Carl Hayman: Huge pressure on Ian Foster, results got him in trouble

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All Blacks coach Ian Foster has come under pressure after a series of poor test results.

Former All Blacks prop Carl Hayman believes there is “huge pressure” on coach Ian Foster in South Africa although feels replacing him with Scott Robertson is “subtle”.

The All Blacks faced the Springboks twice over the next two weekends following a historic draw lost to Ireland in New Zealand.

The All Blacks’ decline continues to make headlines around the world, especially in France which is hosting next year’s World Cup and where Hayman remains a revered figure after his glorious days with Toulon.

“There is huge pressure on Foster and the result puts him in trouble,” Hayman, who played 45 tests for New Zealand told French newspaper Midi Olympique.

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“But I will give him time to finish the year, to keep his chances and work going during the Rugby Championship and then the fall tour. At that point, it is time to take stock and make the right decision. Then, what is the other solution?

“A lot of people are pushing Scott Robertson. He’s had some pretty great results with the Crusaders and Robertson has said that if he doesn’t get a job at the head of the All Blacks, he’ll try an overseas experience.

“This makes this file very difficult to manage for NZR. Over the past 10 or 20 years, New Zealand has seen many of its best coaches go overseas. In Europe, in particular.

“This is a real problem for our rugby. All these great coaches put their talents to the benefit of other countries. Therefore, Robertson’s situation is of great concern in this country,” he told Midi Olympique.

Things

All Blacks supporter Carl Hayman, left, knows what it’s like to be on a struggling All Blacks team.

Hayman knows all about the All Blacks team operating under pressure. The 42-year-old has featured in two World Cup failures – a 2003 semi-final exit to Australia and a shock 2007 quarter-final defeat to France.

He feels the All Blacks are currently in a rebuilding phase after long successes with Sir Graham Henry and Sir Steve Hansen.

“A lot of people are very critical of the All Blacks. It’s been a long time since we’ve had such difficult times. There is frustration and the supporters are very vocal. I try to keep a little more perspective,” says Hayman.

“I believe that professional sport is made of cycles. New Zealand is often dominant, it’s true, and they really had a great period after the 2007 flop. It was the starting point of an extraordinary era. But the heroes of the 2011 and 2015 titles have now retired. We have to rebuild. This is our current cycle. It takes time.”

Hayman, one of more than 100 former rugby players who are taking legal action against World Rugby and England and Wales’ national governing bodies for what they say is a failure to protect them from permanent injury caused by repeated concussions over the course of their careers, believes All The Blacks still have time to turn their fortunes around at next year’s World Cup.

In fact, according to him, it could have happened in an actual tournament, it had happened in the previous World Cup.

“History shows us that many things can happen in a year. The World Cup favorites are not always winners, far from it. The opposite is also true,” Hayman told Midi Olympique.

“In 2011, for example, France reached the final after failing in the group stage and losing to Tonga. The final, France should have won it, if we’re being honest… It shows how quickly a dynamic can be reversed. It’s not too late for New Zealand.”

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