All Blacks coach Graham Henry has been told to re-apply for his job should he wish to continue following the team’s failure at the World Cup.

 
Henry lead New Zealand to the last eight where they lost to France, but New Zealand Rugby Union has now opened up the post to welcome new candidates.

“The board decided a contestable process was the most appropriate course of action,” a NZRU statement read.

Henry’s future as coach came under scrutiny when New Zealand were dumped out of the World Cup 20-18 by hosts France.

The former Wales coach, 61, and his assistants Wayne Smith and Steve Hansen are undecided whether to apply again for their respective roles.

“We all want what is best for New Zealand rugby and understand the board’s decision to ask for applications,” he said on the All Blacks’ official website.

“All three of us will take time to think about the next steps and we’ll have a decision on the 26 November.”

The announcement of the 28-strong squads follows a selection meeting attended by the coaching staff of the five New Zealand Franchises at the New Zealand Rugby Union offices in Wellington yesterday.The key points from the squad announcements are:
+ 28 players have been selected in a Rebel Sport Super 14 squad for the first time.
+ 17 players have been drafted to other Franchises.
+ eight players are returning to Rebel Sport Super 14 rugby after missing initial selection last year.

Eleven players transferred to new provinces ahead of the selection meeting.

The transferring players were Daniel Bowden (from Northland to Otago), Nick Evans (Otago to Auckland), Chris King (Otago to Southland), Tasesa Lavea (Auckland to Counties Manukau), Lucky Mulipola (Tasman to Otago), Kevin O’Neill (Canterbury to Waikato), William Ripia (Waikato to Taranaki), Steven Setephano (Waikato to Otago), Chris Smylie (Otago to North Harbour), George Whitelock (Otago to Canterbury) and Ali Williams (Auckland to Tasman).

The 28 players named in a Rebel Sport Super 14 squad for the first time are as follows:

Blues: Hawke’s Bay lock Bryn Evans, Auckland midfielder Jamie Helleur, Auckland hooker Tom McCartney, Auckland halfback Taniela Moa, Northland prop Bronson Murray and Auckland utility back Benson Stanley.

Chiefs: Wellington loose forward Faifili Levave.

Hurricanes: Hawke’s Bay hooker Hikawera Elliott, Wellington prop Jacob Ellison, Hawke’s Bay wing Zac Guildford, Hawke’s Bay loose forward Michael Johnson, Taranaki first five-eighth William Ripia and Wellington lock Jeremy Thrush.

Crusaders: Tasman halfback Kahn Fotuali’i, Canterbury five-eighth Hamish Gard, Canterbury wing Sean Maitland, Canterbury No 8 Nasi Manu, Tasman wing Kade Poki and Canterbury loose forward George Whitelock.

Highlanders: Otago first five-eighth Daniel Bowden, Bay of Plenty first five-eighth Mike Delany, Manawatu midfielder Johnny Leota, Otago midfielder Brett Mather, Hawke’s Bay prop Clint Newland, Otago loose forward Steven Setephano, Otago loose forward Adam Thomson, Northland wing Fetu’u Vainikolo and Southland fullback James Wilson.

The eight players returning to Rebel Sport Super 14 rugby squads are Southland loose forward Tim Boys (Highlanders), Taranaki lock Craig Clarke (Hurricanes), Otago lock Tom Donnelly (Highlanders), Auckland lock Kurtis Haiu (Blues), Wellington loose forward Tom Harding (Chiefs), Hawke’s Bay halfback Danny Lee (Blues), former Crusaders lock Brad Thorn (Crusaders) and Taranaki loose forward Scott Waldrom (Hurricanes).

Three 2007 Rebel Sport Super 14 players were not considered for selection for 2008 due to injury and long-term rehabilitation – Wellington’s Serge Lilo, Tasman’s Peter Nixon and Waikato’s Nathan White.

Otago’s James Ryan was also unavailable for selection after it was agreed that he should have an extended break from rugby following rehabilitation of his current injury.

NZRU Professional Rugby Manager Neil Sorensen congratulated the 140 players selected, especially the new players. “The squads show that there is a real depth in New Zealand rugby, with the Air New Zealand Cup again unveiling some new talent, and it’s great to see that the four new teams in the Air New Zealand Cup have contributed 17 players to the squads. Hawke’s Bay’s fantastic season has been rewarded with six players selected in squads.

“It’s an exciting time for all the new players and this is the next step in their development as a professional rugby player. I’m sure the players and the fans will be looking forward to the start of the competition after the summer break.”

The Crusaders kick off next year’s Rebel Sport Super 14 com

Collated New Zealand rugby squads for the 2008 Super 14 (* denotes draft player):-

Blues: Ben Atiga (Auckland), George Pisi (North Harbour), David Smith (Auckland), Rudi Wulf (North Harbour), Joe Rokocoko (Auckland), Benson Stanley (Auckland), Anthony Tuitavake (North Harbour), Jamie Helleur (Auckland), Isaia Toeava (Auckland), Isa Nacewa (Auckland), Nick Evans (Auckland), Danny Lee (Hawke’s Bay*), Taniela Moa (Auckland), Nick Williams (North Harbour), Jerome Kaino (Auckland), Onosa’i Tololima Auva’a (Auckland), Daniel Braid (Auckland), Justin Collins (Northland), Bryn Evans (Hawke’s Bay*), Kurtis Haiu (Auckland), Anthony Boric (North Harbour), Troy Flavell (Auckland), Tom McCartney (Auckland), Keven Mealamu (Auckland), Bronson Murray (Northland), John Afoa (Auckland), Nick White (Auckland), Tony Woodcock (North Harbour).

In: Benson Stanley, Jamie Helleur, Nick Evans, Danny Lee, Taniela Moa, Bryn Evans, Tom McCartney, Bronson Murray

Out: Doug Howlett, James Somerset, Sam Tuitupou, Luke McAlister, David Holwell, Steve Devine, David Gibson, Angus Macdonald, Ali Williams, Greg Rawlinson, Chris Heard, Saimone Taumoepeau, Derren Witcombe, Sam Biddles

Chiefs: Mils Muliana (Waikato), Vili Waqaseduadua (North Harbour*), Sosene Anesi (Waikato), Leila Masaga (Counties-Manukau), Sitiveni Sivivatu (Waikato), Dwayne Sweeney (Waikato), Richard Kahui (Waikato), Callum Bruce (Otago*), Tasesa Lavea (Counties-Manukau), Stephen Donald (Waikato), Jamie Nutbrown (Bay of Plenty), Brendon Leonard (Waikato), Fafili Levave (Wellington*), Sione Lauaki (Waikato), Tom Harding (Wellington*), Tanerau Latimer (Bay of Plenty), Hayden Hopgood (Canterbury*), Liam Messam (Waikato), Toby Lynn (Waikato), Kristian Ormsby (Counties-Manukau), Kevin O’Neill (Waikato), Jono Gibbes (Waikato), Aled de Malmanche (Waikato), Tom Willis (Waikato), Ben May (Tasman*), Ben Castle (Bay of Plenty), Craig West (Waikato), Simms Davison (Bay of Plenty).

In: Vili Waqaseduadua, Callum Bruce, Fafili Levave, Tom Harding, Hayden Hopgood, Kevin O’Neill, Ben May

Out: Roy Kinikinilau, Anthony Tahana, Niva Ta’auso, Tane Tu’ipulotu, Murray Williams, Byron Kelleher, Steven Bates, Marty Holah, Keith Robinson, Nathan White

Crusaders: Leon Macdonald (Canterbury), Scott Hamilton (Canterbury), Kade Poki (Tasman), Sean Maitland (Canterbury), Caleb Ralph (Tasman), Casey Laulala (Canterbury), Tim Bateman (Canterbury), Hamish Gard (Canterbury), Stephen Brett (Canterbury), Dan Carter (Canterbury), Andy Ellis (Canterbury) Kahn Fotuali’i (Tasman), Nasi Manu (Canterbury), Mose Tuiali’i (Canterbury), George Whitelock (Canterbury), Richie McCaw (Canterbury), Kieran Read (Canterbury), Reuben Thorne (Canterbury), Brad Thorn (Tasman), Michael Paterson (Canterbury), Ross Filipo (Wellington), Ali Williams (Tasman), Ti’i Paulo (Canterbury), Corey Flynn (Canterbury), Ben Franks (Canterbury), Campbell Johnstone (Canterbury), Greg Somerville (Canterbury), Wyatt Crockett (Canterbury)

In: Kade Poki, Sean Maitland, Hamish Gard, Kahn Fotuali’i, Nasi Manu, George Whitelock, Brad Thorn, Ali Williams

Out: Brent Ward, Paul Williams, Rico Gear, Aaron Mauger, Rua Tipoki, Tusi Pisi, Kevin Senio, Jake Paringatai, Johnny Leo’o, Jonathan Poff, Peter Nixon, Issac Ross, Chris Jack, Kevin O’Neill, Ben May

Highlanders: James Wilson (Southland), Paul Williams (Canterbury*), Lucky Mulipola (Otago), Fetu’u Vainikolo (Northland*), Brett Mather (Otago), Johnny Leota (Manawatu*), Niva Ta’auso (Counties-Manukau*), Aaron Bancroft (Otago), Mike Delany (Bay of Plenty*), Daniel Bowden (Otago), Toby Morland (Otago), Jimmy Cowan (Southland), Ezra Taylor (Otago), Stephen Setephano (Otago), Tim Boys (Southland), Alando Soaki (Otago), Adam Thompson (Otago), Craig Newby (Otago), Hoani MacDonald (Southland), Isaac Ross (Canterbury*), Hayden Triggs (Manawatu*), Tom Donnelly (Otago), David Hall (Southland), Jason Macdonald (Southland), Clint Newland (Hawke’s Bay*), Chris King (Southland), Keith Cameron (Otago), Jamie Mackintosh (Southland)

In: James Wilson, Paul Williams, Fetu’u Vainikolo, Brett Mather, Johnny Leota, Niva Ta’auso, Mike Delany, Daniel Bowden, Stephen Setephano, Adam Thompson, Isaac Ross, Hayden Triggs, Clint Newland

Out: Matt Saunders, Glen Horton, Craig Clare, Greg Zampach, Vili Waqaseduadua, Jason Kawau, Charlie Hore, Nick Evans, Callum Bruce, Josh Blackie, Hale T-Pole, Filipo Levi, Kane Thompson, James Ryan, Anton Oliver, Clarke Dermody, Carl Hayman

Hurricanes: Cory Jane (Wellington), Shannon Paku (Wellington), Zac Guildford (Hawke’s Bay), Hosea Gear (Wellington), Ma’a Nonu (Wellington), Conrad Smith (Wellington), Tane Tu’ipulotu (Wellington), Tamati Ellison (Wellington), Willie Ripia (Taranaki), Jimmy Gopperth (Wellington), Alby Matthewson (Wellington), Piri Weepu (Wellington), Rodney So’oialo (Wellington), Chris Masoe (Wellington), Jerry Collins (Wellington), Thomas Waldrom (Wellington), Scott Waldrom (Taranaki), Michael Johnson (Hawke’s Bay), Bernie Upton (Wellington), Jeremy Thrush (Wellington), Craig Clarke (Taranaki), Jason Eaton (Taranaki), Hika Elliott (Hawke’s Bay), Andrew Hore (Taranaki), Tim Fairbrother (Wellington), Neemia Tialata (Wellington), John Schwalger (Wellington), Jacob Ellison (Wellington)

In: Zac Guildford, Tane Tu’ipulotu, Willie Ripia, Scott Waldrom, Michael Johnson, Jeremy Thrush, Craig Clarke, Hika Elliott, Jacob Ellison

Out: David Smith, Lome Fa’atau, Tana Umaga, Blair Stewart, Chris Smylie, Brad Mika, Serge Lilo, Nili Latu, Luke Andrews, Paul Tito, Hayden Triggs, Tone Kopelani, Mahonri Schwalger, Tony Penn

It’s official. Crusaders head coach Robbie Deans today declared his desire for the All Blacks coaching spot — should it become vacant.
Deans formally announced his availability at a news conference in Christchurch following the Crusaders squad announcement for the 2008 Super 14 competition.
He also said he would not be interviewed for the Wallabies’ head coaching job.

Confirmation of Deans’ interest in the top job — should the NZRU board opt for changes after considering an independent review of the failed World Cup campaign — came as no surprise.

Intense speculation on his future since the All Blacks were eliminated by France in the Cup quarterfinals on October 7, prompted Deans to say he would apply to potentially succeed Graham Henry should he not be retained, or seek a new contract.

Deans distanced himself from the Wallabies job, saying he would not be involved in the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) interview process which starts on November 9.

“I just wanted the opportunity to say it for myself,” said Deans, who recently returned from Paris, where he watched the latter stages of the World Cup.

“Essentially I am available, interested and keen to coach the All Blacks.”

Deans was careful to emphasise he wouldn’t be doing anything “in the near future” that would jeopardise his chances, a reference to the Wallabies job vacated by John Connolly.

Deans met ARU chief executive John O’Neill while in France but reiterated his priority was the All Blacks.

Clearly at the top of O’Neill’s wish-list, Deans acknowledged his international coaching aspirations could be thwarted should the NZRU review maintain the status quo after the Wallabies post was filled.

“That’s a possibility,” he said.

“They’ve (the ARU) got a process to go through as well and they’ve got timelines they may want to meet. That’s the way it is.”

A review of New Zealand’s worst-ever finish at a World Cup is under way with the incumbent coaching panel of Henry and assistant Steve Hansen and Wayne Smith understood to have already been interviewed in Wellington.

An announcement on who will coach the All Blacks next season is expected in December.

Deans and Hansen are thought to be the frontrunners should Henry, 61, make way.

The most successful coach in Super rugby history after leading the Crusaders to four titles and two finals since taking over in 2000, Deans was previously involved with the All Blacks as John Mitchell’s assistant — a reign that ended with the All Blacks semifinal defeat by Australia at the 2003 World Cup.

Meanwhile, Deans confirmed Wales had also been gauging his interest in succeeding Gareth Jenkins, the first World Cup coaching casualty.

“They phoned me before they came down a couple of weeks ago,” Deans said.

“I said `look you’re wasting your time if you’re coming to see me,’ but they weren’t just coming to see me,” he told NZPA.

“We had porridge together. It was great
 

New Zealand rugby player Doug Howlett has been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage.

Police were called to a disturbance outside Heathrow Airport’s Hilton Hotel at 0300 BST on Tuesday.

Officers arrested the 29-year-old All Black player on suspicion of criminal damage on two cars.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: “Mr Howlett was taken to Heathrow police station and bailed to reappear pending further inquiries.”

The New Zealand wing is the all-time record try scorer for the All Blacks, with 49 tries.

The rugby player will join the Irish team Munster in January next year for a two-and-a-half year contract.

The New Zealand Rugby Union confirmed coach Graham Henry would be replaced at the end of the year after the team’s shock World Cup defeat by France.

 
Henry took charge of the All Blacks after the 2003 World Cup, but chairman Jock Hobbs said: “We’ll have a new All Blacks coach in place by Christmas.”

Hobbs also revealed an independent inquiry would assess the Kiwi campaign.

Henry said: “There’s no need for me or [wife] Raewyn to rush into what we’d like to do immediately in the future.”

The 20-18 defeat meant that for the first time the All Blacks would not feature in a World Cup semi-final.

All Blacks legend Colin Meads had led the calls for Henry to be axed.

Meads said: “History tells us if we lose the World Cup, you’re history.”

Meads, who played 133 times for New Zealand between 1957 and 1971, said Henry must take responsibility for the stunning defeat at the Millennium Stadium.

He said Henry had under-prepared his squad by resting key players for most of the Super 14 season.

“Tragically, we have to say it didn’t work out,” said Meads.

“Graham usually comes up with the answers, but he didn’t this time,” he said. “I think we took it too easily, to be quite honest.

“We’ve got this monkey on our back that we always choke at the World Cup, and that’s just going to rear its head again building up to the next World Cup in four years’ time.

“We’ll go through the same process again. In between Cups we’ll be good and then it will all come tumbling down again.”

David Kirk, who captained New Zealand to their only World Cup win in 1987, agreed with Meads that Henry’s coaching staff had not prepared the team well enough.

“The rotation policy has not worked the way the coaches and selectors would have liked,” said Kirk.

“For all the endless hours of training and honing of different combinations they work on, some combinations simply work better than others.

“With the margin of error so fine at World Cups, it is the team management’s responsibility to find those combinations and stick with them.

“I think playing the best team regularly is important. It is possible to have too much talent.”

Henry was blunt when asked about his own future. “I’m pretty comfortable at 61. I don’t have to worry about it. I’m not thinking about it,” he said.

New Zealand scrum-half Byron Kelleher admits the defeat to France hurt even more than their semi-final defeat to Les Bleus in 1999.
 
Kelleher, who ended his 57-Test All Blacks career in the Millennium Stadium, said: “It hurts even more.

“We’re a better team than ’99 and we know it.

“Personally, to never reach the pinnacle of winning the World Cup breaks me. I’m suffering and it hurts me.

“No disrespect to any of the All Blacks in that 1999 campaign, but the closeness and the camaraderie that we’ve got in this team is something special.

“We strongly believe we could have pulled it off and we were just two points away. It just didn’t go for us on the night.

“All New Zealanders should feel the grief we are suffering. We played for our country and we’re hurting that we let them down.

“All we can do is hope the nation can embrace us and understand that we’re feeling the same pain within the camp.”

Hooker Anton Oliver also admitted the defeat to France was a desperate way for him to end an All Blacks career that has spanned a decade

“After the game I didn’t want to take my jersey off, I didn’t want to leave it,” said the 32-year-old.

“It’s very, very difficult for me. No one wants to finish their career like this. We’ve bled so much for the country and the team had such high hopes.

“It feels like no man’s land – and it’s not a nice place to be. There has been a lot of people crying, which is not something you see very often so it is quite powerful when you see it.”