Graham Henry will be replaced as All Blacks coach by the end of the year after his highly fancied team crashed out of the World Cup at the hands of France in the quarterfinals.
The New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) board said on Sunday that a new coaching team should be in place by Christmas, even though Henry and his assistants, Steve Hansen and Wayne Smith, have contracts until March 2008.
”Our aim is to have our All Blacks coaching team in place by Christmas,” said NZRU chairperson Jock Hobbs.
Saturday’s 20-18 quarterfinal defeat by France at the Millennium Stadium meant New Zealand had failed to reach the last four of the World Cup for the first time.
Henry (61) had made winning the World Cup — something New Zealand have only managed once when they co-hosted the inaugural event in 1987 — his overwhelming priority since taking over from John Mitchell four years ago.
Henry said he will not be hurried into making a decision over his future.
”I don’t think there’s any need for me or [his wife] Raewyn to rush into what we’d like to do immediately in the future,” said the coach.
The NZRU on Sunday announced they will commission an ”independent and comprehensive review of the campaign” when they return home on Wednesday.
”Like the All Blacks team, the management and fans here, at home and around the world are hugely disappointed with the result,” added Hobbs.
”We believe as an organisation we gave this campaign our very best shot with the aim of winning the World Cup. Clearly we came up short.
”The planning and preparation was all that we expected it to be. Everything possible had been done — but we weren’t good enough.
”I take full responsibility as chairperson for this campaign. I am accountable but I don’t want to make a knee-jerk reaction when emotions are intense. I’m going to reflect on it. If I feel it’s appropriate to stand down then I will.” — AFP
