Leading Under Pressure - The Inside Story of Ian Foster's All Blacks - Ian Foster

The inside story of Ian Foster's All Blacks for fans of LEGACY and THE ART OF WINNING

'A stunningly honest and insightful account of what it takes to coach the All Blacks.' - Gregor Paul

Appointed as head coach 2019, Ian Foster led the All Blacks through one of the most tumultuous periods of the team's 120-year history.

Leading Under Pressure is a fascinating look into the pressure cooker inner-sanctum of the world's most famous rugby team. With revelations about Foster's time in the job, it also delves into the politics of rugby, and the events preceding the dramatic 2023 Rugby World Cup.  

Not only does it contain explosive revelations about Foster's time in the job, but it delves deep into the background and character of a coach to show how he coped with an impossible situation and yet came out with the nation's respect and his reputation enhanced.

Dramatic changes in world rugby during the pandemic, the suspension of Super Rugby, and a civil war between the players and New Zealand Rugby became the background to Foster's tenure.  When the All Blacks found themselves on a streak that saw them post just one win in six tests between November 2021 and June 2022, Foster believed he was going to be sacked after the test against South Africa at Ellis Park, but against all predictions, the All Blacks won, the senior players lobbied the chief executive, and the coach was granted a last-minute reprieve. 

Despite expectations, the All Blacks would go on to make the final of the World Cup, beating world #1 Ireland in the quarter-final, and losing in the final by one point in a dramatic 12-11 loss to South Africa after the All Blacks captain was controversially sent off in the 28th minute. 

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