Former All Black and current Sky Sport pundit Jeff Wilson believes Jamie Joseph is the obvious candidate with the credentials to lead the team towards the Rugby World Cup.
The search for a new All Blacks coach is under way after Scott Robertson was relieved of his duties two years into a four-year contract, following a scathing review that found multiple frailties within the team and reports of player unrest.
Joseph is set to coach the Highlanders in the upcoming Super Rugby Pacific season, with their first pre-season game scheduled for January 30. If he does get the role, it is unclear how it would impact his duties with the Dunedin-based franchise.
There is something similar over in Australia with Les Kiss to coach the Reds before replacing Joe Schmidt as Wallabies coach, but with the All Blacks set to tour South Africa this year, NZR might want Joseph earlier to ensure the team is best prepared.
Several other names have been suggested including Dave Rennie and Robbie Deans, while some have suggested they bring back Sir Steve Hansen.
Speaking on Newstalk ZB’s Weekend Sport, Wilson feels Joseph is the perfect candidate, given his track record at club level, leading the Highlanders to Super Rugby glory in 2015, along with his time internationally with Japan and more recently the All Blacks XV.
“There are very few candidates who are immediately available and qualified to take the job,” Wilson said.
“Jamie’s record as an international coach, his experience, and his understanding of New Zealand Rugby and the international game really stand out.
“The key for me is whether he can put together the team he wants, the coaches he believes in, and that may include some of the current coaches.
“Joe Schmidt is committed to Australia until the middle of the year, and other coaches around the world are tied up contractually.
“For me, the logical choice is Jamie Joseph. He went head‑to‑head with Scott Robertson last time and, to my understanding, came close. Jamie Joseph is the obvious man.”
As things stand, Robertson’s assistants including Scott Hansen, Jason Ryan and Tamati Ellison remain employed. However, there is a chance the incoming coach will want his own coaching staff, meaning all their futures are up in the air.
If Joseph is to get the job, he would likely want Tony Brown to be his right-hand man, although that will be challenging with the former All Blacks playmaker working as an assistant with the Springboks as their attack coach.
While Wilson feels the decision to axe Robertson was harsh, he said the right call was ultimately made after a messy two years at the helm.
That included two assistants, Leon MacDonald and Jason Holland, departing while several changes have happened behind the scenes including Mark Robinson stepping down from his role as NZR chief executive.
“[Robertson] deserves a lot of credit, because there were plenty of challenges along the way, but over the last couple of years this team never really gained any momentum,” Wilson said.
“There were performances that raised doubts about the direction the team was heading, and there was certainly uncertainty within the group. They looked unsettled and didn’t play with consistent confidence, so unfortunately a lot of that responsibility falls on the head coach.
“He’s not a bad rugby coach, it just hasn’t worked with this group of people and this team of players, and it was time to look forward with somebody else.”
Ben Francis is an Auckland-based reporter for the New Zealand Herald who covers breaking sports news.