After taking the job nine months ago, Ian Foster is finally starting to settle in as the new head coach of the All Blacks and players are already seeing differences from the Steve Hansen era.
Foster was named Hansen's successor last December but has yet to have a Test in charge due to the Covid-19 pandemic, leaving him instead having to wait for next week's Bledisloe Test against Dave Rennie and the Wallabies as his first match in the role.
Asked today if All Blacks fans should expect a different gameplan in Wellington from the Hansen years, Foster said it's more about adding to a strong foundation.
"There will definitely be changes," Foster said.
"We've got different people in this group, a different set-up, but there's stuff that we know works and there's stuff that we know that we've got to keep growing.
"Will it be different? You can tell me but it certainly feels different."
The pandemic has meant coming together as a squad has been a new experience too, with just last week's three-day training camp in Whakatāne under the team's belt so far.
But even in that short three-day period, veteran Dane Coles said some players noticed a shift under Foster.
"Fozzy's got his own way of dealing with things and that's pretty good," Coles said.
"He's got his own style and we're excited to see what the future holds."
The All Blacks play the Wallabies next Sunday at 4pm.
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