View photosKEY POINTS:
The All Blacks rugby coaching panel headed by Graham Henry will decide in the next 10 days whether they will reapply for their jobs.
Henry said he and his assistants Steve Hansen and Wayne Smith would discuss the issue and announce their decision by the deadline on November
26 after the New Zealand Rugby Union decided today to make the All Blacks coaching position contestable.
He said the current regime had yet to decide whether to apply collectively or individually.
The New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) board, who met today to hear the coaching review committee's report, had the power to reappoint the coaches.
However, chairman of the review committee Mike Eagle said nothing should be read into the board's decision to invite applications for the All Blacks coach's position.
"We agree. We think that it should be a democratic process, we think it should be a contestable process, we think that's the best thing for New Zealand rugby," Henry said after his panel met the review committee for two days at the NZRU headquarters in Wellington.
"Whether I am going to contest the position, I don't know. I'm going to use that time (until November 26) to make the decision. I want to talk to Wayne Smith and Steve Hansen about that in detail, after I've spent some time at home, and work out what we're going to do as a trio of selectors and coaches. I will talk to (selector) Brian Lochore as well."
It appeared from the outset that Henry was still keen to carry on the job he has held for four years in which he has emerged as one of the most successful test coaches, winning 42 of 48 tests but failing badly in the World Cup.
The All Blacks exited the recent cup when they lost to France in the quarterfinal - their worst finish in the tournament in 20 years.
Eagle said the NZRU still hoped to appoint the All Blacks coach by Christmas though they wouldn't be rushing it.
The NZRU will be writing to eligible coaches to invite them to apply for the job.
Successful Crusaders coach Robbie Deans has declared he is keen to take over.
Henry said he didn't expect either Hansen or Smith to run for the coach's job against him.
"We've had a very close liaison ... a group of coaches who're close personally and we need to discuss that over the next eight-nine days and make a collective decision and individual decision of what we're going to do," he said.
"I would be surprised if that would be the case," he responded to a question whether Smith or Hansen could contest the job against him.
Eagle said NZRU chairman Jock Hobbs did not take part in the decision to make the All Blacks coaching position contestable to avoid a potential conflict of interest. Hobbs is a brother-in-law of Deans.
Henry described the coaching review, much of which was held yesterday, as "very full and thorough".
"The coaches and management of the All Blacks were very pleased.
"I just like to say that we're very proud of the results of the All Blacks during the last four years. Obviously (we're) very disappointed for the country, the union and the team for the loss in Cardiff in the quarterfinals."
Henry said they discussed the World Cup quarterfinal at length.
He and his assistants blamed the reason for their early exit on referee Wayne Barnes.
They pointed out Barnes' errors which they said cost them the match.
- NZPA