Foster, Robertson etc
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@sparky said in Foster must go:
"Assistant Heads must roll."
If they sacrifice Cane and a couple of assistants it will be a joke. Cane is not the problem here. He's a warrior. You know what you get with him and he's delivering it - massive work ethic, strong metnal attitude, but limited game style. He's awesome, buta poor fit to the loose trio for reasons we've traversed many times.
Whitelock is a dead set legend, but an aging 33 year old who's part of a tight 5 that gets regularly dominated at the top level. He's smart, but picking him probably puts Retallick's head on the block. Honestly, it's nuts. There are no good options any more.
The curtain of silence has been ridiculous. Some of the most critical times in recent AB history and the Kremlin respond by going quiet and pulling Foster from public view. It's treating the public with derision.
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@nzzp said in Foster must go:
@sparky said in Foster must go:
"Assistant Heads must roll."
If they sacrifice Cane and a couple of assistants it will be a joke.
I predicted that Foster would not resign, and he knew that he can't change very many players. But something needs to be done --for the look of it.
I predicted it would be the junior players that sucked the kumara. I was wrong, it was junior coaches and captain, but it's pretty much the same play.
Someone had to go. And once it wasn't Foster, it was always going to be a joke.
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@Bovidae said in Foster must go:
I am equally concerned that Mooar hasn't been criticised by the players, as reading between the lines, he reviewed well.
And main part of review was done through senior players, this si what will be happening now.
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@Dan54 said in Foster must go:
@Bovidae said in Foster must go:
I am equally concerned that Mooar hasn't been criticised by the players, as reading between the lines, he reviewed well.
And main part of review was done through senior players, this si what will be happening now.
They had a review post-EOYT and no one could say that the attack was functioning well then either!
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@nzzp said in Foster must go:
@sparky said in Foster must go:
"Assistant Heads must roll."
If they sacrifice Cane and a couple of assistants it will be a joke. Cane is not the problem here. He's a warrior. You know what you get with him and he's delivering it - massive work ethic, strong metnal attitude, but limited game style. He's awesome, buta poor fit to the loose trio for reasons we've traversed many times.
Whitelock is a dead set legend, but an aging 33 year old who's part of a tight 5 that gets regularly dominated at the top level. He's smart, but picking him probably puts Retallick's head on the block. Honestly, it's nuts. There are no good options any more.
The curtain of silence has been ridiculous. Some of the most critical times in recent AB history and the Kremlin respond by going quiet and pulling Foster from public view. It's treating the public with derision.
To be fair, Sam Cane is a problem as captain if he doesn't command his place in the team anymore - and him getting subbed at the weekend was a bit indicative of that.
Picking Sam Whitelock through to RWC is probably sensible. He's clearly commanding his place and surely will for the next 12 months - I just hope they don't think he has to play every game.
I guess all will be revealed shortly.
My guess:
Cron taking over from Feek.
Schmidt taking over from Plumtree as 2ic with a realignment of responsibilities - not sure who becomes the forwards coach.
Doesn't seem like McLeod's role as defence coach is on the block.
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@Chris-B said in Foster must go:
To be fair, Sam Cane is a problem as captain if he doesn't command his place in the team anymore - and him getting subbed at the weekend was a bit indicative of that.
Picking Sam Whitelock through to RWC is probably sensible. He's clearly commanding his place and surely will for the next 12 months - I just hope they don't think he has to play every game.
You realise your two sentences are dissonant, right? A captain getting hooked is a problem, but a captain you don't expect to play every game isn't?
Honestly, I'd sonner have Cane for 50-60 min, and then understnad the captaincy transfers. It's modern sport, I can live with it. Far rather that than the shambles we're going to see of dropping Cane for issues outside his control.
England used to do this didn't they with the hooker? And SA with Bismarck if I remember rightly? Hell, name some co-captains; Ardie off the bench FFS.
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@Chris-B said in Foster must go:
Yeah - I'm just thinking Plumtree is a strong candidate for the axe and wondering who would be forwards coach if he goes - might have to be someone new?
Hopefully Coventry or Ryan. Either would make a huge improvement. Get that sorted and some of the other issues will disappear too
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@Chris-B said in Foster must go:
@nzzp The supplementary bits are a bit - but the key points aren't.
If Cane can't command the 7 jersey he can't be captain.
He'd be a standout 7 in the right trio, where strenghts are emphasised and weaknesses covered by others. Looking back, this feels a lot like the midfield leading up to 2019 - lots of players, but no clarify about our top combination.
Seriously, the issues with this team are not going to be fixed by wins in SA. They paper over the fundamental cracks. Change is needed, and Foster can't blame the supporting cast indefinitely. In the mean time, we lose two more tests to set up the right team culture and pattern.
The lack of leadership from NZR is disappointing. It appears a hot governance mess.
Our Board
Our Board is charged with setting strategy, direction and policy for New Zealand Rugby, and is ultimately responsible for the decisions and actions of NZR Management and Staff.
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@nzzp I guess all will be revealed, shortly.
I don't think Cane will be dropped from the team - the question for me is whether Savea and/or Papali'i are our best 7s. In my view, Ardie probably is the best 7 - and playing him at 8 because they want him on the field is creating problems.
If I'm right about Plumtree being axed there will presumably be two new faces at the selection table and there might be more new faces in the team than I've been expecting.
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@Chris-B said in Foster must go:
If I'm right about Plumtree being axed there will presumably be two new faces at the selection table and there might be more new faces in the team than I've been expecting.
It might be Feek as well
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/129348883/dramatic-day-looms-for-nz-rugby-as-all-blacks-assistants-and-captain-sam-cane-face-axeIt is understood that Plumtree and Feek did not review favourably following the end-of-year tour in 2021, and players have again been consulted following the 2-1 home series defeat to Ireland.BUT
https://punditarena.com/rugby/eoin-harte/tadhg-furlong-greg-feek-springboks/Tadhg Furlong has praised the influence former Leinster and Ireland scrum coach Greg Feek has had on his career ahead of the Lions’ test series with the Springboks.Something doesn't add up.
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@Chris-B said in Foster must go:
@nzzp I guess all will be revealed, shortly.
I don't think Cane will be dropped from the team - the question for me is whether Savea and/or Papali'i are our best 7s. In my view, Ardie probably is the best 7 - and playing him at 8 because they want him on the field is creating problems.
I'd happily have Ardie at 7 or on the bench;
Dalts/Cane/Ardie at 7
Sotutu/Grace at 8
ScoBa/AIoane at 6
Broadly similar players that you can slot into patterns at 6/8 that you can sub in and out. Sotutu probably adds passing and Dalts running to the repertoire.
Cane is a bloody good test player in the right trio. He has huge defensive strengths and workrate off the charts.
