All Blacks: Hansen still has a Byrne-in desire

Mick Byrne. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Mick Byrne has long given up being self-conscious about the constant stares and giggles when he gets on to a train in Japan.

At 2.01m, Byrne stands out in a crowd.

It's much like his name that stands out in Steve Hansen's 'dream team' should Hansen be selected as the next All Blacks coach. Although Graham Henry hasn't indicated what his plans are beyond the World Cup, it's widely expected he will step aside, and Hansen has already signalled his interest in the job.

Former Chiefs coach Ian Foster is Hansen's preferred option as backs coach with Byrne in line to take over as forwards coach. Hansen also wants Darren Shand to continue as All Blacks manager but Shand is undecided about his future.

Foster is well known in New Zealand after eight years with the Chiefs but Byrne's name is less familiar.

He's more widely known as All Blacks skills coach, a job he still fulfils, and a big part of his remit is kicking and receiving.

But he has attempted to widen his own skills and for the past three years has been working with John Kirwan as Japan's forwards coach. It means he will face the unusual situation of having a foot in each camp when the All Blacks take on Japan at the World Cup.

The former Aussie Rules player was Wallabies kicking and catching coach when they won the 1999 World Cup and he's also worked with the Brumbies (1998-2001), Springboks (2001-02), Scotland (2002-03) and Saracens prior to his appointment with the NZRU in 2005.

One of the big reasons he joined Japan in 2009 was to advance his coaching career and he's keen to develop further after the World Cup.

Byrne evaded commenting on whether Hansen wanted him on board but said: "I want to continue coaching post-World Cup, most definitely. But right now I can't be worrying about that. I need to put my head down and do the best job I can with Japan and then when I join the All Blacks.

"With two jobs, I'm really focusing on getting those teams right for the World Cup. Then I will look at what I do after that. For me, it's about getting the process right and the outcome will take care of itself."

Japan are currently playing in the Pacific Nations Cup and yesterday played Samoa before tests against Tonga and Fiji. Byrne will link up with the All Blacks in Dunedin on July 17 for the first test of the year against Fiji on July 22. His priority is to Japan during the World Cup but he will rejoin the All Blacks once Japan are out of the tournament.

New Zealand will play a role in ousting them when the two teams meet in Hamilton on September 16. Byrne knows it will be a strange day.

"I don't know how it will feel," he says. "I coached Scotland against Australia [at the 2003 World Cup] and I had worked with the Wallabies before but I am a lot closer to the [All Blacks] coaches and players than I was with the Wallabies.

"I'm not sure how many coaches have coached against themselves in a World Cup but I guess we will find out what that's like. How lucky am I to have this opportunity to experience this? I don't think there will be many who will ever do this because I will have a relationship with every player on the field. It will be quite special."

So would being All Blacks forwards coach and it's a role he would jump at given the chance. Byrne is obviously familiar with the All Black environment and knows, and is respected by, the players.

His fate, however, rests in Hansen's hands. And that will be enhanced greatly if the All Blacks win the World Cup.