All Blacks: Life after King Henry

The All Black triumvirate of Wayne Smith, Graham Henry and Steve Hansen. Photo / Getty Images

Asked last month how he would feel being at the Millennium Stadium for the last time, All Black coach Graham Henry laughed and said not to retire him just yet.

If 2011 is going to be his last year at the helm, he's not rushing to confirm it. Giving up the All Blacks will be a massive wrench for Henry, even at 65. Even if they win the World Cup, he'll find it hard to let go.

That's probably why he's not keen to make any statements about his future yet. Obviously if the All Blacks bomb again, then all this is rendered moot - he'll be gone. But if the All Blacks win the World Cup, is it ridiculous to believe Henry could be kept on for longer?

He seems to have no problem evolving, moving with the times in terms of his management style. He remains one of the best strategists in the business and is it not possible that he's got more to come?

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will be 70 next year and no one would be so stupid as to brand him a spent force.

"I think you have to change with the times," says Henry. "If I coached like I used to coach when I was younger, the players wouldn't put up with it. I was a pretty authoritarian coach when I coached through the grades, even when when I coached Auckland and the Blues - so you have to change.

"The education system has changed from an authoritarian system with set exams to a consensus system where students' ideas are put into play - which I think is good. So you have to fit in with the group you are working with."

The assumption should not be reached that just because he'll be retirement age and will have been eight years at the helm, that Henry has to move on after the World Cup.

It's probable, however, that he will step down, not necessarily because he believes he has to - but because he might feel the time is right to give his long-term assistant and friend Steve Hansen an opportunity to apply.

There can't be an agreed succession. If Henry steps down after the World Cup, there has to be a process, but it is one for which Hansen will be an outstanding candidate.

Of the three existing coaches, Hansen's future is the easiest to map - in terms of intention at least rather than outcome. It is no secret that he covets a head coaching role and he'll throw everything into trying to get the All Black job.

There will be those who only recall the lineout malfunctions over the past seven years and write off Hansen as a consequence. But he's an immensely popular figure with the players, has tightened the pack into a fearsome unit at the collision points without losing mobility or ball skills and he's a level-headed and astute selector.

A fair evaluation of his contribution would lead to the conclusion he's ready and worthy of the top job but there will be competition. Todd Blackadder is another obvious candidate. He has the demeanour and pedigree to grow into a top international coach.

There is probably too much water under the bridge for Robbie Deans to come home and coach the All Blacks but it can't be ruled out. After all, Henry left for Wales in a pique, forcing a rule change that banned him from ever coaching the All Blacks until that was scrapped in 2003. Nothing is irreversible.

If Hansen misses out, it's inevitable other international jobs will surface after the World Cup. He'd be keenly sought for those although he may find it hard to coach another team, having been with the All Blacks so long. He also has influential contacts in Wales from his time there and plenty of European clubs will be interested. He'll find a head coaching job somewhere if he is patient.

That will also be the case for Wayne Smith. It's possible if Hansen becomes All Blacks head coach after the World Cup, Smith could stay in his current role. It's more likely, however, that he'll look to move on, as he sees himself as a career coach and is prepared to travel to wherever the work is.

He was close to joining the Ospreys in 2009 but stayed with the All Blacks after dropping some of his peripheral New Zealand rugby commitments.

Having such a long association with the All Blacks, he's not keen to work with any other international side which is why his next job is likely to be with a club side.