KEY POINTS:
The All Blacks' management team will undergo changes and be smaller for the 2008 international rugby season.
All Blacks manager Darren Shand confirmed today that the departure of five members of 2007 team management would result in three positions being advertised for.
Otherwise the bulk of the 2007 team management had been retained.
In addition to Shand and coaches Graham Henry, Steve Hansen and Wayne Smith, the All Blacks retain doctor Deb Robinson, physiotherapist Peter Gallagher, equipment manager Errol Collins and media manager Scott Compton.
Strength and conditioning coach Graham Lowe planned to move overseas - reportedly to work with United States America's Cup yachting syndicate Oracle.
Assistant strength and conditioning coach Ashley Jones, video analyst Andrew Sullivan and muscle therapist George Duncan have also opted to relinquish their All Blacks jobs.
Jones and Sullivan remain with the Crusaders while Duncan will concentrate on his private practice.
All Blacks selector Sir Brian Lochore retired late last year.
The All Blacks will appoint a new strength and conditioning coach, video analyst and muscle therapist for the 2008 season.
Shand said the All Blacks would also supplement the staff of 11 with the services of specialists from the New Zealand Rugby Union's high performance unit such as scrum coach Mike Cron, skills coach Mick Byrne and mental skills coach Gilbert Enoka.
"Mike Cron and Mick Byrne serve the provinces, academies and 14 franchises as well as the All Blacks," Shand said in a statement.
"We need to work through exactly how their time is divided in 2008, but their specialist knowledge is important at all levels of New Zealand rugby including the All Blacks."
Shand said the scope of Enoka's work and level of involvement was yet to be confirmed.
"We review every staff memberb s performance at the end of the season and believe we have a hard-working group with a great deal of expertise and experience," Shand said.
"We don't want to lose sight of that despite the disappointment of last year's Rugby World Cup.
"At the same time, some change was expected. Rugby has a natural four year cycle nowadays so we are happy to have retained the staff that we have. We won't look to replace Sir Brian - I don't think we could if we tried - and we'll have one strength and conditioning role in 2008 rather than two."
- NZPA
