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'It is highly probable' - Sir Graham Henry tips former opponent to succeed Steve Hansen as All Blacks coach
Former All Blacks coach Sir Graham Henry predicts Wales and British & Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland could succeed Steve Hansen as the All Blacks coach from next year onwards.
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Hansen, who has been involved with the All Blacks for 16 years – as an assistant coach between 2004 and 2011, and as head coach from 2012 until the end of this year – will step away from the national side at the end of this year’s World Cup in Japan.
Speculation has been rife as to who will replace him in 2020, with the likes of All Blacks assistant coach Ian Foster, Crusaders coach Scott Robertson, Ireland coach Joe Schmidt, Glasgow Warriors coach Dave Rennie, Japan coach Jamie Joseph and Montpellier coach Vern Cotter regarded as potential candidates to take the helm of the national side.
However, Henry, who won the 2011 World Cup in the final year of his eight-season span as All Blacks head coach, believes Gatland, the former All Black hooker who has coached Wales since 2007 and has led the Lions to successful tours of Australia in 2013 and New Zealand in 2017, is the prime prospect for New Zealand Rugby.
“It is highly probable,” he said when asked by the BBC if Gatland would receive the All Blacks coaching role.
“He has proved to be one of the best coaches in the world. There are guys like Joe Schmidt and Dave Rennie who are over there coaching who have done exceptional jobs who could also do a great job with the All Blacks.
“So there is a pretty competitive field right now, but Warren would be one of the front runners if he made himself available.”
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Henry has a similar coaching background to Gatland, having coached both Wales and the Lions before joining the All Blacks in 2004, and the 73-year-old was full of praise for his compatriot, who he faced in the coaching box on five occasions between 2008 and 2010.
“He has done fabulously well and I was delighted for him when he toured New Zealand that his [2017 Lions] side was so competitive.”
Gatland’s 12-year tenure of Wales will come to an end following the World Cup in Japan in a few months’ time.
It will be his third World Cup, after having guided the Welsh to a fourth place finish in 2011, and then to a quarter-final exit in 2015.
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Additionally, he has won three Six Nations Grand Slam titles, including the most recent edition earlier this year.
Gatland was last month named as coach for the British & Irish Lions’ tour of South Africa in 2021, becoming just the second coach in history to lead the Lions on three consecutive tours.
His role with the Lions in two years’ time may count against him when it comes to selecting Hansen’s replacement, but it appears a coaching role in Super Rugby would be Gatland’s preferred option from 2022 and beyond, as he told the BBC earlier this month.
“My future is going to be the 2019 World Cup [with Wales], look at a few things in between, and then the start of my [Lions] role in August 2020,” he said.
“I’ll focus 100% on the Lions for those 12 months and then hopefully have an opportunity to go back to New Zealand and pick up something and then take it from there.
“I would love to be involved with Super Rugby and to challenge myself with that.
“I want to go back. I have been head coach with Waikato and won a championship there, and I want to challenge myself with Super Rugby.”
Watch – Stateside with Ben Foden:
Comments on RugbyPass
Sly dig there at Ireland’s propensity to back a non-Irish coach. Must really want it. I’m not sure I like ROG very much. Comes off as unpleasant. But he’d gain my respect if he took a number 7 ranked team and turned them into WC winners. Not even back-to-back. Argentina? Scotland? Or how about Wales? France would be too easy, no?
1 Go to commentsA bit of sensationalism, but surprised by the comments about SBW. I’ve always thought of him as a pretty authentic person. There is nothing worse than working with a colleague you’ve seen straight through.
9 Go to comments100% agree with your comment about Touch. I’ve been playing it competitively since Covid. It’s on a Wednesday night after work. It means the weekend is free for time with my family.
1 Go to commentsRodda back is massively important for the Wallabies. Kaitu at hooker important too coz he was very good a few years ago.
1 Go to commentsThe pink cabous might be eligible this year and the Boks don’t need him
7 Go to commentsNasser and kaitu are options for hooker. Especially Nasser. You forgot Rodda who touch wood will be fit at test time and if fit he’s number one. Great partner for the great Skelton and Oz best lineout caller. Third best lock is LSL whom I’d be inclined to sub on for Skelton around 60 minutes. Probably start valetini at 8 because I like a big body back there. Cale should play 6 at the brumbies. For Wallabies definitely cale in the squad but as an apprentice. Dunno who starts at 6 seru wright Swinton hanigan with Will Harris and Harry Wilson not far away. Seru and Swinton my front runners but Swinton is going. Still if we don’t cap seru then Fiji must coz they need his lineout skills and easily compensate for his lack of weight
7 Go to commentsYeah but who was it?
9 Go to commentsThink you might have written this just before the Brumbies got thrashed last weekend
7 Go to commentsI really do believe that Billy Proctor should be selected at least in the larger squad but also it would be my choice at 13, much more a center than Ioane who can still play at wing. Roigard if fit should play, otherwise it should be Perenara or Christie. Also, Iose could deserve a spot at blindside. Of course, being a Canes supporter I’m biased but I really believe that at least Billy P is deserving a chance and being Holland one of the Selectors, I’m having a little hope he could grab it.
13 Go to commentsI would not play Swinton I’d pick Wright or Hanigan. The rest are decent starters, but can’t agree on any subs except Tupou. My take on the subs: Gibbon, Ueslese, Tupou, LSL, Wilson, White, Will Harrison, and Petaia.
7 Go to commentsSBW the biggest moron to pull on a black jersey a park footy player at best
9 Go to commentsSBW is fast becoming a laughing stock, his misplaced comments & lack of insight Is actually pretty sad.
9 Go to commentsJust well you guys are couch 🛋 potatoes selector's, picking a team of greenhorns to play England! “What are you people smoking?” The halfbacks will be Christie, Fakatava, Perenara Props; Newell, Bower, Lomax, Tunga'fasi, Hookers; Asosa Amua when fit, Taylor, Samisoni,
13 Go to commentsQuite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
13 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
7 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
9 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
13 Go to commentsThe strongest possible AB side would actually include Aaron Smith, Bodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizzel.. don’t get me started on the rest of the injury hit brigade that got flung on the heap so left. Many a whole not getting filled as of yet.
13 Go to commentsI don’t think anyone knows what Schmidt will do, one thing is certain it ain’t gonna be all the picks we on the keyboard will think. My impression of him is that he will be looking at who can step up and what is the best combination. He will ignore individuals as he looks for guys who can build a powerful team and not just guys who can make a flashy run or ignore the winger as they want to score themselves.
7 Go to comments