'All Blacks pack has dented': New attacking coach Jason Ryan takes control
Jason Ryan was enjoying a cold beer in Fiji when All Blacks coach Ian Foster called and asked if he wanted to jump into the rugby furnace. A few days after Foster asked him to put steel into the All Blacks pack after John Plumtree was sacked, Ryan stepped down as front coach of the Crusaders and the Fiji national team. Ryan, who has been in Fiji for the Pacific Nations Cup, said he must seize a golden opportunity to help the All Blacks turn their fortunes around after a 2-1 draw to Ireland. Ella Bates-Hermans/Stuff Jason Ryan joined the All Blacks coaching staff after John Plumtree was sacked. But he also had to break the news to his good friend and Crusader boss Scott Robertson, the man who had helped tie the rocket to Ryan’s coaching career. Yes, Ryan said, it was a difficult conversation at first, but he received Robertson’s blessing: “I am a loyal person. I really care,” Ryan said. “He’s done a lot for me. But… he’s really been supportive of what I wanted.”