Under-fire All Blacks coach Ian Foster. Photo: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
All Blacks defend coach after ‘disturbing’ social media abuse
Former All Blacks winger Julian Savea has slammed the social media abuse that has been directed at under-fire coach Ian Foster.
Under-fire All Blacks coach Ian Foster. Photo: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
Last week it emerged that All Blacks coach Ian Foster has reportedly been told to step down if the team doesn’t make improvements in South Africa.
New Zealand are coming off the back of a humbling series defeat against Ireland, while they then suffered a historic loss to the Springboks last Saturday.
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There have been serious question marks hanging over the balance and quality of the current All Blacks squad, and Foster has increasingly come under fire since taking over the top job, while two of his assistant coaches – John Plumtree and Brad Mooar – were recently sacked.
According to a report in the New Zealand Herald, NZR chief executive Mark Robinson held a tense meeting with Foster, telling the coach that if performances and results don’t improve in South Africa, he will be expected to resign.
Part of New Zealand Rugby’s desire for Foster to resign is a reluctance to incur any more costs from contract terminations, but it’s believed that the 57-year-old has insisted the governing body must fire him if they want him to step away.
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With Foster facing increasing criticism and online abuse, former All Blacks winger Julian Savea has now stepped up to say that some of the comments have gone too far.
“Shocked and disturbed at some of the comments and remarks I’ve seen and heard about Ian Foster on social media lately,” Savea wrote on his Twitter account.
“In a country where mental health is a big issue, where 72% of suicides are men and a high number of depression amongst men, you would think people would be a bit kinder and think about their words before they make remarks on someone’s integrity, appearance and character, especially when they don’t know them on a personal level.
“I’m ashamed that this is how a human is treated and dragged in the media here in NZ.”
By midday on Wednesday, Savea’s post had received over 3,000 likes on Twitter, while other All Blacks TJ Perenara and Ngani Laumape also endorsed what Savea had said. Former Springboks assistant coach Gary Gold also commented that he agreed 100%.
The under-fire All Blacks coach has also received support from others
Savea’s call for the public to back off when it comes to Foster echoes that of former Scotland coach Matt Williams who said the public and media response was embarrassing after the series against Ireland.
“Ian Foster has suffered far more public criticism and humiliation than any coach should be forced to endure for a sporting defeat,” he wrote in a column for the Irish Times.
“Not for the first time, the reaction to defeat by the New Zealand media and their wider rugby community has exposed a deep flaw of character. The treatment of Foster by his own community has been nothing short of shameful. As a coach, criticism comes with the badge but the personal vilification he has had to endure is simply not acceptable.”
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