Jamie Joseph tipped to succeed Robertson

LEADING CONTENDER: Jamie Joseph has emerged as the leading contender to succeed Scott Robertson as All Blacks head coach, the New Zealand media believes. Picture: DONALL FARMER/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Jamie Joseph has emerged as the leading contender to succeed Scott Robertson as All Blacks head coach, the New Zealand media believes.

The current Highlanders head coach already coaches the All Blacks XV and has international experience with Japan. His place within the New Zealand setup leaves him well placed to take over the job with minimum disruption with a World Cup less than two years away. 

"If he can convince former assistant Tony Brown to leave the Springboks and join his ticket," the New Zealand Herald points out, "it would certainly help his chances".

While a candidate already inside the tent is favourite, New Zealand Rugby chair David Kirk says all options will be considered. "We’re completely open. We’re going to cast the net wide. We’re going to get as many people as we can. We think coaching the All Blacks is the greatest rugby coaching role in the world."

Some pundits suggest a short-term solution might be a return for former incumbents Steve Hansen and Ian Foster, both coaching in Japan for the same team, Toyota Verblitz.

Also touted among the frontrunners are former Wallabies and Chiefs coach Dave Rennie, now in Japan; Joe Schmidt, the former Ireland and Wallabies coach; and Vern Cotter, current Blues coach.

The Herald suggests Munster's Clayton McMillan might be an option, though the timing may be wrong. It will depend, Cameron McMillan writes, on whether his spell in Ireland is "a long stay or a gap year".

Could a non-Kiwi such as Ronan O'Gara get the gig? The La Rochelle head coach's CV gains plaudits. But the Herald concludes: "If a foreign coach were to be picked, Scotsman and current Hurricanes coach Clarke Laidlaw, former All Blacks Sevens coach, would be the more likely candidate."