Ian Foster says he expects to remain in charge of the All Blacks after receiving the backing of his players, with his fate to be decided in the coming days.
An impressive 35-23 win over the Springboks in Johannesburg on Saturday relieved some of the pressure on Foster as New Zealand bounced back from three straight defeats.
But New Zealand Rugby chief executive Mark Robinson subsequently refused to back Foster publicly, fuelling speculation that he could be replaced by successful Crusaders coach Scott Robertson.
An announcement is expected by NZR later this week, with the All Blacks next in action against Argentina in Christchurch on 27 August.
“I haven’t heard or read those comments, but he’s got a job to do,” Foster told reporters in Johannesburg when asked about Robinson’s remarks. “I’m about to hop on a plane and go home.
MORE: Foster fires back at ‘vicious’ critics
“I’ll be given feedback, no doubt, but my expectations are that I’m the All Blacks head coach and later in the week I’ll be going to Christchurch and assembling the team until I’m told different.”
Pundits called for the 57-year-old to be sacked after the All Blacks twice lost at home to Ireland last month and were beaten by the Boks, before winning the Rugby Championship Test at Ellis Park on Saturday.
Foster said that while it’s unclear whether he has the support of NZR bosses, the team is behind him: “I certainly feel that I have the support and backing of the All Blacks.
“There’s still processes New Zealand Rugby want to go through. To coach this team, you have to have categoric support.”
Loose forward Ardie Savea and captain Sam Cane gave Foster their full support.
ALSO: All Blacks gain ground on Boks
“This performance was for all of us, but for me, that’s my coach, I back him 100%,” Savea said. “He has been under a lot of pressure.
“I know ‘Foz’ [Foster] doesn’t want to make it about himself, but I just want everyone to know that all the players have got his back.”
Cane, who scored the opening try on Saturday in a vastly improved All Blacks performance, also expects Foster to remain head coach.
“It’s hard when you know what’s going on in camp. You know it’s a happy camp that’s working hard and you sometimes feel [the criticism] is unwarranted,” said Cane. “We fully expect to carry on with Foz as head coach at this stage.”
© Agence France-Presse
Photo: Hannah Peters/Getty Images
