The All Blacks may be looking for a new backs coach, with Wayne Smith making strong noises about standing down after the Grand Slam tour.
Smith is understood to have started thinking about calling it a day in July this year when the All Black management team wereunder severe pressure.
He's had a long association with the All Blacks, having been a technical assistant under John Hart at the 1999 World Cup, then head coach between 2000 and 2001 before he lost confidence in his own ability. He headed to Northampton in 2002, where he was much admired and respected, before Graham Henry invited him back to the All Blacks as assistant coach in 2004.
The test this morning was the 78th Smith has been involved in as a coach and he has an escape clause that he can trigger at the end of this year in his contract that expires in 2009.
Smith has an offer to coach the Ospreys side in Wales and other European clubs have made inquiries. He's expected to make a decision after he's had a few weeks after the tour to assess his options.
If he stands down, the All Blacks could potentially carry on with a dual coaching panel of Henry and Steve Hansen, with specialist skills coach Mick Byrne taking on a wider brief with the backs.
The alternative would be to bring in a specialist backs coach. Ian Foster could possibly do the job but that would almost certainly see him have to give up his head role with the Chiefs, as he couldn't be a selector if he stayed part of the Super 14 franchise.
Shane Howarth is greatly admired by Henry, while Greg Cooper has ample experience and ability, although he's looking for a job with greater lifework balance.
