Formal interviews for the position of All Blacks head coach will be held this week – with an announcement likely by the end of it.
A New Zealand Rugby delegation – thought to be interim chief executive Steve Lancaster and former All Black Dane Coles – has already visited Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph in Dunedin and Dave Rennie in Kobe.
1News understands formal interviews will be held over the next couple of days.
Significantly, perhaps, Rennie’s Kobelco Kobe Steelers, currently in second place in the Japan League One Division 1 competition, have a bye this weekend which may allow him to travel to New Zealand for a face-to-face meeting with the interview panel.
Joseph’s Highlanders host the Force in Dunedin on Saturday afternoon.
The pair – both ticking New Zealand Rugby’s boxes as Kiwis who have coached international teams – are thought to be the only individuals interviewing for the role.
Joseph, who will likely be forced to immediately leave the Highlanders should he be given the nod, has been tight-lipped about his intentions.
Rennie is in his final season with the Steelers and will have to cut it short should he accept the All Blacks job. One of his assistants at Kobe, Scotsman Peter Murchie, has announced he will leave to assist with the Wales national team at the conclusion of the Japanese season in June.
An impending announcement will likely be music to the ears of All Blacks staff and assistant coaches as many will be on tenterhooks regarding their future with the team.
1News has learned that Joseph is more open to working with the current assistants, who include Jason Ryan, Tamati Ellison and Scott Hansen, than Rennie is.
There is little doubt that Joseph’s application would be more compelling if he could call on the services of former right-hand man Tony Brown, currently contracted to the Springboks until after next year’s World Cup.
As far as timings are concerned, there is also the considerable logistical challenge of the All Blacks’ gruelling eight-match tour of South Africa in August and September to plan for.
The All Blacks' schedule in South Africa includes three Tests, with one further Test between the two rivals bolted on in the United States city of Baltimore for money making purposes.
In July, the All Blacks host France, Italy and Ireland in the inaugural Nations Championship. Had Robertson, dismissed in January, been retained as head coach, planning for those three Tests would have been highly advanced.
The apparent lack of progress in appointing a successor to Scott Robertson has likely raised anxiety levels among staff, but after Robertson's reign was cut short after two years, NZ Rugby is determined to leave nothing to chance.
Any announcement will almost certainly take place in Auckland due to access for most of the nation’s media representatives.
New Zealand Rugby is also seeking a new chief executive following Mark Robinson's resignation in the middle of last year, and a new head of high performance following the recent resignations of Mike Anthony and Chris Lendrum.
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