Departing All Blacks coach Graham Henry has argued for continuity to retain knowledge in nominating assistant Steve Hansen as the next man for the job.
Henry announced on Tuesday that he was stepping down from the post he has held for the past eight years, a tenure that culminated in New Zealand’s drought-breaking Rugby World Cup final victory over France nine days ago.
He departs with a place in history as one of sport’s most successful coaches, having guided the All Blacks to 88 wins in 103 Tests – at a winning percentage of 85.4 per cent.
Hansen was one of Henry’s two assistants during that period, along with Wayne Smith, who is heading to the Chiefs next season in an advisory role.
The three were controversially reappointed in 2007 despite the All Blacks’ quarter-final exit at that year’s World Cup, a decision they repaid by landing the Webb Ellis Cup in 2011.
Henry believes a complete change to the coaching team will mean lessons learnt from past experience would be lost as the new regime starts from scratch.
“So I think Steve Hansen should do the job,” Henry told a news conference in Auckland.
“It’s my personal opinion and it does give us continuity from what has happened over the last eight years and what goes for the future, and I think that’s very important for any sporting team of this type.”
Henry said Hansen had a good relationship with the players, had a natural feel for the game and “wants to win, which is hell of a important”.
A former Wales coach like Henry, Hansen has been tipped to submit a coaching team that includes former Chiefs coach Ian Foster as his No.2, as well as All Blacks skills coach Mick Byrne.
NZRU chief executive Steve Tew said the union wanted to appoint the All Blacks head coach first and to have that done by Christmas.
“Then we’ll take a deep breath and see where we’re at,” he said.
“We’ve asked the candidates to come with a full package, but that doesn’t mean that package will be appointed en masse.”
One of the world’s most successful sports coaches, 65-year-old Henry said he has turned down offers to join overseas clubs and will stay in New Zealand to assist in the development of local coaches.
Tew said the discussions were under way to have Henry in a mentoring role for coaches at Super Rugby and provincial level.
Henry awarded the International Rugby Board’s Coach of the Year award a record five times (2005, 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2011).
He coached the Auckland Blues to Super Rugby titles in 1996 and 1997 before moving abroad and coaching Wales from 1998 to 2002.
He then returned to New Zealand and took over as All Blacks coach in 2003.
“He leaves the All Blacks job as one of the greatest coaches in the game,” Tew said.
Henry and Hansen have one more coaching role together this year when they take charge of the Barbarians against Australia at Twickenham later this month.
maitwocents
Guest
Gatland and Gordon Tietjens as coaches 4me! We dont need a 3rd head coach. We can bring in specialist coaches where appropriate!
klatu
Guest
Yes, those two will do well. I don't think Foster is the right man.
Kuruki
Roar Guru
As far as i know if Hansen gets the nod he will choose his assistants without any obstruction. And apparantley Foster is the man.
Kuruki
Roar Guru
Haha imagine how filthy they would be if we done that. I want Jamie Joseph and Kirwan.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Never take a departing persons suggestion of a replacement for any job they don't see the world clearly. They are mostly wrong. We did this when McQueen suggested Eddie (the eye) Jones and what a disaster he was.
Jerry
Guest
Hansen coached Wales for a few years (not particularly successfully, I'll admit) and coached Cantebury in the NPC.
Johnno
Guest
Why does NZ not need a non-NZer to coach them, in the modern age of professionalism it is all about the best man for the job not what country he is form. I just don't think th eNZ fans and public have real confidence in steve hansen , just as the aussie public lack confidence in michela clarke and Tim neislen before, i just don't think stev hansen has the credentials. I would be very opened 2 many indians if they gave a now more mature John Mitchell the chance, or an old hard head like Nick mallet who has done some good things sat italy, or John kirwan or john plumtree(who is NZ), or Kieren crawly. Pat lam and mark hammett are both not ready no way yet. Well the ALl blacks could do more waker things than give jake white the all blacks jobs or eddie jones or Link, they could give the job to peter de villeiers or Marc Lievermont. Now that has a nice ring to it doesn't it Marc Lievermont head coach of the NZ ALL BLACKS. LOL that wont be happening obviously. Or it could get even funnier David Campese head coach of ALL BLACKS. Campo has super 15 experience at sharks but i think Campo has given the AB'S ot many nightmares over the years to be considered, any others micheal chieka or phil mooney ex outage and reds coach lol or dick muir lol. They both won't apply either. But it would not and i am begin serious now here surprise me if eddie jones or Clive Woodward would apply. Woodward loves a challenge, and is a proven world cup winner, steve hansen i don't even know if he has head coaching experience.
2many1ndians
Roar Rookie
You're missing the point Johnno. 1) I would rather have Jake White managing the AllBlacks than Jones or McKenzie. 2) I do not want Jake White. 3) NZ does not need to have a non-NZer to coach their national side.
Jerry
Guest
"That said, how come Eddie couldn’t weave his magic with Australia? doesn’t he have the lowest win-loss ratio of any Wallaby coach?" Cause he's a good technical coach, but a poor man manager - basically a great assistant, poor head coach. Oh, and Robbie Deans has the lowest win-loss ratio of any Wallaby coach in the pro era (not sure about all time). Johnno - the Boks won the 04 TN under White and came second on bonus points in 05. They had a poor year in 06, but to say they were a rabble under White is misleading.
Johnno
Guest
Wlell get back to me on your opinion and such high esteem for jake white 2 many indiansover linka after the brumes season in 2012. ANd with this weaving magic issues which is rela by they way lol, we could say the same about Dingo. Dingo everything in crusader land Dingo touched turned to gold , but at wallaby world it is a different story of course, everything Deans seems to touch seems to cause chaos. And same with eddie he weaved magic at the Boks and brumes did get the wallabies to a rugby world cup grand final 2many idnians so pretty good wallaby record, helped japan rugby a lot to ver the years, just seemed to lose it in last few years at wallaby world and at brisvegas coaching the reds, who knows you will have to ask eddie, but he rebounded magnificently in the same year in 2007 after a dissateorus reds season where i think they lost by 90 points in ben tunes last game ins out africa, to helping the Boks in 2007 win bill. Ah eddie what a magician who found new tricks obviously magically fast.
2many1ndians
Roar Rookie
My point exactly Johnno. Jake White is obviously a great manager, as was Clive Woodward. That said, how come Eddie couldn't weave his magic with Australia? doesn't he have the lowest win-loss ratio of any Wallaby coach? And for the record, Jake White is hardly a favourite, though I would be more comfortable with him managing the AB's than Jones or Link. Cheers
JamesB
Guest
Hansen is a shoe-in and rightly so. Of more interest are wh he appoints as his assistants.
Jerry
Guest
There doesn't seem to be any such criteria for assistants. I think Wayne Smith came straight from Northhampton too.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
Yeah, got my wires crossed. You either have to be coaching in New Zealand at the time as Henry was doing with the Blues and Mitchell the Chiefs or have three years coaching experience in NZ within the past five years. I'm not sure what the criteria for assistant coaches is, however, since Hansen coached Wales in the 2004 Six Nations before joining the All Blacks in June that year.
Johnno
Guest
2MANY INDIANS Eddie jones won the books the title not your favourite jake white. The boks were a rabble until eddie came in and weaved his magic 2 many indians.
Jerry
Guest
Are you sure about that OJ? If so, it'd be a recent change to the requirements as neither Henry nor Mitchell had been coaching in NZ for that long.
2many1ndians
Roar Rookie
Jake White (a manager of men) on the other hand ...
2many1ndians
Roar Rookie
Deans and Eddie Jones are proven Super rugby title winners too. No thanks.
2many1ndians
Roar Rookie
I heard it on a couple of occasions it was twice. He got signed for a further 4 years then during the world cup resigned a 'to be sure, to be sure' contract where Wales upped the ante to avoid poachers. Haven't been able to find anything to back it up. Still, a contract these days means very little.
Johnno
Guest
How about this for left field , i mean the aussies did it with Dingo, why not Link for ALL BLACKS HEAD COACH. I mean who would you prefer as a head coach, and all black assistant in steve hansen who was struggling as a forwards coach, or a super 15 winner in link, a former wallaby assistant, a world cup winning player, a man who has had experience in europe as head coach and had some bad luck in europe and warpaths did not do him justice. I am an aussie but what about Link for head AB'S coach. It has a nice ring to it.