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New Zealand assistant coach Wayne Smith has said he will continue in his post despite being linked with a move to become head coach of Welsh regional side Ospreys.

"I am staying with the All Blacks," Smith said a day after ending their 2008 Test campaign with a 32-6 win over England.

Smith, who for the past four years has been the All Blacks' backs coach, had voiced his concerns regarding the amount of time he was spending away from his wife Trish.

"It was a family decision. I'd been speaking to Trish for several weeks over it," the 51-year-old coach explained.

"Obviously I had to resolve some of the time away from home issues which I've done with (New Zealand Rugby Union chief executive) Steve Tew and (NZRU chairman) Jock Hobbs.

"Ultimately it came down to these fellas here (head coach Graham Henry and forwards chief Steve Hansen), the people I coach with, the management team and the players.

"They are pretty special people and I don't think you could get there anywhere else. I love the jersey, love my country, love the people I'm working with and coaching."

Former All Black outside-half Smith added: "I gave it a lot of thought, I had to think quite deeply about it. But, as I've said, this means too much to me and the people mean too much.

"Sometimes you have to give yourself a little uppercut and remind yourself of what you've got. (All Blacks team manager) Darren Shand creates probably the best environment I've been involved with."

Henry, who brought Smith back into the New Zealand fold in 2004 along with Hansen, said: "I'm delighted. He is the best in the world at what he does and, apart from what he does, his presence in this group of people is huge."

Given several New Zealand players have been tempted away in the past year by lucrative offers from European clubs, Henry said it was only natural the staff of the world's number one ranked side would also attract interest.

"This group of coaches have been sought after around the world. I think it is going to be a continuous challenge (to keep them)."

Smith, who won 17 Test caps, enjoyed a brief spell as the All Blacks head coach from 2000 to 2001 before stepping aside following a defeat by Australia.

After ceding his New Zealand post to John Mitchell, Smith took over at Premiership side Northampton. In 2004 he and Hansen were recruited by Henry.

In a controversial move the trio, whose contracts run until 2009, were all retained despite the All Blacks' loss to France in the quarter-finals of last year's World Cup.

New Zealand have responded to that defeat by winning 13 of their 15 Tests in 2008, a sequence that saw the All Blacks take the Tri-Nations title.

And on Saturday they beat England 32-6 at Twickenham to complete a Grand Slam of wins over the four home unions without conceding a try.

That victory cemented 2011 World Cup hosts New Zealand's place as one of the top four seeds in Monday's draw for the first round pool phase.

But Smith, asked if he would still be in post in three years' time, said: "We've just finished a massive 2008. We are contracted until the end of 2009 and there's still a bit of water to go under the bridge.

"It's a special environment and we've got some special players coming through, which makes it pretty rewarding."

AFP