New Zealand: Sam Cane expects Ian Foster continue as All Blacks head coach

15/08/2022 12:46

Although there is uncertainty about Ian Foster’s position as head coach of the All Blacks, the team’s captain, Sam Cane, believes Foster will still be coaching the team when they face Argentina in their next match in Christchurch on August 27.

New Zealand ended a three-match losing streak by sealing a 35-23 win over South Africa in Johannesburg on Saturday but despite that result, New Zealand Rugby (NZR) CEO Mark Robinson did not endorse Foster to continue as the team’s coach.

Players supporting their coach

The All Blacks players appear to be backing Foster with star back-row Ardie Savea dedicating their win over the Springboks to his coach.

And Cane is the latest player to give his backing to Foster.

“It’s hard when you know what’s going on in camp,” Cane told AAP.

“You know it’s a happy camp that’s working hard and you sometimes feel [the criticism] is unwarranted.

“We fully expect to carry on with Foz (Foster) as head coach at this stage.”

The All Blacks are set to reassemble in Christchurch on Sunday as they start preparations for their Rugby Championship showdown with Los Pumas and Foster believes he will still be in charge of the team.

“I’m about to hop on a plane and go home and mow the lawns around the pool,” he said.

“I’ll be given feedback, no doubt, but my expectations are that I’m the All Blacks head coach and later in the week I’ll be going to Christchurch and assembling with the team until I’m told anything different.

“I certainly feel that I have the support and backing of the All Blacks.

“There’s still processes New Zealand Rugby want to go through.

“To coach this team, you have to have categoric support.”

Foster has been under pressure to retain his job after the All Blacks lost five out of six Tests ahead of Saturday’s win over the All Blacks. There has been plenty of speculation that he would be fired with former Ireland coach Joe Schmidt and Crusaders boss Scott Robertson the favourites to replace him.

Foster’s former assistants, John Plumtree and Brad Mooar, were axed after they suffered a 2-1 series defeat to Ireland in July, despite them signing new contracts through to the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.

New Zealand Rugby meeting this week

Robinson revealed that NZR would review the recent tour to South Africa and confirmed that his organisation would meet this week.

“We believe we know where we stand and just have to work through it,” he said.

“There will be a board meeting at some stage … The board is ultimately responsible for the appointment of the coach. That’s to be determined in terms of timing.

“We’ll be making no further comment until that time which is likely to be the middle to latter part of this week.”

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