Former All Blacks captain slams ‘bandwagon fans’ and Ian Foster critics
Former All Blacks captain Tana Umaga.
Tana Umaga expressed his sadness at the New Zealand public’s treatment of All Blacks head coach Ian Foster and hit out at the fans who are now “trying to clamber back onto the bandwagon.”
Foster was under immense pressure to hold onto his job after the All Blacks lost six out of eight Tests between November 2021 and August 2022.
Heavy criticism in New Zealand for Foster
The 58-year-old received heavy criticism in New Zealand but managed to keep his job and is set to step down after the Rugby World Cup, with Scott Robertson coming in to replace him in 2024.
The All Blacks finished second in Pool A behind France after losing to the World Cup hosts in their tournament opener, which set up a quarter-final clash with Ireland, who finished at the top of Pool B.
The All Blacks were overwhelming underdogs ahead of that clash with Ireland but sprung a surprise by clinching a 28-24 victory at the Stade de France in Paris on Saturday.
“There wasn’t a lot of expectation on New Zealand going into the game,” former All Blacks captain Umaga told the official Rugby World Cup podcast after his country’s epic victory over Ireland.
“That’s even at home; I don’t think the public at home gave this Ian Foster-led team any hope of making it past this stage.
“A lot of things have happened back home. I have felt for Ian Foster and the way that he is not coming back next year. It’s not something we usually do.
“Now we have got to this stage, you see, everyone is trying to clamber back onto the bandwagon. Obviously, Fozzy was going to get us there, and he’s got a lot of good people around him.”
Former Blues coach Umaga, who is set to take over the coaching reins at Moana Pasifika in 2024, worked as an assistant for Samoa during their recent World Cup campaign in France.
Unhappy with criticism of Foster
He said he was unhappy with the criticism Foster received when the All Blacks were going through a dip in form.
“I had a thought for him, what he has been through,” said Umaga.
“We love our national team, as does everyone, and they like to have a say about it, and sometimes it is not the kindest words they use for our coaches.
“He went through a lot, and I feel for him and his family who went through that.”
New Zealand are set to face Argentina in their Rugby World Cup semi-final in Paris on Friday.
