Joe Schmidt’s loyalty to Ian Foster prevented the All Blacks head coach from being replaced by Scott Robinson in August.
The New Zealand Herald reports that after the All Blacks’ 2-1 home Test series defeat by Ireland and before the team left for two matches against the Springboks in South Africa, Foster met with NZ Rugby chief executive Mark Robinson and head of professional rugby Chris Lendrum at his house.
The meeting was tense, with Foster initially resisting their request to axe assistant coaches John Plumtree and Brad Mooar, and he was told that the All Blacks would have to win at least one of their Tests in South Africa.
New Zealand suffered a 26-10 defeat by the Springboks in Nelspruit on 7 August and the next day NZ Rugby asked Crusaders head coach Scott Robertson what his “in theory” coaching team would be should the All Blacks job become available.
Robertson named Leon MacDonald (Blues head coach), Jason Ryan (All Blacks forwards coach), Jason Holland (Hurricanes head coach) and Scott Hansen (Crusaders assistant coach).
However, NZ Rugby felt that lineup lacked heavyweight international experience, a problem that could be solved if room could be made for Joe Schmidt – the former Ireland head coach who had been persuaded by Foster to become an All Blacks selector.
NZ Rugby asked Schmidt to meet with Robertson, and while he felt uncomfortable doing so, he fulfilled his employer’s request.
After they had met, Schmidt ruled out working with Robertson, citing his loyalty to Foster.
That, combined with the All Blacks’ win over the Springboks at Ellis Park, tipped the scales in Foster’s favour, and he was given NZ Rugby’s backing until the end of the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
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