Rugby: John Plumtree rules out All Blacks coaching role

Assistant coach John Plumtree of the Hurricanes. Photo / Getty

Hurricanes assistant coach John Plumtree has ruled himself out the chase for Wayne Smith's job with the All Blacks.

Plumtree told Newstalk ZB sports host Tony Veitch that he wanted to put his family first and therefore would not apply to replace Smith on Steve Hansen's coaching team.

He joins current All Blacks video analyst Alistair Rogers who also told Veitch he did not intend to apply for a role.

Short of an outside contender overseas suddenly emerging, the decisions by Plumtree and Rogers would appear to give former All Black Scott McLeod a rails ride to replace Smith.

McLeod is considered a strong contender and his work with the Chiefs has earned plaudits.

Plumtree, a former Junior All Black and highly regarded within the Hurricanes environment, joked Smith was too hard to replace.

"Those boots are way too big to fill and there's too much pressure," Plumtree laughed.

"At this stage of my life, I've still got three boys at home and I've got a big part to play in their lives as a Dad. I just want to be home and doing my thing with them.

"Right now it's important that I'm a good dad and a good coach for the Hurricanes.

"Being involved with the All Blacks is something I always wanted to do but family comes first for me right now, so I won't be applying for that job."

Welsh-born Rogers has been involved in two successful All Blacks' Rugby World Cup campaigns as Hansen's video analyst.

This year he became the Blues' defence coach after being hired by Tana Umaga.

"Alistair is at the forefront of development in a critically important part of the game at the highest level," Umaga said at the time."He is highly thought of by the All Blacks coaches and players alike and I'm absolutely thrilled he is coming to a full-time coaching position with us."

But Rogers said he wanted to concentrate on his current role with the Blues.