The New Zealand Rugby Union will do everything possible to hang onto Wayne Smith, who has been offered the role of England head coach.
Smith, who was Graham Henry’s assistant coach as the All Blacks won the World Cup last year, met Stuart Lancaster last week and will decide shortly if he is ready to take charge of England’s backs in the build-up to the 2015 tournament.
The 55-year-old is working with Super Rugby side Waikato Chiefs, helping guide them to the top of the table and NZRU chief executive Steve Tew said: “We consider Wayne to be an incredible asset to New Zealand rugby, not just the All Blacks but New Zealand rugby full stop.
“He’s worked incredibly hard on behalf of this organisation for an extended period of time so he’s earned our respect to make whatever decision he wants. We’re certainly not going to leave him without options but we’re desperately keen to keep him in New Zealand.
“Wayne is one of our intellectual properties. He’s been with us for so long and been such an important contributor to developing things that work in our environment that we think he is a special case to protect.”
Lancaster wants Mike Catt to be backs coach for the summer tour of South Africa.
Catt, who is with London Irish, said today: “I just look at the young guys that have come through and the talent England have at the moment and the culture that Stuart, Andy Farrell and Graham Rowntree have built over the Six Nations.
“I think it has exceeded everyone’s expectations and to be part of something like that would be tremendous but it’s not set in stone.”
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