Henry Re-Appointed All Blacks' Coach
New Zealand Rugby Coaches Re-Appointed Through to World Cup
The re-appointment of the three until 2011 means they will have a second chance to win the Rugby World Cup after coaching the team to a controversial failure in 2007.
Favourites for the title in 2007 the All Blacks were surprisingly beaten by France at the quarterfinal stage – the worst record of any New Zealand team at the World Cup.
Graham Henry's Coaching Record
But since taking over the team in 2004 the trio have an 86 per cent winning record, having won 47 out of 66 test matches.
With the three at the helm the All Blacks have won the Tri Nations four times, successfully defended the Bledisloe Cup (between New Zealand and Australia) for five successive seasons, and achieved a clean-sweep of the British and Irish Lions in 2005. They also won Grand Slams in 2005 and 2008.
They have lost only twice in New Zealand, to South Africa in 2008 and to France in 2009. Their only loss in Europe was to France in the World Cup quarterfinal.
Rugby Union Chairman Jock Hobbs Comments
At a press conference to announce the re-appointments, New Zealand Rugby Union chairman Jock Hobbs said the current coaching panel was "a very strong and experienced team".
"Graham, Wayne and Steve are outstanding coaches. They have a formidable record and we hold them in very high regard.
"They are totally committed to New Zealand rugby and have become an important part of the wider organisation."
Hobbs said the decision to re-appoint the coaches before the end of the 2009 season had been taken by the NZRU in April.
"We agreed the time was right to consider the next two years, and the re-appointment reflects our confidence in them."
Henry said it was an honour and a privilege to coach the All Blacks.
"The other coaches and I are delighted to be re-appointed.”
"The coaching staff, management team and players are incredibly proud of their record and we look forward to taking the team," Smith said.
"As a group it's going to be important that we work smart and hard and enjoy our rugby, and we look forward to the continued support of All Blacks fans," Hansen said
Henry, who is 63 sprang to fame as coach of the successful Auckland team and from there moved to coaching Wales and the British and Irish Lions before being appointed All Black coach
Unlike his controversial re-appointment after the 2007 World Cup loss, Henry and his assistants re-appointment this time comes as no surprise.
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