(AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) APIan Foster is set to remain as All Blacks head coach until his contract expires after next year’s World Cup, saved in part by New Zealand’s Rugby Championship win over South Africa last weekend. Some observers believed the win came just in time to save Foster, who became head coach in 2019 and has guided the All Blacks to 17 wins in 26 tests for a 65% success rate, the worst by a New Zealand head coach in the professional era. “No doubt it’s been a hard time, but you’ve got to be in the here and now.”In a small concession to Foster’s many detractors, New Zealand-born former Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt has been given a more hands-on coaching role under Foster. The All Blacks had never lost a test to Ireland in New Zealand until July, when they lost the three-test series 2-1. An independent committee was formed to appoint the new head coach but Foster was the only candidate to receive an interview.

Source: The Herald August 17, 2022 10:04 UTC