Time to extend Henry's contract
June 10, 2009
The NZRU should put All Black head coach Graham Henry out of his agony and re-sign him through to the 2011 World Cup; regardless of the results of the Iveco Series.
The current contracts of Henry and his assistants Wayne Smith and Steve Hansen cease following the All Blacks' season-ending tour of Europe.
Henry has already signalled that he wants to stay on through to the World Cup in New Zealand, with a tournament win one of the few things which has so far eluded him in his stellar coaching career.
Smith too has indicated he wants to carry on, turning down a lucrative shift to Wales late last year to continue working with the men in black.
But there is uncertainty over the thoughts of Hansen, who is desperate for a return to a permanent hands-on coaching role and questions over whether he wants to remain as Henry's assistant.
The trio were initially re-signed on two-season extensions following the disappointment of the 2007 World Cup.
And to my mind, with just over two years left before the 2011 World Cup kick-off, it makes sense now to pull out further contract extensions.
The All Blacks are very much in rebuild phase.
And it would provide a sense of security to both the playing and coaching staff if the futures of the off-field management team were confirmed
Henry will know largely the players he wants to build his side around leading up to the World Cup.
Those intentions have been signalled with the players who have re-signed with the NZRU through to the World Cup in recent times; a list including Richie McCaw, Daniel Carter, Ali Williams, Andrew Hore, Keven Mealamu, Ma'a Nonu, Rodney So'oialo and Mils Muliaina.
It is expected that Sitiveni Sivivatu will soon join that list.
The coaching staff's of the majority of the All Blacks' leading rivals for the 2011 World Cup have been confirmed.
Now is the time for the NZRU to follow suit.
It would be illogical to not reappoint Henry.
And that includes whatever results the side dishes up in the Iveco Series, where they are seriously depleted following a raft of defections.
Making a judgement call on the results of the first three tests of the season, where the All Blacks will be under-strength, would be wrong.
So too would sending the All Blacks away on their season-ending tour with the futures of the coaching staff up in the air. For the benefit of their World Cup planning, they should know where they stand.
All three coaches should be offered new deals.
The one uncertainty will be Hansen.
But should he opt to move on, the likes of Hurricanes coach Colin Cooper or All Black scrum coach Mike Cron will be contenders to take on the assistant's role in charge of the All Black pack.
What do you think?
Should Henry be re-signed? And if Hansen moves on, who should replace him?
The current contracts of Henry and his assistants Wayne Smith and Steve Hansen cease following the All Blacks' season-ending tour of Europe.
Henry has already signalled that he wants to stay on through to the World Cup in New Zealand, with a tournament win one of the few things which has so far eluded him in his stellar coaching career.
Smith too has indicated he wants to carry on, turning down a lucrative shift to Wales late last year to continue working with the men in black.
But there is uncertainty over the thoughts of Hansen, who is desperate for a return to a permanent hands-on coaching role and questions over whether he wants to remain as Henry's assistant.
The trio were initially re-signed on two-season extensions following the disappointment of the 2007 World Cup.
And to my mind, with just over two years left before the 2011 World Cup kick-off, it makes sense now to pull out further contract extensions.
The All Blacks are very much in rebuild phase.
And it would provide a sense of security to both the playing and coaching staff if the futures of the off-field management team were confirmed
Henry will know largely the players he wants to build his side around leading up to the World Cup.
Those intentions have been signalled with the players who have re-signed with the NZRU through to the World Cup in recent times; a list including Richie McCaw, Daniel Carter, Ali Williams, Andrew Hore, Keven Mealamu, Ma'a Nonu, Rodney So'oialo and Mils Muliaina.
It is expected that Sitiveni Sivivatu will soon join that list.
The coaching staff's of the majority of the All Blacks' leading rivals for the 2011 World Cup have been confirmed.
Now is the time for the NZRU to follow suit.
It would be illogical to not reappoint Henry.
And that includes whatever results the side dishes up in the Iveco Series, where they are seriously depleted following a raft of defections.
Making a judgement call on the results of the first three tests of the season, where the All Blacks will be under-strength, would be wrong.
So too would sending the All Blacks away on their season-ending tour with the futures of the coaching staff up in the air. For the benefit of their World Cup planning, they should know where they stand.
All three coaches should be offered new deals.
The one uncertainty will be Hansen.
But should he opt to move on, the likes of Hurricanes coach Colin Cooper or All Black scrum coach Mike Cron will be contenders to take on the assistant's role in charge of the All Black pack.
What do you think?
Should Henry be re-signed? And if Hansen moves on, who should replace him?
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