't talk about anything to do with game.

They can and they do. Nobody's gagging them.

Dan, can you see the distinction between that, and the entire squad attending Foster's post-match press conference in a show of support?