Rugby World Cup, All Blacks-South Africa with the coaches leaving after the final

All Blacks and South Africa, Ian Foster and Jacques Nienaber: the two coaches who will play in the World Cup on Saturday could not have more different stories. The first has gone through 3 years of hell: a negative record of victories (before the world championship it was under 69%, never so bad since 1995), criticism from everywhere, perpetually on the gridiron and suitcases packed since the beginning of the year. The second, on the other hand, loves to work in the shadows, he was Erasmus’ deputy for years and after the World Cup he will return to be the second, on the bench of the very strong Leinster. They have one thing in common: they both hate the spotlight, for different reasons. Foster because despite himself he’s been at it for 3 years, Nienaber because he’s like that. Whatever happens, for the two strongest teams in the world – and for their coaches – it will be the end of an era.

Foster and the All Blacks crisis

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Ian Foster’s All Blacks never fully take off, but reach their lowest point in 2022. In the summer they lose the series against Ireland, and the New Zealand press headlines: “Ian Foster collects defeats like stickers”, then in August l ‘Argentina beats Christchurch and wins for the first time in its history at the home of the All Blacks (in 2020 it happened in Australia, on a neutral pitch) and the defeat unleashes a wave of criticism and hatred towards the coach from the press and fans . It comes to personal attacks and insults, to the point that Julian Savea – brother of vice-captain Ardie and former All Blacks winger – blurts out: “Reading certain things I was ashamed of the way New Zealand treated a human being.” Foster jokes: “I’m losing my hair because of the All Blacks.” As always happens in these cases, the New Zealanders curl up, regroup and ultimately take home the Rugby Championship. Foster’s bench is safe, but it’s clear that his days are now numbered. The New Zealand Federation has already identified his successor for the post-World Cup: it is Scott Robertson, who won everything with the Crusaders.

The ransom

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Despite the problems, New Zealand’s 2023 seems to be going smoothly, but the worst blow comes in the “dress rehearsal” of the World Cup: the All Blacks lose 35-7 against South Africa at Twickenham, the worst defeat in their history. At this point, no one gives credit to Foster’s team anymore, who also lost in their world debut against France, went through due to clear superiority over Italy but in the quarter-finals found Ireland first in the rankings. It seems over, but the All Blacks play the best game of the Foster era, go beyond their limits and knock out the highly favored Irish. The team finds a self-confidence it never had in previous years, in the semi-final they beat Argentina and won the final. Whatever happens, Ian Foster has had his revenge, he has cleaned up his image and will leave the All Blacks bench with his head held high.

Nienaber: the man behind the scenes

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On the other hand, however, there is a man who really doesn’t like the spotlight. It is Jacques Nienaber, Rassie Erasmus’ right-hand man for years, who became head coach after the victory at the 2019 World Cup. The former boss is always there as Director of Rugby, he takes the spotlight, he causes controversy, above all he takes pressure off his colleague who instead he goes into the field and works in silence. Nienaber is loved by all the players: captain Kolisi dotes on him, to the point of saying “I love working with him even when he keeps me out or replaces me, because he is always honest”. It is Nienaber who this summer inflicted on the All Blacks the worst defeat in their history, and at the end of the world semi-final against England, while all the staff hugged each other and went crazy with joy, he remained seated, with his hands on his face to cover the tears of joy. That’s how he is, he doesn’t like the spotlight, and for this reason after the final he will go to Leinster – one of the strongest teams in the world – to be an assistant coach, to work behind the scenes as he has always done. But in Paris, at least for one night, all eyes will be on him, because under his leadership South Africa will play the fourth World Cup in its history.