A place where escape goats go to play
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Australia would rather have Eddie Jones I reckon, they haven't got anyone from Canterbury on their board.Guy Smiley wrote: ↑Tue Dec 06, 2022 4:54 pm England have sacked Eddie Jones and commenced negotiations with Borthwick's club over his contract, so it's safe to assume they'll install him as Jones' successor.
Two things...
i) the English board have shown more balls than the NZR old boys' club did, in reviewing Eddie's season and the trend. He is numerically the most successful coach England have had but they've booted him with less than a year to go on his contract. No. Fucking. Around.
ii) the list of candidates to secure Razor's services has narrowed significantly. Australia loom large. Just sit back and imagine that. Taste it.
New Zealand Rugby sent letters to 26 prospective coaches when looking for a replacement for Steve Hansen in 2019, but that approach has been dispensed with as they seek Ian Foster’s successor as All Blacks coach from 2024 onwards.
Instead, a more targeted approach from the executive and high-performance unit has identified a smaller and more practical set of targets, with Crusaders coach Scott Robertson and Japan coach Jamie Joseph the likely frontrunners in what could turn out to be a two-horse race.
The winner is set to be appointed in the first half of the year after a short, sharp and discreet interview and presentation to a NZ Rugby panel – possibly including one or two independent figures – that will take no more than a few days and lead to a recommendation to the board.
Stuff has spoken to a number of sources and a complex and delicate picture has emerged that shows NZ Rugby moving towards fundamental change at the All Blacks head coach and wider management level that has long been called for from a section of the fan base, and Foster’s critics.
However, appointing prior to Rugby World Cup has also sparked concerns about destabilising the All Blacks’ Rugby World Cup campaign, as alluded to by Hansen last year.
In 2011, Foster was in charge of the Chiefs when they made an early announcement about Dave Rennie’s pending arrival. Rennie then signalled his intent to replace some staff members, and the Chiefs finished bottom of the New Zealand conference in Foster’s difficult last Super Rugby season in charge.
Stuff understands a repeat of this scenario is a concern at All Blacks level. NZ Rugby have also acknowledged it as part of their deliberations – albeit as an obstacle that is viewed as surmountable.
It’s understood NZ Rugby chief executive Mark Robinson has spent time with overseas coaches as part of a rolling NZ Rugby strategy to keep them connected to New Zealand – a potential failing of the previous process.
That has brought Joseph into the picture. Dave Rennie and Joe Schmidt – who is considered unlikely to work with either Robertson or Joseph – are other coaches recognised as elite but a combination of timing and Schmidt’s previously declared reticence to step back into a high profile job could count against them.
It is not known if NZ Rugby has a preferred candidate between Robertson and Joseph, both of whom are widely regarded as outstanding – and very different – coaches.
Schmidt’s reluctance to work with Robertson, 48, deprives him of a mentor-type figure some feel he needs to make the transition to test rugby despite his stunning record with Canterbury and the Crusaders.
A figure such as Robbie Deans – whom Robinson met in Japan last year in an unrelated catchup – would fit the bill, as would Wayne Smith, but it’s unclear if either would be interested in such a role.
Joseph, 53, has a more diverse range of coaching experiences than Robertson and is likely to bring Tony Brown to the table.
It’s understood that Brown’s most recent spell as Highlanders head coach – when wins against New Zealand teams were hard to find – hasn’t diminished his appeal as part of the Joseph ticket, given his strong track record with the Highlanders and Japan as an assistant coach.
The pre-Rugby World Cup timing of the process also offers few concrete clues. Robertson’s opportunities overseas have diminished after England and Australia appointed Steve Borthwick and Eddie Jones, respectively.
He is considered highly unlikely to take an overseas posting before trying to land the All Blacks job – even if it means waiting until after the Rugby World Cup.
The early timeline, therefore, has not been specifically crafted to suit Robertson’s demands, and it is understood that he has been informed by Robinson that he is not the only candidate.
Fiji's former captain Simon Raiwalui is the new head coach of the Flying Fijians with less than seven months to go before the Rugby World Cup kicks off in France.
Fiji Rugby Union announced earlier this month that New Zealand coach Scott Robertson was offered a role.
But it appears the Crusaders mentor did not take up the offer after Raiwalui's appointment was confirmed at Rugby House in Suva on Friday.
I wonder if Foster got wind of that mid-week?Gumboot wrote: ↑Fri Feb 24, 2023 11:25 pmFiji's former captain Simon Raiwalui is the new head coach of the Flying Fijians with less than seven months to go before the Rugby World Cup kicks off in France.
Fiji Rugby Union announced earlier this month that New Zealand coach Scott Robertson was offered a role.
But it appears the Crusaders mentor did not take up the offer after Raiwalui's appointment was confirmed at Rugby House in Suva on Friday.
My impression is that Foster is running a campaign in the media aimed at generating sympathy. Perhaps you could say he's preparing the ground for any potential (and likely) failure in this years RWC. Hansen fired an early shot in the same vein...Jb1981 wrote: ↑Sat Feb 25, 2023 12:36 amI wonder if Foster got wind of that mid-week?Gumboot wrote: ↑Fri Feb 24, 2023 11:25 pmFiji's former captain Simon Raiwalui is the new head coach of the Flying Fijians with less than seven months to go before the Rugby World Cup kicks off in France.
Fiji Rugby Union announced earlier this month that New Zealand coach Scott Robertson was offered a role.
But it appears the Crusaders mentor did not take up the offer after Raiwalui's appointment was confirmed at Rugby House in Suva on Friday.
Nope. NZR have fucked this thing up enough already. Foster has a contract. They should honour that contract and leave him alone to create his own legacy.
I've thought for a while that the Foster era most closely reminds me of Laurie Mains' time in charge... right down to the 'almost, but not to be' redemption story of a RWC victory.Where does Ian Foster's record as All Blacks coach leave him in the history books?
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all ... tory-books
