Shag gets time to ponder future as Foster waits
association on their behalf, and that’s about as much as I can say.’’
Tew would love to do more. He lights up when he speaks about the Black Ferns’ recent World Cup success. ‘‘The All Blacks and Super Rugby environment generate an enormous amount of money, and we would have to take money away from something else to do more for the women. That is our reality.’’
But the changing world offers hope. When we speak, there has been speculation around Spark’s interest in bidding for rugby content. Amazon, whom the All Blacks have already partnered with for a soon-to-be released doco, are also potential future players in the digital rights market.
It is not all about revenue. Tew relates an anecdote from his recent attendance at the Asturias awards in Spain where the All Blacks were GETTY IMAGES honoured. ‘‘We were on stage with Nobel Peace Prize winners, with the president of Europe’s parliament who had presided over 70 years of peace, and there the All Blacks were being recognised for the contribution they’ve made to sport and humanity. It was incredibly humbling.’’
It’s why Tew bristles a little when you ask him, in summation, if they’re winning this game of survival on the professional landscape. ‘‘It’s not about survival, it’s about building on this amazing thing that’s part of New Zealand, and we don’t take that position for granted. It is changing, and we have to keep getting better at a whole range of things, including respect and responsibility ... every day is a challenge but we’re in good shape, good spirits and we’ll keep doing what’s good for the game.’’ WILL he stay or will he go? The rugby world may be abuzz over Steve Hansen’s coaching future, but his bosses say they’re comfortable giving the All Blacks coach all the time he needs to make his pivotal call.
Yes, the clock is ticking and Hansen won’t have forever to decide on whether to continue past the next World Cup in Japan in 2019. But New Zealand Rugby chief executive Steve Tew has confirmed moves are afoot to give the man they rate as ‘‘the world’s best coach’’ the time and space he needs to make his assessment.
Hansen has been involved with the All Blacks since 2004, first as an assistant under Graham Henry through until the 2011 World Cup victory, and since then as the head coach. He is shooting to be part of an unprecedented third straight Webb Ellis Cup triumph in Japan in 2019.
The presumption had been that Hansen would step aside after 2019, and an eight-year term in the top job, and either allow his No 2 Ian Foster to take over, or one of the many successful Kiwi coaches plying their trade across the globe to come in.
Foster is considered a shortpriced favourite to be the successor should Hansen decide he has had enough, though the likes of Joe Schmidt, Warren Gatland, Vern Cotter and Dave Rennie have all been mentioned as potential contenders.
But there has been speculation that Hansen has had a change of heart and may box on, which he did not deny when asked about his post-2019 future during the November tour.
‘‘I don’t know what I’m doing beyond [2019] either, so I can’t answer that question,’’ he said.
Tew, in an interview with Sunday News in Cardiff, confirmed the matter would be discussed at December’s NZR board meeting.
‘‘We don’t have a definitive hardline timeline, but conversations are ongoing amongst a lot of people who are in this environment,’’ said Tew of the All Blacks coaching and management group succession planning.
‘‘There’s a very experienced group around that management team, and we’ll be talking to the board in December about that process.’’
So far veteran assistant coach Wayne Smith is the only member of the current group to have stepped down, allowing Scott McLeod to be introduced as defence coach.
Tew cautioned against ‘‘jumping to any conclusions’’ about the succession plan.
‘‘It’s something our board would have to decide. I think most people would argue that the best coach in the world is currently coaching the All Blacks and if he wants to carry on he’ll be a strong contender.’’ GETTY IMAGES
Tew’s gut feel was that if Hansen did decide to finish up in 2019, then his successor might not be appointed before that World Cup.
‘‘But we will have a clearly outlined process. The reality is you finish a Rugby World Cup in October and the next All Blacks game is not till June. There’s a reasonable amount of time, and the issue will be how that fits into the decision-making time-table of anyone else who wants to be All Blacks coach.’’
Tew said there was a long list of standout contenders coaching both abroad and in New Zealand, and admitted a policy tweak was likely to allow offshore-based people to be considered.
‘‘We’re going to talk about that. We need to make sure the best coaches possible are available to be appointed to that role. I think keeping Ian Foster in our midst has been very good if you are talking about obvious succession planning. He is one option who doesn’t have a head start or a disadvantage in any way, but he is clearly making a statement because he’s been a very important part of an incredibly successful era.
‘‘But we have a number of very good coaches around the world and a number doing other jobs in New Zealand and we will need more than one coach.’’
For now everyone awaits Hansen’s decision. He is likely to take at least the summer to ponder it.