His main achievement is coaching the Highlanders to their only Super Rugby title in 2015. Like Robertson, Joseph is a former All Black, while also having coached Japan.
International experience: Joseph led Japan to their first Rugby World Cup quarter-final in 2019, after topping their pool with famous victories over Ireland and Scotland. That run to the last eight also saw Japan temporarily reach an all-time high of sixth on the world rankings. Joseph coached the side at the 2023 World Cup, where they didn’t get out of their group after defeats to England and Argentina.
He finished with 50 tests in charge, and a 46% winning record.
Dave Rennie
Rennie is coaching at the Kobe Steelers in the Japan Rugby League One, current home of the sometime All Blacks skipper Ardie Savea. Domestically, he led the Chiefs to their first Super Rugby title in 2012, which they successfully defended in 2013. Rennie certainly has international experience, having coached Australia for three seasons and gaining the respect of a young squad before being replaced by Eddie Jones.
International experience: With the Wallabies, Rennie had 13 wins from 34 tests for a 36.40% winning record, the second lowest in the professional era for Australia.
Vern Cotter
A Te Puke farmer who coached Bay of Plenty and extensively in France, he’s the current Blues coach and knows a decent chunk of the current squad. He has recent success on his resume with the Blues, winning the Super Rugby Pacific title two years ago. He arrived at the Blues with “a clear vision and direct, assertive manner which proved widely popular with players“, according to Liam Napier.
International experience: Both with Scotland and Fiji. Cotter was in charge of Scotland from 2014-17, in which they played 36 tests with a 52.8% winning record. At the 2015 World Cup they were pipped by eventual finalists Australia in the quarter-final stage after a controversial Craig Joubert penalty saw a last-minute win for the Wallabies. Spent three years coaching Fiji, standing down seven months before the 2023 World Cup.
Robbie Deans
How about replacing a Crusaders coaching great with another? After clinching a fourth Super Rugby title, Deans went close to winning the All Blacks coaching job in 2007 before NZR decided to stick with Sir Graham Henry. The Crusaders won another title before Deans took the Wallabies job. He has been coaching club rugby in Japan for more than 10 years.
International experience: Five years as Wallabies coach (2008-13) saw him oversee 75 tests, the most of any Australian coach across the professional era. Over that span, they had a 58.67% winning record and reached a World Cup semi-final. Won just three tests against the All Blacks.
Warren Gatland
Not many coaches in World Rugby have as much experience in the international game than Gatland. His first international head coaching job was in 1998 and he was still coaching a test side last year. Most recent New Zealand-based role was as Chiefs director of rugby.
International experience: Plenty. Coached Ireland for three years (47.37% winning record from 38 tests) between 1998 and 2001 before two separate stints as Wales coach, the first a lot more successful than the more recent one. Gatland led Wales from 2007 to 2019 across 125 matches and 70 victories. He returned in 2022 for 26 tests and just six wins. He also coached the British and Irish Lions across three tours, including a 2-1 series win against Australia and a tied series in New Zealand.
Wayne Pivac
The former police officer was Auckland coach for five seasons (1999-2003), winning three NPC titles and the Ranfurly Shield, with other stints at Northland and North Harbour before returning to Auckland. Most recently was coach of Japanese side NEC Green Rockets Tokatsu but left last year after missing out on promotion to League One.
International experience: Coached Fiji from 2004 to 2007 but left before the World Cup. Then took over as Wales head coach in 2019 until 2022 – 34 tests in charge with a 38% wining record.
John Mitchell
He’s just won a Rugby World Cup with the England women’s team and could make it two in three years if he got the All Blacks job – a role he’s already held before.
International experience: Both in the men’s and women’s game. The father of ODI world No 1 batter Daryl Mitchell, John Mitchell has already had a go as All Blacks coach, from 2001 until the semi-final exit at the 2003 Rugby World Cup. NZR coaching panellist Keven Mealamu was in that All Blacks side. But since then, Mitchell has worked as an assistant coach for England and Japan before taking the Red Roses role in 2023.
Kieran Crowley
Former All Black and a 1987 Rugby World Cup winner, alongside NZR chair David Kirk. Household name in Taranaki. Crowley is currently coaching the Mie Honda Heat in Japan’s second division.
International experience: Crowley coached Canada from 2008 to 2016 before taking on the Italian job from 2021 to 2023. With the Azzurri, they played 27 tests, winning 10.
Cameron McMillan has been a sports journalist since 2003 and is NZME’s Deputy Head of Sport.