If this is the first piece on the All Blacks head coaching subject that you are reading from yours truly, let me inform for reading awareness, I have been team Razor since the loss versus England at the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

If you rightly understand no one has a neutral interpretive lens, this is my looking glass, discerning the best way forward in this All Blacks head coaching debate.

This matter has become more situationally complicated, because (1) the proper time to take this change was unwisely side-stepped because of the proximity to the Republic leg, in the Rugby Championship, (2) the impact of a comeback victory at Ellis Park, coupled with (3) an emotional relief and over-exuberance that seems to have obscured the cause-and-effect for this victory, and (4) a longer term amnesia of the All Blacks playing trajectory, which (5) was reflective of the leadership decisions round coaching personnel and player selections.

Simple really!

To put this increasingly convoluted debate into a more singular frame, the following is how I would explain the essential question on the head coach, which is around winning the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

(A) Option One is now long gone, but was the original intended crew, leading through to the big event in France. They had been contractually locked in, where these were fairly recently confirmed, and contracts extended.

Of course, this has Ian Foster as head coach, and Messrs Plumtree and Mooar as Assistant sidekicks.

Potential to win RWC2023? Unlikely, and maybe that is at very best, but thankfully we won’t have to test.

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(B) Ian Foster as head coach, but now with Jase Ryan added in as Assistant, and potentially another future name.

Potential to win RWC2023? Possible. And I think that is fair. It is certainly risen since the second test in South Africa.

I say this mostly because of the impact of Ryan, but also as a recognition that forwards decide who wins a test match, while backs by how much, as the cliche goes. But it is a fundamentally sound line. I could also add that adversity has brought this playing unit together. This is a growing vibe. If it continues, it could make this proposal more emphatic.

But at this stage, my position should be mostly viewed as recognition of my belief in Jase Ryan. You only need to listen for a minute to know he has it. He understands how to get his message across. Yes, there is rugby nous, but most people at the elite level have the facts, but can you communicate and prepare your troops so that they can best execute?  Ryan has a proven track record. It would not surprise me if someone like Sam Whitelock told Foster that Ryan was the man they required, as the feedback hadn’t been so good on Plumtree.

This Ryan development provides little positive insight on Foster as this seems like it was more required. We already know “Fozzy” is a good bloke and has strong character assets. I think these have been reaffirmed through this saga.

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(C) Scott Robertson as head coach, Jase Ryan as Assistant, and maybe Leon MacDonald, Jason Holland and others thrown in.

Potential to win RWC2023? Probable.

You may think that is a big call when a new coach is just starting and under such troubling circumstances, and where the main event is only some thirteen months away. In many respects, it normatively is. But I am not under the impression the man affectionately known as “Razor” is your everyday coaching cat.

When this is combined with the New Zealand rugby talent pool and depth that is still world leading, coupled with Robertson and Ryan’s ability to get create a winning culture that draws maximum value, which is undisputed and maximised through their combined history and force, including other names to positively boot, I believe this is our wisest way forward to tackle events in France.

The NZRU cannot get stuck in an entirely detached now. While looking twelve months backs will be different from twelve months forward as Jase Ryan has been added, small margins will separate at the business end of a tournament.

Razor has the ability to create such a conducive winning culture that when this is coupled with the best technical coaches, supreme rugby talent, and unlimited resources, the results will take care of themselves.

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I am prepared to call it now. Because they get the best out of their players, the trajectory for the opposition would be scary.

Sometimes getting the correct insight is gained when asking the opposition. I think if you asked, most would prefer the All Blacks to keep Foster.

The typical Kiwi conservatism must be shelved for a brave vision. Objectivity does not care about anyone’s feelings. The future will not worry about the past.

It is time for the NZRU to ignore the noise, and make a call that isn’t moved by the emotion of a single win, but is willing to ask the harder more fundamental questions, removing confusion related to sentiment.

Razor is the future!

The time has gone past nigh to embrace.

Make it happen board, we are getting bored with the delay!

What Say You?

Until Next Time

iamjonnyking