Former All Blacks head coach Ian Foster disagrees with claims made by Sir Steve Hansen that New Zealand was “robbed” of the 2023 Rugby World Cup final against South Africa.
New Zealand’s journey to the final in Paris saw them face familiar rivals, the Springboks. Despite a strong performance, key moments proved costly for the All Blacks. Sam Cane’s red card in the 29th minute put the team under pressure, while missed opportunities from Richie Mo’unga and Jordie Barrett contributed to their narrow 12-11 defeat. Controversial decisions in the match added to the tension, including Siya Kolisi’s yellow card for a high tackle and the disallowed try for Mo’unga due to a knock-on by Ardie Savea.
Following the match, Hansen, who led New Zealand to World Cup victory in 2015, argued that poor officiating decisions unfairly determined the outcome, claiming the All Blacks were “robbed” of the title.
Foster, however, has a different perspective. Reflecting on the final, he expressed pride in how the team performed and the progress they made to reach that stage. Speaking to Martin Devlin on DSPN, Foster emphasized that while the loss was disappointing, focusing on external factors like refereeing decisions is unproductive. He believes that attributing the defeat to being “robbed” risks becoming cynical and avoids responsibility.
Foster explained that instead of blaming the officials, the team must focus on what they could have done better to win the match. He noted that finals are inherently dramatic and filled with tension, which is exactly what unfolded in Paris. For him, the ultimate reason for the defeat was that the team fell just short of being good enough on the day.
Since stepping down as All Blacks coach, Foster has taken a break from international rugby. Although he received offers to coach other teams, he turned them down, as he was not ready to coach against New Zealand. He has now re-entered professional rugby, joining Japanese club Toyota Verblitz alongside Hansen. The two share a longstanding coaching partnership, having worked together from 2012 to 2019 before Foster succeeded Hansen as All Blacks head coach.
Foster’s tenure with New Zealand Rugby was not without challenges. In 2022, following a series defeat to Ireland, there was significant pressure to replace him with Scott Robertson. However, the players’ support for Foster ultimately led to him retaining his role. Despite the turbulence, Foster said he has moved on from the difficult period, choosing not to dwell on decisions beyond his control. He acknowledged that while he has not forgotten how events unfolded, he is determined not to let past grievances define him.
Foster concluded by saying that while he disagreed with certain actions and decisions during his time as coach, he remained focused on staying true to himself and moving forward with his career.