KEY POINTS:
The New Zealand Rugby Union are debating whether they need a contestable process for the All Black coaching job after the World Cup.
The past two appointments - John Mitchell and Graham Henry - were made after the post was advertised, but the NZRU is considering taking control of the succession and dictating what happens without going to the market.
The current panel of Graham Henry, Steve Hansen and Wayne Smith are contracted through to the end of the year.
Historically, the NZRU has contracted the All Black coach through to the World Cup then decided on succession after the tournament - in 1999 John Hart resigned and in 2003 the board opted for a contestable process.
Having spent $8 million on a high-performance plan, the executive is aware of the sense in a controlled succession. Deputy chief executive Steve Tew says the board will discuss the options in the next few months.
If the NZRU decides to break with recent tradition, all three of the current coaching panel would need to declare their future intentions before the World Cup.
If they want to continue in their present roles, the NZRU may offer them contract extensions to provide peace of mind before heading to France. If, though, Henry decides to stand down, it may be that assistant coach Hansen is asked to step up.
The attraction of controlling the process is that it allows for continuity of ideas and philosophies and will go some way to removing the perception that tenure can be considered successful only if it delivers a World Cup. It would also give New Zealand's other elite coaches the opportunity to make informed decisions about their own futures.
Robbie Deans has said he is considering off-shore options after almost a decade with the Crusaders. He is contracted to the NZRU to 2008 but with a get-out clause at the end of this year.
If he knew well ahead of the World Cup that the All Black job would be unavailable in 2007, then he could decide without the picture being clouded by uncertainty over the national post.
If the NZRU commit to advertising the job, regardless of whether all or some of the current All Black panel want to stay beyond their existing contracts, they run the risk of badly disrupting Super 14 Rugby preparations.
The World Cup final is on October 20 and if the job is opened to the market, interviews would take place during the Super 14 preparation window.
There would also be a strong possibility of one of the current Super 14 coaches being successful, perhaps with one of the other franchise coaches as an assistant. That could leave franchises looking for head coaches only weeks before the competition.
Tew acknowledges all five franchises have experienced coaches and the ideal scenario would be to keep them all in New Zealand post-2007.
"We are in really good shape in terms of ability and experience and that has not happened by luck.
"The likes of Graham, Steve, Wayne and Warren Gatland have shown, coaches can go overseas, continue their development and then return."
