Assistant coach Ian Foster admits he is ‘keen’ to replace outgoing All Blacks coach Steve Hansen after the World Cup in Japan later this year.

Hansen, who himself was All Blacks assistant coach from 2004-11 before taking over from Graham Henry in 2012, will step down after the World Cup.

Several candidates have been touted as possible replacements – including Crusaders boss Scott Robertson – and now Foster has put up his hand for the position as well.

Speaking about his ambitions to take on the All Blacks head coach role, Foster said: ‘I’m absolutely committed to this team.

‘This is my eighth season [in the All Blacks set-up] and I’m keen to carry on. I’m excited about an opportunity to put my name in the ring as a head coach, I just can’t wait to get into it. But that’s the future, isn’t it?

‘There’s seven or eight years’ experience that’s culminated in a second World Cup, and that’s my primary focus.’

The All Blacks will kick off their World Cup title defence against long-time rivals the Springboks on 21 September.

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