Ian Foster and Scott Robertson were hampered by New Zealand Rugby\u2019s process of making the head coach put a prospective backroom team together before even getting the job.<\/p>\n
That is according to former All Blacks manager Darren Shand, who thought that the previous two head coaches were always fighting a losing after being hired.<\/p>\n
As part of NZ Rugby\u2019s approach to finding to next national team boss, they tell each candidate to select who they would want as part of their coaching group.<\/p>\n
In 2019, Foster<\/a> selected John Plumtree and Brad Mooar as his forwards and backs coaches respectively, but both were axed in 2022.<\/p>\n Similar scenario under Robertson<\/p>\n A few years later under Robertson<\/a> and there was, in many ways, a repeat of that scenario as Leon MacDonald and Jason Holland departed the All Blacks<\/a> set-up.<\/p>\n Unlike Foster, however, who kept his job and took them into the 2023 Rugby World Cup, Robertson was sacked midway through his four-year deal.<\/p>\n The governing body are now on the lookout for another head coach and have stipulated that they must be a Kiwi and have international experience.<\/p>\n Providing they meet those requirements, NZR have not ruled anybody out, even if the likes of Vern Cotter and reportedly Joe Schmidt have taken it upon themselves to do just that.<\/p>\n Jamie Joseph and Dave Rennie are therefore favourites, but there are reports that the governing body have contacted Steve Hansen and Foster to invite them to apply.<\/p>\n Some have speculated that it could open up the prospect of big names coming together in order to take the All Blacks into the World Cup.<\/p>\n Shand, who was manager between 2004 and 2023, admitted that seeing Hansen and Foster being linked \u201cpiqued my interest a little\u201d, before telling Sport Nation\u2019s Millsy & Guy show what made New Zealand so successful during his era.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m just happy that they have a field that\u2019s worthy. One thing I\u2019ve been reflecting on lately is the system of asking a head coach to bring his team with him has kind of failed the last two coaches because it just limits the field,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s good that they\u2019re going to get the head coach right and how good would it be if you get the coaching group that\u2019s made up of other head coaches as well? You want the best.<\/p>\n \u201cIt happened organically with Graham [Henry] but he hired Steve and Wayne [Smith], and suddenly you\u2019re putting three head coaches together and saying: \u2018come on, let\u2019s make it work\u2019.<\/p>\n \u201cI just hope that\u2019s where we get to this time. We find the best and the best find a way to work together for the best interests of the game and this great team.\u201d<\/p>\n Ian Foster \u2018mooted\u2019 to reclaim All Blacks job as NZ Rugby \u2018approach\u2019 Sir Steve Hansen<\/a><\/p>\n Getting the best outcome for the All Blacks<\/p>\n Shand therefore hopes that everyone can work together in order to get the best for the All Blacks heading into the 2027 World Cup in Australia.<\/p>\n \u201cI think there needs to be a more transparent process, not just with New Zealand Rugby but a group of good people that can understand the skill sets that are needed to run much more than a team,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cExpanding that scope out and saying: \u2018Hey, I know that there\u2019s people you\u2019ve worked with in the past and that\u2019s important, but let\u2019s just test it\u2019.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s know that is the right group and let\u2019s go through a rigorous recruitment to make sure we have got that right, so we know the DNA of the game that we want.\u201d<\/p>\n Shand spent two decades as All Blacks manager, being part of the 2011 and 2015 Rugby World Cup wins under Henry\u2019s and Hansen\u2019s coaching regimes respectively.<\/p>\n