Foster backing Chiefs for first title

Former coach Ian Foster feels pride at playing a foundation role in the Chiefs’ surge into Saturday’s Super Rugby final.

Foster ended an eight-season tenure last year on a low note when the Chiefs slumped to a 10th-place finish. He left the franchise and was snapped up as an All Blacks assistant coach in the new structure headed by Steve Hansen.

While Foster attracted his share of critics in the latter stages of a long Chiefs reign, he felt a degree of involvement in the success achieved by new coach Dave Rennie this season which culminates against the Sharks at Waikato Stadium.

“In some ways you do feel part of it, part of the history of the Chiefs and I worked really hard to try and achieve that result and didn’t quite get there,” Foster said.

“I’m just delighted they’ve done it and really hope that they climb that final hurdle. We fell one short in 2009, it would be great to see them make it in 2012.”

Under Foster, the Chiefs reached the semi-finals in 2004, his debut year in charge. They reached the 2009 final where they were beaten by the Bulls in Pretoria.

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