'I'll take hit': NZR explain reason why Foster presser cancelled

All Blacks communications boss Jo Malcolm has explained that she cancelled last Sunday’s planned post-Test series media event in Wellington, not under-fire Ian Foster. The speculation surrounding the position of the New Zealand head coach was further inflamed in the wake of last weekend’s 2-1 Test series defeat to Ireland when it emerged that Foster would not be holding the long traditional Sunday debrief, exposing him to further criticism.

The briefing was cancelled without any prior warning on Sunday, leaving media waiting outside the All Blacks hotel, and it soon emerged that even Foster was in the dark as to what was going on as he claimed while boarding the team bus that he had “no idea” why the event had been called off.   

Further criticism of Foster and the All Blacks fed into this vacuum created by the no-notice call off and it was only on Tuesday - two days later - when a reason emerged why the media conference had so suddenly been binned. 

Writing on Linkedin, Malcolm said: "After Mike Jaspers' crack at me this morning, I am losing faith in people’s ability to be journalists, PR people and humans. For the record, I decided not to demand that All Blacks head coach Ian Foster front late on Sunday morning. Not him. I felt he needed a day or so to work out what he wanted to say and not just be a punching bag for the media who, let’s be clear, wanted blood. 

“Let’s not pretend there was a higher purpose here. Let’s also be clear fans deserve to know what is going on. I’m very clear on that. The timing? Well, he is a human being who I wanted to protect. 

“I now understand why Naomi Osaka refused to do press conferences. It’s brutal when you lose and yes, tough questions need to be asked. Ian Foster and Sam Cane have been bagged so much in the media that I felt they needed a little space to think. My bad? Hindsight? I’ll take that hit. I am here to look after people as well as do comms. 

“And here is a little advice: next time you see a fellow practitioner going through a really tough time, maybe, just maybe, think before you join the media in a massive pile-on. Maybe just send them a message saying... wow tough week. Hope you are ok.”

Malcolm has been working at the New Zealand Rugby union since August 2011 but it was only in April this year that she inherited the role of All Blacks media manager from the long-serving Joe Locke, who finished up in the position after 14 years working with the teams coached by Graham Henry, Steve Hansen and now Foster.

At the time, Locke wrote: “After 14 years with the All Blacks management and 20 years with New Zealand Rugby, I’m leaving my job for some new challenges and adventures. I have had a fantastic time and I am proud of everything the All Blacks have achieved in that time, off the field as much as on.”

Locke’s exit meant that the three-game series versus Ireland was the first time Malcolm became the main point of contact for any All Blacks media-related queries.