Winger Mark Telea had been dropped from the New Zealand lineup for Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final with Ireland after breaking team protocol.
The 26-year-old scored three tries in two matches, two against Italy and one in the loss to France, but that was not enough to save his spot for the match at the Stade de France.
“He breached protocol, nothing major but it kept him out of selection,” said Foster at a press conference after unveiling the team.
“It happens, it is why t it is. It was pretty clear cut and I do not want to talk about it any more.”
Foster, whose job looked to be at risk last year due to a series of poor results, grew increasingly testy at being asked further questions about the incident.
He did say, though, when asked about the specifics of Telea’s indiscretion and about the team’s mindset: “It says volumes about what we stand for and speaks volumes for the team.”
Foster, 58, cut in at the end when captain Sam Cane was asked about the matter.
“I am not so sure how many times we have to say we do not want to talk about it any more,” he said. “We have said what we have had to say.”
Foster made six changes from the team that began the 73-0 drubbing of Uruguay in the All Blacks’ last pool match.
He recalled Ethan de Groot, Ardie Savea, Aaron Smith, Rieko Ioane and the Barrett brothers, Scott and Beauden, the latter two join sibling Jordie in the starting XV.
Cane captains the side and will be bidding to avoid becoming the first All Blacks captain to lose three Tests to the Irish.
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