All Blacks: NZ rugby boss stands by his men

Jock Hobbs (right) says he has a great deal of faith in Richie McCaw's leadership. Photo / Getty Images

No one likes the All Blacks losing, least of all the team, their coaches and their employers.

But these difficult times have not damaged the New Zealand Rugby Union's belief in the coaching trio or their early decision to reappoint them through to the next World Cup.

"It does not dent our confidence or make us reflect back on our decision to extend their contracts because those decisions are made involving a whole range of factors and are not dictated by a series or test to test," said NZRU chairman Jock Hobbs, speaking for the first time on the issue.

"Our position is that they retain our confidence. We think they are outstanding coaches, individually and as a group, collectively, even stronger.

"It is a difficult patch but we will get through it."

Hobbs acknowledged the dramas of the last two defeats in South Africa and that the team was not playing as well as the NZRU or many others would like them to.

But that did not shake their faith in the coaching team led by Graham Henry with assistance from Wayne Smith and Steve Hansen.

Hobbs understood the public disappointment and said that was a natural reaction.

"I know that people are getting a bit agitated and a bit disappointed because the expectations are very high and that's fine, so they should be.

"That is what we live under but as I say, I have confidence in the coaches, I have confidence in the senior players and a great deal of confidence in the leadership of Richie McCaw and a lot of work is being done to get us through this patch."

Hobbs spent time with the side in Africa where he was able to converse at length with the team officials, discuss strategies with the selectors, offer advice and an ear in an environment where they were all able to sift through some of the issues.

It was a tough job and they were going through tough times.

This season the All Blacks have lost half their six tests, more defeats than the panel have endured in any of their previous five seasons in charge. The team was struggling to find its rhythm and cohesion with the next assignment the August 22 Bledisloe Cup clash in Sydney.

The results and difficulties have provoked a rash of comment about the future of the coaches and Hobbs said if the team standards became unacceptable, the NZRU would talk to the staff.

"We are nowhere near in that zone," he said.

"It is no different from any employment situation. I mean there might be a range of factors which lead to a discussion around where things are at and what about the future.

"But as I say that is no different from any employment situation and I want to emphasise we are nowhere near or even contemplating that.

"We have confidence in them, we think they are outstanding coaches and their record proves that."

The NZRU held annual reviews with all their coaching staff just as they did with chief executive Steve Tew, just as all major companies did with their executives.

Those coaching reviews served two purposes. The first was to decide whether they should receive any bonus payments on top of their salaries and secondly, offered them a chance to discuss the entire season and talk through ideas of improvement.

Things were tough for the All Black coaches and the team at the moment.

"We know there is criticism but the focus is on getting things right and everybody has a role to play in that," said Hobbs.

"That is where the focus is right now, that is where the energy is and I am sure with the commitment and the ability we have and the people involved, we will come through.

"It is a difficult patch though.

"You can't really walk into a difficult patch, collapse and throw out the toys. It is just not sensible.

"No one's happy, everyone is looking for that improvement and we all have to work harder. And that work, I know, is being done.

"The thing is not to collapse around it but to stand up and deal with it and get the improvement we all want."