KEY POINTS:
MARSEILLE - Wayne Smith expects All Blacks rugby coach Graham Henry to "poke his nose in" to cover any cracks that might be left by the return home of fellow-assistant coach Steve Hansen.
While Smith said Hansen's departure yesterday to Christchurch to visit his ailing mother would leave an empty feeling within the team he was confident the day-to-day running of the team would be unaffected in the leadup to Saturday's second World Cup pool match against Portugal.
Hansen will be absent for an unspecified period to be with his mother, Lauriss, and family.
"Emotionally it's going to have an effect on us, the players and coaches all love him," Smith said today.
"There will be thoughts with him and an emotional cost maybe within the staff.
"We've just got to get on with it and do the jobs this week for him, and honour him that way."
Smith expected a seamless transition into a new coaching arrangement to cover off all aspects of Hansen's role with the forwards.
"Graham likes to poke his nose in on lineouts anyway, so no change there," Smith smiled, adding that Henry will oversee all elements of forward play.
Specialist skills coach Mick Byrne and biomechanist Mark Sayers will analyse the lineout throwing and jumping elements, while scrum coach Mike Cron will maintain his usual duties while also working on driving play.
Like any good business manager taking leave, Hansen had left head office in good shape, Smith explained.
"He's got people doing the jobs and explained it well so we know what we're doing from a task point of view."
All Blacks manager Darren Shand admired Hansen's ability to get on with the job in the week leading up to the 76-14, knowing that his mother was still recovering from a heart attack.
"It's been hard. When things close to your family happen, it's always going to affect you, especially when you're on the other side of the world," Shand said.
"Steve's a tough character and he's dealt with it in his own way.
"He's had great support from the team and the management and he goes with our blessing really."
- NZPA
