Graham Henry was today reappointed as All Blacks coach for a two-year term. Keep refreshing for the latest reaction to the announcement.
KEY POINTS:
3.23pm - Speculation on Robbie Deans' future is rife as the Australian Rugby Union consider applicants for their head coach next Thursday.
ARU Deputy Chief Executive Matt Carroll said Deans has not been interviewed for the position and has not been in contact since the announcement of Graham Henry's reappointment.
"If Robbie Deans was to express an interest in the post given his change in circumstances then that would be a matter for the Boards consideration," Mr Carroll said.
2.15pm - A Sky News Australia poll is still rating Alan Jones as favourite to take over the Wallabies. A poll of viewers a few moments ago rated Alan Jones, the former Wallabies coach, as number one to take over the team.
2.10pm - Graham Henry has admitted that his policy of so-called reconditioning was a mistake.
At a press conference today he was asked about the withdrawal of senior players from the Super 14 to ensure they were at peak fitness for the World Cup. He told reporters: "In hindsight it was a mistake. Perhaps we need to sit down again and find the appropriate time (for players to rest)".
1.58pm - The Times reports on the Graham Henry decision saying it will not be popular among all New Zealanders.
It points out that "for each of the previous four campaigns, failure to win a World Cup spelt the end of a New Zealand coach."
The Henry decision, says The Times, is "a decision that will not be greeted with acclaim by all New Zealanders, many of whom expected Robbie Deans to be given the job. Deans, the former New Zealand scrum half who has been successful with Canterbury Crusaders in Super 14 rugby and who was assistant coach to John Mitchell at the 2003 World Cup, was firm favourite and it is possible he will now receive an approach from the Australia RU."
1.44pm - Former All Black Bernie Fraser is surprised by the appointment and said the decision should have been made based on the World Cup performance.
Fraser said the World Cup is the main prize in rugby.
"And we couldn't even get the bronze medal," he said.
He said the coach should be judged on his record at the World Cup, not the games between.
"He's got a good record but the Boks and the French sent their b-sides. The results are incidental.
"But it's only for a couple of years and we'll see what happens after that," Fraser said.
1.20pm - Robbie Deans has been put up for sale on Trade Me.
Someone has placed the losing All Black coach contender for sale, saying he has "a marvellous track record winning multiple Super Rugby titles and would be a great coach for any national side except New Zealand."
The reserve is $500,000 a year but the seller expects the Wallabies to win the bidding war.
1.02pm - In Australia, bookmakers have installed Robbie Deans a hot $1.50 favourite to become the new Wallabies rugby coach after his All Blacks rejection today.
Australian bookies Lasseters Sports didn't hesitate to elevate Deans ahead of previous favourite David Nucifora to succeed John Connolly.
"Australian Rugby Union (ARU) boss John O'Neill is a huge fan of Robbie Deans as a coach and now he's available I'm sure he'll make him an attractive offer to cross the ditch," Lasseters spokesman Gerard Daffy said.
Nucifora, the Blues coach, drifted to $3 today, while the other leading contender Alan Jones also drifted to $5.
The ARU board is scheduled to meet next Friday to discuss the coaching job.
12.58pm - Graham Henry is about to front a press conference at the New Zealand Rugby Union headquarters in Wellington.
12.52pm - The New Zealand Rugby Players' Association is expecting Henry to continue with policies such as reconditioning and rotation.
Players' boss Rob Nichol says Henry's reappointment is fully endorsed by the organisation as is the resting of players and the selection merry-go-round.
Nichol says despite criticism, the policies were important to the players - he says the All Blacks are just following worldwide trends. He says every successful sporting team in the world uses rotation and every New Zealand team in the future will continue to do the same.
Nichol also says if Henry had not instigated the controversial conditioning period this year, many players would have left New Zealand.
12.40pm - In Crusader territory the reaction has been one of shock. Responses to the news from people in Christchurch's Cathedral Square range from "it's not good at all" and "you're absolutely kidding" to "it's Auckland's fault."
12.35pm - Former All Blacks selector Peter Thorburn says it is a smart move to back Henry.
He says other than the World Cup quarter-final exit, Graham Henry, Wayne Smith and Steve Hansen have shown they have a lot to offer the team.
"They learn from their experiences, they use those experiences with the All Blacks and they lost one game of consequence."
Thorburn says if you weigh it up and get the emotion out of it, Henry is the logical choice.
12.30pm - Former All Blacks captain Buck Shelford says now that Henry has been reappointed, the rugby public have to get behind him.
He hopes Henry and his team can learn from their mistakes and turn the All Blacks into a more hardened side, playing hard football week in and week out.
12.06pm - Alex "Grizz" Wyllie said: "It's broken a bit of what's happened in the past as far as history is concerned because everyone had their term as it is called."
He said the worry is the cost that some of the coaching policies - rotation and reconditioning - have had on grassroots rugby.
"We didn't see the top players performing and that's what the New Zealand public want to see," he said.
11.41am - International media have begun to cover the announcement.
The Guardian in the UK carried a wire story referring to Henry as "The former Wales and British and Irish Lions coach".
Sportal.com.au says: "The puffs of white smoke emerged from New Zealand Rugby Union headquarters just after 10am on Friday."
The BBC said: "Graham Henry has been reappointed as head coach of New Zealand after being forced to reapply for the job following a poor World Cup."
11.18am - Robbie Deans could be coaching the Wallabies by June next year and he deserves it, said former All Black Stu Wilson.
"I hope Australian Rugby give him a full offer on the table. He's done enough with the Crusaders," Wilson said.
He said the 2003 World Cup failure under John Mitchell was a full four years ago and people have moved on.
"I personally believed Robbie Deans needed his chance," Wilson said.
He said it was time for someone to stand up and admit they were wrong and a lengthy review process is not needed.
"Mate, I just want answers. Any club coach knows what is wrong," Wilson said.
He said it will be interesting, if at the end of the review, the finger is pointed back at the coaching staff.
"Bare in mind it's the same guys who employed him four years ago. It's based on a rugby decision but it wouldn't surprise me if he steps down in two years and Hansen gets pushed up."
11.04am - Robbie Deans gave his response to missing out to Newstalk ZB.
He said: "It was not my preference but that is the way it is, you know. You just have to push on and deal with it."
He said talk of him taking the Wallabies job was just conjecture. "I will deal with it if it becomes reality."
10.43am - Former All Black Bull Allen said Robbie Dean's association with John Mitchell during the 2003 World Cup cost him the job.
He said the 2003 campaign did not go well and it was not a "totally happy experience".
Allen said Henry's reappointment points to a maturing of New Zealand rugby.
"Look what happened to John Hart. He was bagged and there were personal attacks. He had to go under cover for a couple of years," Allen said.
"Graham Henry has experienced the hard lessons. He's built up years of experience," Allen said
10.15am - A former All Blacks coach gives his immediate reaction: "Oh, for f***'s sake."
- Compiled from NZPA, NewstalkZB and NZ Herald staff
