FORMER New Zealand captain Sean Fitzpatrick has predicted that All Black coach John Hart will step down after the rugby World Cup.
“There are issues to address, for sure. I don’t think we’ll be seeing John Hart coaching the All Blacks any longer,” Fitzpatrick wrote in his column in Thursday’s Daily Telegraph.
“John is a proud man and he will know better than anyone it is time to move on. New Zealanders don’t take kindly to losing and John is aware of that.
“I feel for him and the players – especially Taine Randell – who have put in so much over the last 18 months,” he added.
New Zealand’s stunning semi-final defeat to France has provoked a storm of criticism in New Zealand, but Fitzpatrick urged the public to get the defeat into perspective, saying the reaction has been too extreme.
“It may sound daft to say so, even heresy, given my own background, but I think they take it too seriously,” the legendary hooker added.
“There is life outside rugby and the sun will rise tomorow in the usual way.”