Graham Henry stays in mix for 2007 cup

Graham Henry has been reappointed to lead the All Blacks through to the next World Cup, but is worried about his coaching inactivity in the past six months.

However, he professes no alarm about the lack of collective preparation for the All Blacks in the run-down to the three-test series against the Lions.

"I am ready to go again - it has been a long time since our last test against France," Henry said.

"Is it too long a wait? It is a concern because I feel it takes me three or four weeks to get back into the feeling of being totally comfortable with the job again.

"So you do get rusty, you are not coaching week in and week out so it takes time and every year it is the same.

"I have felt that way every year and it is the same with Super 12 where you finish in May and start again in February, it takes some time to get back into the groove."

Henry has less than a month to be ready for the first test against the Lions and even less time to be hands-on with those who will carry the All Black hopes on June 25 in Christchurch.

Any potential All Blacks will be excused from the June 3 national trial if they have been involved in the Super 12 final the week before.

The NZ Maori side then have first call on any eligible players for their June 11 game against the Lions instead of them representing the All Blacks the night before against Fiji.

However, the NZRFU has agreed the first test squad for the Lions can assemble for four days from June 14 in Auckland and will then regather in Christchurch from the Sunday for the opening test against the Lions.

The NZRFU also announced yesterday that Henry, Steve Hansen and Wayne Smith had their coaching contracts extended to the end of 2007.

"We want to give the coaches the confidence and certainty for the next World Cup and we want to give the players the certainty of knowing what is happening as well," NZRFU chairman Jock Hobbs said.

The All Black panel was appointed originally for two years and ended their first season with a test record of nine wins and two defeats.

Hobbs said the board was impressed with the panel's ability to regroup after a Tri-Nations stumble and was confident if that re-occurred, they would handle the problem.

Meanwhile, Henry said it was fair to question whether that group would have enough time with the players before the Lions series.

However, the health and welfare of the players was paramount.

"We went through this last year. When we analysed everything at the end of the Tri-Nations we thought we had worked them too hard," he said. "So we have to look after them if we are to produce a result out on the field.

"Guys who have been through 13 weeks of rugby to get to the Super 12 final need even more than a week's rest obviously, but that is the best we can do."

Most of the All Black squad was apparent to the selectors, there were only a few issues to be sorted out over the next few weeks.

"The end of year tour to Europe last season was a huge benefit to us," Henry said.

"It has made this year a lot easier in selection ... we are much further ahead than we were at this time last year when Steve and Wayne were hardly in the country."