Ian Foster’s verdict on All Blacks vacancy and issues ‘sure of it’ prediction after Scott Robertson’s sacking
Former All Blacks head coaches Ian Foster and Scott Robertson.
Ian Foster does not expect to be contacted over the vacant All Blacks head coach role after Scott Robertson’s sacking.
The 60-year-old, who led New Zealand at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, preceded Robertson and now plies his trade in Japan, coaching Toyota Verblitz alongside Sir Steve Hansen.
Last week, New Zealand Rugby issued the criteria required of the next head coach, a bill that Foster fulfils, but the former All Blacks boss does not expect to receive any kind of work from the union.
However, he has predicted who will fill the vacancy and the moves that the board will be making in the build-up to the 2027 Rugby World Cup and beyond.
Ian Foster’s verdict
DSPN’s Martin Devlin revealed Foster’s prediction and thoughts on the process in a members-only video on YouTube, where he also detailed his chat with John Mitchell.
“No, I can’t see it happening,” was Foster’s response to Devlin, who asked whether NZ Rugby would be reaching out to him.
The show host further disclosed details of his exchange with Foster, stating: “But he does say it’s all going to be okay, and these are wise words from a guy who just loves New Zealand, loves the rugby, and loves the All Blacks.
“It’s Jamie Joseph’s job, I’m sure of it, then it’s either Brown with him or they are going to chase an experienced coach to do it with him for 18 months and then probably go to Tony Brown after the World Cup.”
Brown is currently employed in Rassie Erasmus’ Springboks coaching team, running the team’s attack and is under contract through to the conclusion of the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
The former fly-half has made no secret of his desire to coach the All Blacks in the future, but states that he has no break clause in his contract and remains committed to SA Rugby and will honour the deal he has signed.
Erasmus says that he hopes to extend Brown’s contract, as well as the remaining members of his coaching team, but would understand if he returns to New Zealand after Australia 2027.
“Tony has signed with us until the end of 2027, and he has never hidden the fact that he wants to coach the All Blacks one day. We’ve had some proper discussions, not just now, a year and a half, two years ago, and I totally respect his opinion,” Erasmus said.
“He has a hunger to coach New Zealand, I mean I went to Munster but still wanted to coach the Springboks one day, I wasn’t sure it was going to happen, but Tony is being really honest. He said I’m committed to 2027, and I don’t have an out clause, I’m not even going to look at that now and the respect for him for being honest.
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“So he is with us until then, but I’m pretty sure that if he gets an offer, things change in life very quickly, but if he gets the offer post-2027, I will certainly not be one of the guys who stand in his way.”
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John Mitchell and Sir Steve Hansen haven’t been contacted
Devlin also revealed further conversations with former All Blacks coach, notably John Mitchell, who also fulfilled the criteria but has been ruled out of the race for the job after re-signing as the England Women’s boss.
Mitchell previously held the role as the All Blacks head coach from 2001 through to 2003 and remains ‘wounded’ by how he was shown the door.
The 61-year-old has also not been contacted by NZ Rugby to provide any insight on the appointment process of Robertson’s successor, which Devlin believes is a mistake from the union.
“John Mitchell, he has been ruled out of the All Blacks, has told me that he hasn’t been contacted at all,” the show host said.
“He did say that he is still pretty wounded by the way he feels he was treated by New Zealand Rugby, which was a long time ago, obviously, but no one has got in touch with that guy.
“I just keep saying, whatever you thought of John Mitchell all the way back in 2003, it’s now 23 years later, that’s a rather large chunk of anyone’s life. You have to allow for anyone to become a better person, or improve as a person; you can’t judge someone today for what they were like 23 years ago – I don’t believe. Everyone has a right to grow and improve.
“That guy is a different guy. I knew him back then, and I know him now, and I don’t understand why New Zealand Rugby don’t get in touch and just have a conversation with someone like him.
“The same with Steven Hansen, why not? Same as Ian Foster. Especially with Hansen and Foster, why wouldn’t you want to use those brains? Obviously, Scott Robertson didn’t want anything to do with those guys, and there is a lot of personal politics going on with those guys.
“And Ian Foster didn’t want anything to do with him; the way he was treated, I understand that. But Razor is gone now, and if it’s Jamie Joseph, he has got a long history with Ian Foster, so why wouldn’t you get in touch with these guys and pick their brains?”
He concluded: “We are too small a country not to open our minds to all of this, ask the current coaches about the players. If you are David Kirk, why aren’t you doing that? You need that opinion as much as you need the opinion of the players on the coaches.”
