The cards could be falling Graham Henry's way after influential New Zealand Rugby Union director, Mike Eagle, said "the World Cup will not be the main focus" in Thursday's interviews for the All Blacks coach's job.

Eagle, who said the coaching decision was the most important the board would make, said the board rated the All Blacks sustained record of success as more important than World Cup glory.

"Of course we want to win the World Cup but it is not the be-all-and-end-all," Eagle said. "The [board's] priority is the All Blacks' winning record. It has to be maintained in between World Cups."

Eagle's comments will be a boost for Henry who will point to his tremendous record as All Blacks coach, along with Wayne Barnes' World Cup refereeing blunders, when he argues for his job on Thursday.

He faces competition from Crusaders coach Robbie Deans, Hurricanes coach Colin Cooper and Chiefs coach Ian Foster.

Deans is the people's choice to replace Henry but he will have to convince the board that he is a significantly better option than the former school principal - not just as good.

Who his assistants are will be crucial to that as Henry's forwards coach, Steve Hansen, and backs coach, Wayne Smith, are respected around the NZRU's board table.

Perhaps more importantly, they are known quantities, while Deans has not said who his management team will include. He will have to tell the board on Thursday.

The coaches will each have about 25 minutes to explain how they would improve the All Blacks when they front the board, with about 90 minutes set aside for each candidate.

How Cooper interviews could be crucial to Deans' bid. Cooper was his assistant when the Crusaders won the Super 12 unbeaten in 2002 and could join him again at the All Blacks.

Deans' assistants at the Crusaders this year were former All Blacks Mark Hammett and Todd Blackadder.

Eagle confirmed a decision could be made on Thursday, though "the board may want to sleep on it".

While Deans tops most polls to replace Henry, Eagle's comments that the board rates sustained success ahead of breaking the 20-year World Cup drought puts Henry on solid ground.

His All Blacks have won 42 of their 48 tests with a clean sweep of the British and Irish Lions and a grand slam in 2005 and the Tri-Nations and Bledisloe Cup have been won and defended.

Eagle also moved yesterday to correct some of the speculation about whether Deans or Henry has the numbers on the board - with many believing Henry would not have reapplied for his job unless he was sure he had enough support.

Eagle, a former Canterbury chairman, has also been painted as a Deans supporter with suggestions his position as chairman of the rugby committee will give him a casting vote if he is acting chairman of the board.

Regular chairman Jock Hobbs is not part of the selection process as Deans is his brother-in-law.

Eagle said the acting chairman would be picked on Thursday "and it may not be me".

"Just because I'm chairman of the rugby committee doesn't mean I'll be [the board's] chairman on Thursday. It could be anyone."

Eagle said he was "not in anyone's camp" and was confident the same applied to the rest of the board. "I think the board will be open-minded. I worked with most of these guys for four years and I don't think they will go in predetermined."

The Dominion Post