I strongly believe the ABs fall from its previous eminence began with the 2017 drawn series against a mediocre Lions team, followed by an over-looked but equally important event that followed in 2019 – the retirement of NZRU CEO Steve Tew. The man that replaced Tew, Mark Robinson, and the various chairs he served, have shown themselves to be not fit for purpose, out of their depth. The appointment of the current chair – David Kirk – couldn’t have come soon enough.
It’s in this environment that Foster had to operate. Fully endorsed by his predecessor, Steve Hansen, Foster struggled with gaining acceptance from the ABs fan base but this was not helped by Robinson’s lukewarm endorsement of Foster’s management. The core reason for a slippage in AB performance happened long before Foster took charge. The cattle he had at his disposal was several notches below what had been available up until 2017. But Robinson as CEO didn’t go out of his way to spell this out. Rebuilding, from near-scratch should have been the headline. What chance Foster against a timid, inexperienced, self-serving CEO? And so, the chasm mentioned in the current Bounce story became evident.
But the lack of support for Foster from NZRU management is very apparent in Foster’s telling of his story, especially during the SA test series of 2022. Here the senior AB players saved him from being sacked. But still NZRU management decided to confirm Foster’s replacement prior to the end of his tenure, and well before the ABs went to RWC 2023. That is the single biggest statement of the lack of support that NZRU management could have made. And they made it just months before a RWC. Wow!
When David Kirk was announced chair, I breathed a huge sigh of relief. Welcome back competence, relevant experience, commercial acumen, and player-empathy to NZRU management. No way could Robinson continue under Kirk. And so, it will be proved with his planned departure later this year.
I felt for Foster. Whilst he didn’t inspire me as a great coach, the handicap of working under a CEO such as Robinson made his position particularly hard. Perhaps if the NZRU had followed previous policy, and waited until after the RWC 2023 before appointing the next ABs coach, two different events may have occurred: that one-point losing deficit in the final may have been reversed, and perhaps that chap currently coaching the Wallabies would instead be coaching the ABs?
“It’s a travesty that one of the biggest test series in the world is unavailable here.”
The official ICC app has a lovely live Sky UK stream - but no highlights. And if you want highlights the English Cricket Board channel on YouTube (VPN set to England) will give you what you need...
"...I can bore people for hours complaining about the rudimentary and often misleading stats punters are fed."
100% correct Dylan - the one that springs to mind currently are the stats around Ethan Blackadder where his detractors ignore the ones that don't suit them and quote the ones around aspects of the other loose forwards' play that aren't part of his role in the Crusaders game plan.
To quote the old saying - there are lies, damn lies, and statistics.
I strongly believe the ABs fall from its previous eminence began with the 2017 drawn series against a mediocre Lions team, followed by an over-looked but equally important event that followed in 2019 – the retirement of NZRU CEO Steve Tew. The man that replaced Tew, Mark Robinson, and the various chairs he served, have shown themselves to be not fit for purpose, out of their depth. The appointment of the current chair – David Kirk – couldn’t have come soon enough.
It’s in this environment that Foster had to operate. Fully endorsed by his predecessor, Steve Hansen, Foster struggled with gaining acceptance from the ABs fan base but this was not helped by Robinson’s lukewarm endorsement of Foster’s management. The core reason for a slippage in AB performance happened long before Foster took charge. The cattle he had at his disposal was several notches below what had been available up until 2017. But Robinson as CEO didn’t go out of his way to spell this out. Rebuilding, from near-scratch should have been the headline. What chance Foster against a timid, inexperienced, self-serving CEO? And so, the chasm mentioned in the current Bounce story became evident.
But the lack of support for Foster from NZRU management is very apparent in Foster’s telling of his story, especially during the SA test series of 2022. Here the senior AB players saved him from being sacked. But still NZRU management decided to confirm Foster’s replacement prior to the end of his tenure, and well before the ABs went to RWC 2023. That is the single biggest statement of the lack of support that NZRU management could have made. And they made it just months before a RWC. Wow!
When David Kirk was announced chair, I breathed a huge sigh of relief. Welcome back competence, relevant experience, commercial acumen, and player-empathy to NZRU management. No way could Robinson continue under Kirk. And so, it will be proved with his planned departure later this year.
I felt for Foster. Whilst he didn’t inspire me as a great coach, the handicap of working under a CEO such as Robinson made his position particularly hard. Perhaps if the NZRU had followed previous policy, and waited until after the RWC 2023 before appointing the next ABs coach, two different events may have occurred: that one-point losing deficit in the final may have been reversed, and perhaps that chap currently coaching the Wallabies would instead be coaching the ABs?
I can’t believe you don’t have something to say on this https://x.com/StuartBroad8/status/1933771407713849502?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1933771407713849502%7Ctwgr%5Eab0f7a95ba8f1ed2432a70a2533ccf48cab77cdd%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fd-10549616451152971316.ampproject.net%2F2505300108000%2Fframe.html
“It’s a travesty that one of the biggest test series in the world is unavailable here.”
The official ICC app has a lovely live Sky UK stream - but no highlights. And if you want highlights the English Cricket Board channel on YouTube (VPN set to England) will give you what you need...
Shohei Ohtani is returning to pitching after a year hiatus. He is the ultimate machine when it comes to baseball and such a class act.
"...I can bore people for hours complaining about the rudimentary and often misleading stats punters are fed."
100% correct Dylan - the one that springs to mind currently are the stats around Ethan Blackadder where his detractors ignore the ones that don't suit them and quote the ones around aspects of the other loose forwards' play that aren't part of his role in the Crusaders game plan.
To quote the old saying - there are lies, damn lies, and statistics.