Foster graduates to the big time

Long-serving Chiefs coach Ian Foster has been named as All Blacks assistant coach to back newly-appointed head coach Steve Hansen in a re-organisation at the helm of the world champion side.

Foster will take charge of the backline as he assumes the position of Hansen's right-hand man which is a slight change from the three-pronged coaching team that Hansen formed alongside Wayne Smith under Graham Henry.

Former All Blacks flyhalf Grant Fox becomes an All Blacks selector and former provincial coach Brian 'Aussie' McLean, Samoa's assistant coach at the recent World Cup, will be the All Blacks specialist defence coach.

A specialist skills coach is still to be added to the team in the New Year but incumbent Mick Byrne is the heavy favourite at this stage in the process which has gone exactly according to script so far.

Foster coached the Chiefs in more than 100 Super Rugby matches from 2004 through to this year, taking them to the finals in 2009, and has also co-coached the Junior All Blacks.

"This is a great honour to work with the All Blacks. I'm thankful for the faith that Steve Hansen and the board have shown in me," he said.

"I think the time I have had with the Chiefs and the Junior All Blacks has given me a taste of coaching at an international level, and this is a huge privilege for me as I look to fill Smithy's (Wayne Smith) big shoes."

Hansen said he has called in Fox as a selector because he is "not only a legend of our game but also one of the most astute people".

"I wanted to find someone independent from the team who had the ability to break down a player's game, analyse their strengths and weaknesses and bring a fresh viewpoint to the selection process, and he's that man," explained Hansen.

AFP