Legendary All Blacks Lock Sheds Light on Coaching Shake-up
Legendary All Blacks lock Sam Whitelock has shed light on the turbulent period under head coach Ian Foster, which led to the replacement of two members of the coaching staff.
Foster took over the national team after the 2019 Rugby World Cup, but his tenure was marked by several unwanted records, including home defeats to Argentina and Ireland, and a record loss against South Africa. These results nearly led to Foster’s dismissal as head coach.
“We were not being coached well enough. We needed to change.”
- Sam Whitelock
However, New Zealand Rugby decided to retain Foster’s services, opting instead to replace John Plumtree and Brad Mooar from the backroom team. Whitelock acknowledged that the coaching setup was not working effectively, stating, “We were not being coached well enough. We needed to change.”
The veteran lock recognized that the balance of the coaching group was not right, with gaps in their collective international experience and skills. Whitelock believed that Foster lacked sufficient international experience and that Plumtree and Mooar paid the price for this.
In July 2022, Jason Ryan and Joe Schmidt were brought in to replace Plumtree and Mooar, and Whitelock noted an immediate difference in the team’s performance. Ryan focused on addressing the team’s weaknesses, particularly in the maul defense, while Schmidt took a more holistic approach, studying the team’s defensive structures.
Despite the improvements under the new coaching staff, Whitelock acknowledged that it was “not quite enough to win the 2023 Rugby World Cup.” The All Blacks reached the final but ultimately fell short of the title.
This episode highlights the importance of having the right coaching setup in place to guide a national team like the All Blacks, as they strive to maintain their status as one of the world’s premier rugby union powerhouses.
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