'Sir Ted' still courted for help with All Blacks

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SIR TED: New Zealand Rugby Coach of the Year Graham Henry at the Steinlager Rugby Awards.

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Graham Henry may be soon to arise as rugby's latest knight, not to mention its latest coaching gun for hire, but Steve Hansen says he'll continue to use him as a sounding board for matters All Black.

"The communication lines won't be cut off, and nor will Wayne Smith's," said Hansen after his anointment in the top job.

"Both are excellent coaches and they are people I will converse with a lot.

"Both men have been in the forest and, now they are sitting back outside of it, can give another point of view."

For the record, Hansen supports Henry's cast-iron case for a knighthood. "It sounds pretty good to me," he said, before admitting he'd struggle to call his old mate anything other than "Ted". "We never called Brian Lochore Sir Brian and nor did he want to be. But if he [Henry] does get knighted it will be well deserved.

"He has done a magnificent job for New Zealand."

Hansen also had a stern message for England rugby amid suggestions Smith could be part of its new coaching team under Nick Mallett.

"It would be a huge loss to New Zealand rugby.

"Wayne is one of the great coaches of all time. England have a lot of money but hopefully we don't lose him.

"And hopefully England, for once, have a look at their own backyard and instead of spending all that money on our players and our coaches, they actually spend it on their own people."

- © Fairfax NZ News