Why All Blacks coach Ian Foster called Tuivasa-Sheck for advice
All Blacks coach Ian Foster has sought insight from former NRL star Roger Tuivasa-Sheck on how the Warriors coped with being away from home due to COVID-19 restrictions as his own team prepares for months on the road.
Tuivasa-Sheck was captain of the Warriors - the only New Zealand side in the NRL, who have had to base themselves in Gosford through two seasons and not play at home in Auckland due to border closures and and travel curbs - until his early release in July to commence his rugby union contract.
The All Blacks, now in Perth, may not return to New Zealand until after their northern hemisphere tour wraps up in November.
"I've had a good chat to Roger Tuivasa-Sheck in Auckland before we left about what it was like over there and some of the things that were working," Foster told New Zealand radio station Newstalk ZB.
"Because, particularly the Warriors, they've done an amazing job.
"I know they haven't got the results that they wanted but it's been an amazing circumstance what they've had to go through.
"There have been some lessons out of there."
The All Blacks face the Wallabies in their second match of the Rugby Championship in Perth on Sunday, after thumping them 57-22 at home at Eden Park on August 14 in the second of three Bledisloe Cup Tests.
They then head east to Queensland for the remainder of the Rugby Championship, which organisers have rescheduled several times due to the fluid COVID-19 situation in Australia and New Zealand.
"I think the key is that we don't treat any week as being the same as the last one. We just look at where the group is at and what we feel we need," Foster said.
Latest Comments
Even with absences we still had the cattle to make the playoffs. As it was, we nearly stumbled our way into the top 8. Which shows just how easy it was to get there. And still we failed. As for Razor, there are many instances of him patching up the Crusaders roster. Numerous. Several players I'd never heard of. Also, using AB legend John Afoa was a classic.
But, some of the games we were losing were from schoolboy errors, or downright confusion. Either the players were really dumb (they weren’t) or they were poorly coached. Given the repetitive nature of errors, brain fades, poor decision making, & loose structures, this all lands with the coaching group.
With only six playoff spots now in SR, & Aussie franchises now consolidated to four, 2025 looks like a tight one. I'm picking we'll have to tough it out under Penney & hope for the best.
Go to commentsAgree we need a 10, 12, 13 refresh. ASAP. Well, next season now lol. Reiko should be put back on the wing. He'll be an absolute menace there. Imagine 11 Reiko 14 Clarke 15 Jordan as the backfield unit.
Go to comments