England coach Eddie Jones feels Ian Foster is still the frontrunner to be the next All Blacks coach, despite their semi-final exit at the Rugby World Cup.
NZ Rugby (NZR) initially invited 26 Kiwi coaches to apply for the vacant role, but the battle to replace Steve Hansen seems down to a two-horse race between Foster and Crusaders coach Scott Robertson.
Foster, who has been Hansen's assistant for eight years, appeared to be the frontrunner for the job, but his chances took a hit, after the All Blacks' 19-7 loss to England at the World Cup.
But Jones reckons Foster still has the right stuff to take the All Blacks through to the next tournament in 2023.
"They made the semi-final and got beaten by a better team on the day," Jones told SNTV.
"You look at their record over the years with 'Fozzy' as an assistant coach, it's pretty impressive.
"There's no other team in the world that's won... whether it was 88 percent or 87 percent. No other team in the world wins at that [percentage].
"Although the semi-final was disappointing for them, Ian's done a great job as an assistant coach and I would think he'd be a very good chance to be the next head coach."
NZR is expected to announce Hansen's replacement on December 12.
Foster has received plenty of support since the All Blacks' World Cup exit, with Hansen and star fullback Beauden Barrett voicing their support for the 54-year-old.
Jones also heaped praise on Rugby Australia's decision to appoint Dave Rennie as the new Wallabies coach, saying "he'll resurrect Australian rugby".
"Outstanding. He's a very good coach, good man and good rugby man.
"Very good tactically, good at bringing people together and I think he'll resurrect Australian rugby."
After beating the All Blacks, England lost to South Africa in the World Cup final 32-12.
Jones said he was over the defeat in the final and focussed on helping England to Six Nations success.
"I remember, about two mornings after [the final], I woke up and I thought [South Africa scrum half] Faf de Klerk was on top of me, because he was everywhere in that World Cup final.
"So, those sorts of images have gone and now I'm just getting on with preparing for the Six Nations."
