KEY POINTS:
The All Blacks have arrived in Cardiff where they might find themselves embroiled in the torment besieging their hosts.
Wales have been plunged into crisis after their premature World Cup exit and rapid decision to chuck coach Gareth Jenkins on to the dole queue.
For the third time
in 20 years Wales have failed to make the World Cup playoffs and are preparing a global search for a new national coach.
That search will take them to New Zealand where Crusaders supremo Robbie Deans will be courted.
Warren Gatland will be somewhere near the top of Welsh Rugby Union chief executive Roger Lewis' list of names. Steve Hansen and Graham Henry are being touted as contenders, with both having done the role in the past.
In a week where the All Black coaches would like to focus on the biggest game of their four-year tenure, they look certain to be quizzed relentlessly about their thoughts on replacing the deposed Jenkins.
For Hansen, the inquisition began while still on French soil where he revealed he hasn't given the prospect of a return to coaching Wales the remotest consideration.
He has phoned some old Welsh friends to see how they are bearing up. "If you don't win or you are not seen to be doing something that is positive then you're out of there and when you take on the job, particularly in Wales, you know that is going to happen.
"But the same thing happens in any coaching role in professional sport. I have no doubt that any country looking for coaches will go worldwide."
The Welsh media, already in full speculation mode, have thrown in former South Africa boss Nick Mallett, former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones and former Scotland and Lions coach Ian McGeechan alongside Deans, Gatland, Hansen and Henry.
Dousing those speculative flames and keeping the big tent antics of the Welsh out of the All Black preparation this week will be a full-time battle for the management team.
The Cardiff-based Western Mail has already said of Henry, "He has a close bond to WRU chairman David Pickering and, as such, cannot be ruled out."
Deans was understood to be a favoured candidate among some of the WRU executives when the job became available last year following Mike Ruddock's sudden resignation.
If the Welsh are to successfully lure him this time they will have to come up with a stunning package as Deans is considered a leading contender to replace Henry should the incumbent stand down after the World Cup, and the Crusaders man is also being chased by the Wallabies.
