The new All Blacks coach will be announced on Friday but the only uncertainties are whether Steve Hansen's assistants will also be unveiled and how long he will be given the job, the New Zealand Herald reports.
"It's widely acknowledged Hansen is the man to take over from Graham Henry and the NZRU board will meet on Friday to rubber-stamp the appointment. It shouldn't take long - it took about 20 minutes for Henry to be reappointed in 2007 - but it's less certain whether his assistants will also be named.
"A team of Hansen, former Chiefs coach Ian Foster (backs) and former Canterbury coach Aussie McLean (forwards) seems the most likely with Mick Byrne remaining as skills coach. Byrne has expressed an interest in becoming forwards coach, a role he filled with Japan at this year's World Cup, but his lack of experience might count against him becoming one of the three main All Blacks coaches.
"It's a lack of international experience in the Hansen package that is the biggest concern and it might be a reason why the NZRU delay officially naming Hansen's assistants until meeting with the candidates further."
RSS feed
