Former All Blacks coach Ian Foster has signed on as a member of the historic Australian and New Zealand Invitational Teams facing the British and Ireland Lions in Adelaide.
Rugby Australia (RA) announced on Thursday that Foster is “but not necessarily the head coach” of AU/NZ dressing staff, but the Governing Body also confirmed the schedule for the final nine games.
The team may prove veteran Cartley Beale’s final farewell to Australian rugby, but players from Super Rugby Pacific franchises will also be widely considered.
But what Kiwis are saying they’ve wasted a bit of time accepting the offer to come on board was an addition to the AU/NZ team where Foster stole the headline.
“It was a great opportunity, the Lions series, they were iconic and special, and this was a new innovation to bring this team and get the opportunity to get involved in it,” Foster told Japanese reporters.
“So I’m happy to say yes to Ben (Whitaker) pretty quickly, and recently hit (Walraby coach) Joe (Schmidt) and had a good thread for him about the roles in this game and his bigger program.
Adelaide’s oval collision serves as the Lions’ final warm-up game in the first Test a week later in Brisbane, giving Schmidt the opportunity to see his wider Wallabies team members, or players around them, in action against world-class opposition.
Foster has yet to be explained how the RA wanted the AU/NZ team to split between Australia and New Zealand, but his personal connections with multiple former blacks who are now stolen trade in Japan, a foster parent coach, suggest that Match Day 23 could have a World Cup winner.
“Yeah, I’m (I’m getting a wish list). I don’t want to share it early. So this is obviously a selected team in Rugby Australia and I’ll obviously help from this part of the world and New Zealand perspective,” Foster said.
“But it makes sure it’s really strong enough to be competitive. It’s not a festival game. I think it’s New Jersey, like I said, that’s a very special series, and no one wears it.
“I was involved in the 2017 Lions series. I know how big they are, how special they are. And there’s nothing like a DUD game. So there’s probably a lot of players who want to get involved.
“If you look at players based in New Zealand in Japan, there are some of the types of people who are really good targets for this type of game, like Aaron Smith and Richie Moga.
Of course, there is the issue of Japan-based players getting permission from their respective clubs. The RA could take the insurance policy to cover the contract of a player injured in equipment.
While it may not be possible to see only those Foster can use from an Australian perspective, given the fact that Schmidt handed out more than 19 Test debuts in 2024, there could be at least a few Australians with international experience with the AU/NZ team.
You can also use your 2025 Test Credentials as a reward for players who miss the main Wallabies team and may offer Schmidt one last look.
“I first discussed it with Joe, and in this case, whatever they want, we know we’ll do. And I expect you’ll have an entire Super Rugby campaign you should go to, so there’s potential injuries, potential changes, all sorts of things.”
“But the Wallabies imagine when they choose a team they’ll keep that team together, yeah, I think it’s because they have a lot to do.
“They have three tests to prepare, three big ones in a row in a row. So I expect this to be more people in their wider team fringe.
There are all the time wallabies that Foster knows that he acknowledges that he wants to come in July.
“Well, I don’t really know because I can’t say much because they might be in Wallabies, so I don’t really know. But I don’t really know. But there’s a Nagoya called Michael Hooper. He’s now pretty good. “By the way, I haven’t told him that yet. This would be a surprise to him.”
“But I think you have a lot of young people. You have a lot of people who have a little speed on your wings. It’s a little rugby player, but they’re really elusive and really skilled, so you’ll know if they’re in the Wallaby or if they have a chance with this team.
“I think you’re really fast, athletic and loose forward, like (Charlie) Kale, like those people, like them in the Wallaby.
“We’ll wait and see. I’ll wait and see who will deliver Rugby Australia, but certainly I’ll be keen to have a conversation nearby at the time.”