TOUGH CROWD
One of the benefits of being stuck in managed isolation at the luxurious So hotel in downtown Auckland is that Ian Foster has had a lot of time for reflection. His turbulent first year as All Blacks’ coach has been met with scrutiny at every turn.
It’s early December and the team has recently returned from Australia, finishing the season by winning both the Bledisloe Cup and the Tri Nations trophy. But those victories aren’t what Foster’s early tenure will be remembered for. When supporters and commentators look back at New Zealand rugby in 2020, it’s the shocking loss to Argentina that sticks in the memory. “Shambolic”, one columnist wrote. Sack him, demanded The New Zealand Herald’s Chris Rattue.
Still, a little lost among the criticism is that the team has racked up two early tournament victories, which prompts the question: Has everyone been a bit unfair on Ian Foster?
It’s no secret that Foster, 55, wasn’t a unanimous choice for Steve Hansen’s
