Chris Rattue: Normal rules don't apply to Ian Foster's contract extension

OPINION:

Covid has proved kind to the All Blacks head coaching career of Ian Foster.

After a borderline shocker first season in charge and a very soft landing in 2021 New Zealand Rugby has jumped the gun mid-season, and before a tough northern tour takes place, by extending Foster's initial two-year contract through to the next World Cup.

The decision would be baffling in most circumstances, but New Zealand Rugby (and the old New Zealand Rugby Union) have always been a law unto themselves.

As major tests go, Foster hasn't really faced one and been reappointed never-the-less.

Does he have the goods or not? Little has been proved either way. There have been some concerning signs, and to be fair a few positive ones.

But his 73 per cent win record (8W, 2L,1D), which on the face of it seems quite good, is misleading.

The timeline since and including the 2019 World Cup is this....

Foster was part of a coaching team that bombed at the last World Cup via an embarrassing semifinal loss to England.

This left him skating on thin ice in the chase to become Steve Hansen's successor, but the NZR's succession obsession saved him.

He certainly had the odd high point in his first year in charge. But there were also significant lows in 2020. These included just a 50 per cent win record and the All Blacks' first ever defeat to Argentina, a team so undercooked those Pumas almost qualified as steak tartare.

Covid restrictions helped present Foster with a first-up assignment this year against a Tongan team of club standard. Then came a less than totally convincing series win over Fiji.

All Blacks Coach Ian Foster. Photo / Photosport.co.nz

Because of Covid, the All Blacks then played both tests against Australia at Fortress Eden Park, where they never lose. Their hefty wins over a wan Wallaby outfit were built on the visitors' first-test goalkicking woes and intercept tries.

The transtasman rugby wrangle meant Foster didn't have to face a tricky assignment in Australia, where the Wallabies have quite a bit of success against the All Blacks before his contract was extended. He hasn't even led a team to South Africa or Europe.

On the positive side, I would say there are signs he is showing some much-needed selection precision, particularly at No. 10 and maybe the loose forwards.

And while Aaron Smith, Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock keep chugging along, he's in good hands.

But Foster has done nothing yet to prove he is a top drawer All Blacks coach, even if his many friends in high places have been wielding all the public influence they can on his behalf.

So, what were NZR looking at in 2020, and 2021 so far?

Or, why on earth didn't they simply give him a four-year term in the first place if they were going to operate on such scant evidence?

In my opinion, the general scrutiny of Foster has been a tad soft compared to All Black coaches past.

In a world of so much uncertainty because of the pandemic, maybe normal rules don't apply.