KEY POINTS:
Political shifts seem to be occurring over the makeup of the next All Blacks coaching panel.
The NZRU plan was, on the back of a successful World Cup campaign, for Steve Hansen to be eased into the top chair. Graham Henry would receive multiple accolades and acknowledge that it was a good time for one of his lieutenants to take over while he slid into life as a rugby consultant.
Hansen's credentials are not looking too robust after a previous troubled tenure in Wales and it appears the NZRU public relations machine has got to work using website results to justify the nation's preference for Henry against the Crusaders supremo Robbie Deans.
Many see that as a "transition" solution for the NZRU, the way out of the mire they have found themselves in.
Polls may show Henry is favoured two to one ahead of Deans but Hansen is way down the list and in similar polls in 2003, coach John Mitchell rated extremely highly.
However four years ago the NZRU, through all sorts of indicators, was pushing for a different coaching group while this time it is looking to retain its panel.
It will tout the Henry regime record of 42 wins in 48 tests (compared with Mitchell's 23 wins and a draw in 28 tests) as reasons for continuity, it may even resort to Sir Clive Woodward's retention after 1999 and success in 2003 as an example for stability.
Meanwhile Jake White in his four years and Brian Ashton in his extra-short tenure have their teams in the World Cup final.
After the quarter-final failure in France the All Black staff were in close contact with members of the board and executive where they were able to canvas their ideas.
If the latest plan is to have Henry used in a crossover coaching role, it is not a ringing endorsement of Hansen's credentials.
But the board and senior staff are in an uncomfortable position. If they ditch the coaches they are also condemning their evaluations during the season.
If a review supports their strategies then Deans, who has far stronger coaching claims than Hansen, will be lost to someone else.
Players tire of hearing the same coaching voices for years on end, they need to be rejuvenated and eight years of the same mentors would be too much.
