All Blacks coach in Ospreys move?
Mon, 06 Oct 2008 14:36
The latest buzz in Osprey circles is that Wayne Smith, New Zealand's highly-rated assistant coach, is being targeted as the new Ospreys head coach following Lyn Jones' departure.
Since Jones' departure at the end of last season, the Ospreys have been coached by caretakers Sean Holley and Jonathan Humphreys.
After Ospreys Elite Performance Director Andrew Hore launched a worldwide search for a new coach, the latest rumours suggested that All Black assistant coach Wayne Smith is in the frame.
"Money talks when it comes to contracts and I know how highly rated Wayne [Smith] is at his former club Northampton," ex-Wales and Ospreys lock Gareth Llewellyn told Scrum V.
Former Wales great Jonathan Davies, however, felt that the Liberty Stadium region's chances of poaching the Kiwi were more remote.
"Wayne's a very, very good coach who would be great for the Ospreys, but I think he's key to the success of New Zealand and it will be about if they want to let him go," said Davies.
"I don't know what the situation is, but if there's a chance that he could be coaching the All Blacks when the World Cup comes to New Zealand in 2011...well, it would take a lot of money to persuade him away," he added.
