Wynne Gray: Henry's the last decent coach in our cupboard

Wynne Gray

Reappoint Ted now. Let's get shot of any charade.

There is no one of Graham Henry's calibre, yet, within this country and unless the New Zealand Rugby Union thinks Eddie Jones, Nick Mallett or other experienced coaches who might understand rugby in this hemisphere are interested in the job, then they should get on with it and ink in Henry's name.

It has come as no surprise that Henry wants to continue to coach the All Blacks through to the next World Cup. Claiming the Webb Ellis Cup is in the unrequited column on his rugby CV as it has been the festering sore on the nation's rugby credibility since that initial triumph way back in 1987.

There are a few other asterisks beside Henry's coaching credentials - such as the Lions trip to Australia in 2001 and his exit from Wales - but he is a hugely successful coach and the All Blacks have only suffered eight losses in the 63 tests since Henry took on the job in 2004. His success rate, endurance, experience and knowledge continues to be top class.

His evasion, and that of other NZRU officials, of the exit door after defeat at the last World Cup quarter-final in Cardiff completed another messy chapter in this nation's mire of rugby politics. It persuaded Henry's one true rival for the top job, Robbie Deans, to pick up his ball and write Wallabies across the panels.

There were mutterings about Henry staying for a transition period to guide his assistants but they had already had four years together. Henry was the supremo, Wayne Smith was content to stay in his role and there was no move to promote Steve Hansen. Having one core group for eight years does not always assist the players or those aspiring to ascend the coaching ladder, though England and Sir Clive Woodward would beg to differ.

No alternatives though from the Super 14 coaching ranks have shown they are ready for a promotion. Colin Cooper and Ian Foster have slogged away and gained some ground this season without suggesting they are going to shake up the international arena, while the others are still cutting their coaching teeth at this level.

Having decided Henry and his cronies were the right men to continue to develop All Black rugby and being rewarded with a strong 2008, the NZRU should sign Henry to the next World Cup and let him get on with it. What are they thinking they will achieve with further delay? Top-line contenders are hardly plentiful out there in rugby land.

For Henry, coaching is as much a part of his life as it is for those who sit near the helm of other codes such as Sir Alex Fergusson and Wayne Bennett. Had Henry announced anything other than his intention to carry on it would have been a shock. There might be a few bumps though.

His premier five-eighths Daniel Carter will struggle to don any national garb until, at a pinch, late in the Tri-Nations, while the latest precautionary stand-down for Richie McCaw because of concussion will deliver a huge tremor for the All Black panel.

While Henry was bullish this week about the qualities of some youngsters pushing to be McCaw's understudy, no one yet is within sniffing distance of McCaw's ability. Significantly, in the eight test defeats since Henry has been in charge, McCaw has been absent for half those losses and Carter just one.

Settling on an understudy for McCaw looms as a much tougher task than reappointing Henry.