News that Graham Henry's two trusted lieutenants are the next targets of the off-shore talent drain from New Zealand rugby threatens to be an untimely blow to the All Blacks' planning towards the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

Assistants Wayne Smith and Steve Hansen have both been targeted by cashed up Welsh regional franchise the Ospreys.

Smith, 51, looks odds on to take the position.

He has spoken of a 'get-out' clause in his contract. It is also known that one of the reasons that has made the Ospreys' overture more attractive is the fact he will get to spend more time with his immediate family.

Hansen on the other hand might be a tougher nut for Ospreys to crack.

He is out and out a Henry man.

That point was hammered home when he opted to ignore his chance at launching a solo campaign to replace Henry following the disappointments of last year's World Cup.

Instead, Hansen and Smith only put their hands up as part of an ongoing back-up team for Henry.

The NZRU constantly talks about how the power of the black jersey is a weapon in its fight against the player drain to Europe and Japan.

Now we are set to see whether the lure of being involved in a World Cup campaign on home soil is enough to retain the services of Smith and Hansen.

So where to if either one, or both, Smith and Hansen opt to take the money and run?

Present NZRU rules state that candidates have to be in the employment of either New Zealand's five Super Rugby franchises or one of the country's 26 provincial unions.

That rule would count Warren Gatland out of the equation.

While employed with Wales through to the 2011 World Cup, he recently revealed he has questioned his role in the UK principality following a bitter spat with the four regional sides over player availability.

Robbie Deans is also a no-go.

He is happy in his work with the Wallabies.

And under no circumstance would he work in the same coaching structure with Henry.

So in terms of the leading candidates to join Henry in the lead-in to the World Cup, expect to see Super 14 head coaches Pat Lam, Ian Foster, Colin Cooper, Todd Blackadder and Glenn Moore put their hands up.

While Moore would have little show of breaking into the test arena so early in his career, he would most-likely apply.

The NZRU is big on coaches looking towards future aspirations. So the sight of a Super 14 coach not going for the All Black coaching spots wouldn't be a good look.

Of the remaining four, both Foster and Cooper were interviewed last December for coaching spots.

Lam had been sounded out as a possible forwards mentor by Deans had his bid been successful.

And Blackadder too shouldn't be discounted.

He has fans in high places going back to his past relationships created when he was a player at Canterbury and the Crusaders.

My money would be on Foster joining the structure as backs coach.

While he hasn't brought any silverware to the Chiefs, he has fans at the NZRU, something brought out by his long-term contract with the Chiefs despite his lack of relative success.

If Hansen also opted to head off-shore, I would expect either Cooper or Blackadder to be added to the All Black coaching staff as forwards mentor.

While Lam is a highly-rated coach, Blackadder has on his side a fine pedigree in the black jersey.

Lam too was an All Black, coming off the reserves bench in the side's loss to Sydney in 1992.

Smith is the only member of the current All Black coaching/management set-up to have worn the black jersey.

Being able to have someone onboard in the All Blacks' off-field structure who knows what it is like to have worn the black jersey, and the pressures associated with it, is something that Henry appreciates.

So if the All Blacks are in need of new members for its coaching staff, who would you chose?

And do you think the possible defections of Smith and Hansen would hinder the All Blacks?