Night has fallen in Paris, day has dawned in New Zealand, at the end of the world. Twelve hours difference. “Ready,” announces the text from the All Blacks coach, in French. We call him on video, he appears behind a steering wheel. His goiter is prominent but his smile takes over. Suddenly the screen shakes, then the image freezes. We lose communication. We call back. “Reassure us Ian, you’re not driving?” » « No, I’m just arriving at the beach, I wanted to show you this panorama! » We hear the rolling waves crashing on the shore. A bright blue sky, a stretch of white sand. “I’m in Gisborne (southeast of the North Island), visiting my in-laws. I wanted to show you the landscape, my phone escaped me. Do you know that Gisborne is the first city in the world where the sun appears? It is also the birthplace of Ian Kirkpatrick (third-row wing, 39 caps between 1967 and 1977), a legendary player! » He’s like that, too, Ian Foster, sparkling and full of life, he who was the country’s public enemy number 1 during his four years at the head of the All Blacks.
