'Should of been Scott Robertson' - Fans and media react to Ian Foster's appointment as the new All Blacks head coach
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Ian Foster's appointment as the new All Blacks head coach hasn't been a popular pick in New Zealand with a number of fans reacting negatively to the announcement on Wednesday.
54-year-old Foster will lead the All Blacks into a new era, after eight years as Assistant Head Coach of the team. He has been tasked with leading the side for the next two years with some fans speculating that he is holding down the position until Warren Gatland is done with the British and Irish Lions in 2021.
2 years...I cant help but feel NZR are still holding onto hope for Warren Gatland. 2 years takes him beyond the Lions tour, a role he'd never give up for anyone. 2022 would see him back with the Chiefs and probably open for promotion 🤔 #AllBlacks
— Rugby Globe (@Rugby_Globe) December 11, 2019
Great news for anyone keen to see Warren Gatland appointed as All Blacks coach after the next Lions tour. https://t.co/xlgD2iSrqp
— Winston Aldworth (@WinstonAldworth) December 11, 2019
Some felt Foster just wasn't the right man for the job and that the All Blacks won't succeed with some even saying that the All Blacks could lose the Bledisloe Cup.
This isn't good.
— Hamish (@FPL_NZ) December 11, 2019
Expecting another England vs South Africa final at the next RWC.#AllBlacks https://t.co/YfOvdQiwKo
🤦♂️ say goodbye to the Bledisloe Cup
— Coco&jumbo (@CocoandJumbo) December 11, 2019
Enjoy the Bledisloe Cup for the next few years Australia #canweswapcoaches
— Shaun Dayman (@shaunnzht) December 11, 2019
While others feel as if Crusaders head coach Scott Robertson should have got the role.
YUCK, poor Robertson clearly the best coach and misses out to Ian Foster of all coaches. What a sham this whole process has been - Razor was no chance and the other 24 invited to apply knew they were no chance too. Id be gutted if he was coaching the chiefs bt nz 😭😭😭
— Ben (@2legit2dunk) December 11, 2019
Scott Robertson... ☹️
— Mitch McCann (@MitchMcCannNZ) December 11, 2019
- 3x Super Rugby titles (First to win as player and coach)
- 2x NPC titles
- 1x RWC U20 Title
- Former All Black
Bad decision. Should of been Scott Robertson🤷♂️🤷♂️
— Christian Catley (@CatleyChristian) December 11, 2019
Bad new. Scott robertson was the best choice. Fortunetly he has only a contract for 2 years. So if he is not good scott robertson Will be the coach the next time
— zyani driss (@driss_zyani) December 11, 2019
Congrats to Ian Foster on his appointment as the new All Blacks Head Coach.
— #RugbyCrusaders (@RugbyCrusaders) December 11, 2019
Not appointing Scott Robertson is the All Blacks' loss 🤨 and is fantastic for the Crusaders! 😃👌🏽 We get to keep Razor for at least two more seasons! 🙌🏽😍 #crusadeon 🔴⚫️
NZR CEO Mark Robinson acknowledged that Scott Robertson was also interviewed for the role.
“As someone who knows ‘Razor’ well as a former teammate, he was a very impressive candidate and these decisions are never easy. We know Razor is an outstanding coach and I have no doubt he’ll have a big future in our game at international level.”
Meanwhile, some in the rugby media world also voiced their opinions on the situation.
Jamie Pandaram of the Daily Telegraph tweeted. "Ian Foster named as the new All Blacks head coach for two years (2020-21). Many rival teams will be relieved the Kiwis didn't give the job to Scott Robertson,"
Foster didn't shy away from acknowledging the reaction when speaking to media in Auckland. He said that he knew he some work to do in gaining the public's confidence and support.
"I've got a job now to reinvent myself a bit with the public, with the media," Foster said. "I've been eight years as an assistant coach, my job was to be the best assistant coach that the All Blacks needed me to be.
"Now it's time for you to see me in a new light and that's up to me to show you that I'm innovative, I've got a sense of direction of where I want this team to go and I'm extremely passionate about adding a new touch to it."