What they discovered was that the challenge was as great in the four as it had been in the pair. With the benefit of hindsight, they probably wouldn't have made the change because they've still the same problems."Like haute cuisine, rowing is not necessarily about combining the most powerful ingredients, but about determining the best blend. The challenge was there to beat the Croatians, the Australians, and the Italians. Redgrave has never approved of that move.Foster, who has been coaching the University of London crews, and during Henley Royal Regatta was actually persuaded to come out of retirement briefly, opines: "I'd say they've not cured the problem by changing the boat.

It was a devastating moment, sufficient to convince Grobler to act brutally. Rick Dunn and Tony Garbett were ejected, amid understandable acrimony, from the four to make way for them in a boat which was considered to have an "easier" golden opportunity. This time, he needs to improve."It was less than a year ago that two became four after Pinsent and Cracknell failed at the world championships in Milan. Previously he's gone into the Olympics merely having to give more of the same. "Matthew is someone who is fantastically talented, but who in the last couple of years hasn't been quite fulfilling that potential in terms of his technique, the way he puts that power into moving the boat," says Foster "The month ahead will really test Matthew. Matthew, James [Cracknell] and Steve Williams are among the strongest rowers in the world.

However, they do go into the racing not being favourites, which is a strange situation for Matthew."Pinsent often required Redgrave's motivational powers to produce his optimum Now the loss of that influence has appeared significant. He's always had Steve there for him."Foster, who has surveyed the four at close quarters this week, having been asked by Grobler to assist with the coaching of the British eight at Silvretta, high in the Alps, adds: "They can win, if they row to the best of their potential It's still within their grasp There's still fantastic power on board. "One of Steve's great strengths was that he was a natural leader Probably, this four at the moment don't have that. Matthew's got to step up and take that role and lead by example That'll be a real test of his character It's not necessarily something that he does naturally. The Athens four are blessed with none of that psychological advantage. And, perhaps most crucially, there is no Redgrave, notwithstanding his debilitating illnesses, this time around "They'd love to have Steve Redgrave in there," says Foster.