Ask Kamo: Foster offers exciting options for All Blacks

Ian Foster. Photo / Getty Images

Opinion

Hi Ian,
Just a little concerned that Steve Hansen would pick Ian Foster as his assistant coach when he could not do a lot with the Chiefs. Isn't that a bit of a worry now he is with the All Blacks? I think personally it is a bad choice. But I guess no one is going to admit to this.
Susie Reweti

Susie, I can tell you Steve Hansen trusts and has a wonderful relationship with Ian Foster. The players who have been coached by Ian respect what he can offer a backline and that for me is a strong base for this partnership. They think about the game in the same way and it's going to be really exciting to see what style this team plays with the great talent we have.

Hi Ian,
Great to get this opportunity to ask you a question. I'm always staggered as to why Liam Messam misses out on the All Blacks. To me he's a great player, big and as tough as nails, puts in the big hits, lays his body on the line, leads by example and has a good rugby brain and must be one of the best loose forwards in the world.

Certainly he matched it play-for-play with the best that the Bulls could offer. I can't say I've noticed Sam Cane outshining Liam either, so far. Obviously I'm missing something about his play that the selectors don't like? I look forward to your comments.

Cheers, Tony Fox

Tony, there is no doubt about it, Liam is having a great season with the Chiefs. He is leading by example and doing everything his team requires of him and he should be immensely proud of the way he is going. But the reality is, good players miss out on the All Blacks all the time when there is a depth of talent in certain areas. In this side, there was only room for five loose forwards in the squad of 30. What we all want to see from Liam is that he keeps his standards high and becomes the next cab off the rank.Hi Kamo,

What's happened to Rene Ranger? Two seasons ago I thought he'd become a very powerful international centre, notwithstanding his "history". Is he a result of Auckland's culture of not being able to handle a rough country boy, or his inability to learn?

Chris Alexander

Chris, Rene Ranger was back to his explosive best last Saturday night against the Chiefs and he was playing under extreme pain with a broken rib, which shows the determination of the man. For me, if Ranger wants to kick on to the great heights we had all hoped, he needs to work on his game sense. That is, instinctively knowing where to be, when to pass or kick and sensing breaks that are about to be made that he needs to be part of.

Once this side of his game develops then the rough country boy from the North will fit into any team or culture.Everyone talks about Dan Carter as the best first five-eighths in the world, yet Aaron Cruden is closing that gap fast. Do you think there is a chance of losing Cruden overseas before the next World Cup if he isn't given substantial game time and test starts to prove his worth, especially with DC's contract running through to the next cup?

Jarryd Symons, Upper Hutt

Jarryd, Aaron Cruden is contracted to the Chiefs and the NZRU through until 2014, so we have no chance of losing him overseas any time before then. I also suspect he will be given a lot more game time in the black jersey before that date as we must learn from our mistakes of the past and ensure we have adequate replacements ready to go when our key players retire. The battle for the 10 jersey is going to be a great one to follow over the next four years.Hi Ian,

I have just watched a Chiefs player get sin-binned for punching an opposing Blues' player. According to the Herald rugby writer, Chris Rattue, "there wasn't any serious provocation". Every review of the incident shows the Blues' player deliberately holding the "puncher" for quite a period - long enough to collect a few accepted "arm knock-aways" - but no official intervention. It was obviously either unseen or ignored. Surely, illegally preventing a player doing his defensive duties (more so when on tight defence) is highly provocative. How is the player expected to react?

Ivor Davies, Opotiki

Ivor, for the Chiefs player Mike Fitzgerald to react the way he did last weekend there had to be provocation and that was in the form of jersey-pulling, which we are seeing a lot more and which is very frustrating for the players involved.

I liked Mike's aggression levels initially to get rid of the Blues player with the arm knock-aways, but then he unfortunately continued with some swinging arms and that was ill discipline that nearly cost his team the game. Next time he may have to get vocal to attract the referee or wear a tighter jersey that can't be pulled.