Next step for Rugby World Cup masterminds

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DESTINATION WALES: Graham Henry (right) is giving little away about his future, while Richie McCaw needs some specialist medical attention.

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Graham Henry is heading to Wales to coach the British Barbarians, and Richie McCaw is heading for some specialist attention on his problem foot.

The two masterminds of the All Blacks' World Cup success were basking in the glory yesterday after beating France 8-7 in the World Cup final.

And while Henry was still being coy on his future in the top New Zealand job, he confirmed he had accepted an invitation to be in charge of the Baabaas in their annual international fixture.

This year it is against the Wallabies at Twickenham on November 26, meaning another tangle with Australian coach Robbie Deans.

"I'm looking forward to that and looking forward to getting back to Wales, actually, and seeing a few old mates and catching up with those people."

He will take in the Australian test against Wales in Cardiff a week later.

"I'm looking forward to sitting in the stands and being a fan. I'll be calling out for the Welsh obviously."

Henry wasn't giving too much away on his Barbarians lineup. There will be a desire for him to head north with some of his world champion players though they won't include McCaw.

The inspirational captain has got through the World Cup on sheer determination with persistent problems to his right foot and yesterday conceded it needed attention.

"I will obviously get it looked at in the next couple of weeks and what will be, we'll find out. But I'm not too worried about it at the moment," he said after hopping off a truck that had carried him and Henry up Auckland's Queen St for an All Blacks World Cup parade that attracted 200,000 fans.

McCaw said he had felt more drained than he had ever been after the final against a fired-up French side.

"I don't think I've been as shattered as that, to be honest. I don't know if it was the emotional stuff that goes into that game as well; I'm just relieved really.

"It wasn't really till I woke up this morning that I realised what I had done; it was relief more than anything, I suppose."

A British report suggested Piri Weepu, Sonny Bill Williams, Adam Thomson and Keven Mealamu would play for the Barbarians. Other stars include former England first-five Danny Cipriani, South Africa locks Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha, and Welsh players Jamie Roberts, Stephen Jones, Ryan Jones and Sam Warburton.

Henry said there would be All Blacks who would want to play for the Barbarians. "But it's been a hell of a long season: 12 tests matches in 14 weeks. The boys are needing a rest so I don't know if they have a Barbarians game in them."

A day after finally getting his hands on the World Cup, Henry was giving away little about his coaching future in New Zealand.

Some reports in Britain have linked him to the Cardiff Blues position.

In the immediate aftermath to the World Cup victory he spoke strongly about how he believed the All Blacks' success had been built on the faith of the New Zealand Rugby Union for him and his assistants, Wayne Smith and Steve Hansen, to learn from their mistakes of 2007 when they lost a quarterfinal.

He believed there was strong value in continuity. Asked yesterday if this was an endorsement of Steve Hansen's claims to the top job, Henry smiled and said: "I think he [Hansen] would be a very good coach." Fairfax Media

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