Mexted's critique centers on the decision by NZR to announce Robertson as the successor before the 2023 Rugby World Cup. He shared his dismay on a DSPN podcast with Martin Devlin, questioning the wisdom of such a move.
"I can't believe the naivety of the people who made that decision,"
Mexted remarked. "It was just incredible that they thought they could name a new coach before the Rugby World Cup – that is just lunacy."The timing of this announcement, according to Mexted, likely undermined Foster’s position, depriving him of full support from the board at a critical juncture. Despite these challenges, Foster's performance at the World Cup was commendable, with the All Blacks narrowly missing out on victory.
"And having been in the team, I remember many occasions where teams were announced, and there were guys that were pretty bloody upset that weren’t in the team, which is fair enough, but the key is to keep everybody involved, and that’s probably one of the things that Razor was really good at, but Ian Foster was outstanding."
In contrast to Foster's rocky tenure, Mexted pointed out the resilience of Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus, who also faced significant challenges upon his return to South Africa. Unlike Foster, Erasmus fought hard to gain and maintain the support of the South African Rugby Union, eventually gaining enough leverage to shape the team's direction freely. "It took him some time, but he’s won them all over and he’s doing whatever he wants and he’s doing it well, you know, and he’s powerful," Mexted observed, highlighting the stark differences in administrative support between the two rugby powerhouses.
The narrative of Foster's and Erasmus's coaching careers underscores the crucial role of national rugby administrations in shaping the success trajectories of their teams. As the rugby world continues to evolve, the stories of these two coaches will likely serve as important lessons in leadership, resilience, and the complex dynamics of professional sports management.