All Blacks legend Sam Whitelock recently opened up about the challenging period under head coach Ian Foster, a time marked by significant upheavals within the coaching staff. Foster, who took over after the 2019 Rugby World Cup, faced several hurdles, including unprecedented losses to teams like Argentina and Ireland, and a record defeat against South Africa. Despite the pressure to replace him, New Zealand Rugby opted to retain Foster and instead revamped the coaching lineup by bringing in Jason Ryan and Joe Schmidt to replace John Plumtree and Brad Mooar.
Whitelock highlighted the lack of balance in the previous coaching group, emphasizing the importance of having a well-rounded team. "We needed a coaching team that had the best from different groups," he noted. The immediate impact of the new coaches was evident, as the team began to show significant improvements. "It was like a breath of fresh air," Whitelock commented on the change in dynamics.
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