Sir Graham Henry says NZ Rugby made a mistake appointing Ian Foster as All Blacks coach and allowing Dave Rennie to coach the Wallabies.
Rennie was appointed Wallabies coach in November last year, a month before Foster was confirmed as Steve Hansen's successor with the All Blacks.
In their first test in charge of their new teams, the All Blacks and Wallabies played out a 16-16 draw at Sky Stadium in Wellington.
Foster signed a two year deal as All Blacks coach after beating out Crusaders boss Scott Robertson for the job.
Speaking at the Wairarapa Bush Rugby Sports Award function, Sir Graham - a former All Blacks head coach - admitted that it's "too early" to say whether Foster is up to the job, but feels NZ Rugby should have done more to keep coaches like Rennie in New Zealand.
Sir Graham's comments are surprising, as he was on the selection panel which appointed Foster as All Blacks coach.
"Dave Rennie is a fabulous coach, no doubt. New Zealand Rugby c**ked that up," said Sir Graham. "They should have been connecting with Dave and [Japan coach] Jamie Joseph and other people around the world to keep them involved in New Zealand Rugby.
"The All Blacks hadn't played for a long time and they looked like it too. They were off the pace, but I think at Eden Park they'll be chomping at the bit and I think they'll do the job. And I hope for Fozzie's sake that happens, circumstantial with the virus and not being able to play and all those bits and pieces. I've avoided the question."
Asked to choose between Rennie and Foster, the 2011 World Cup-winning coach picked the Wallabies boss.
"Well there you go, aye," he quipped.
"I talked in the media about this before and [was] asked who should coach the All Blacks and I was very vocal about Rennie.
"But Dave Rennie went to Glasgow and went and coached there after winning two Super titles with the Chiefs.
"I think he's got it all and no disrespect to Fozzie, no disrespect, and New Zealand Rugby - this is some time ago, not recently - were meant to keep in contact with players and coaches who had a big influence with professional rugby in this country and went overseas and they didn't do that. If they had done that with Dave Rennie he would have applied for the All Black job.
"I think we stuffed up quite frankly because he is a quality person and a quality coach and you've seen it straight away with the Wallabies. They will play for him, and that's no disrespect to Fozzie, that's just circumstantial, so I've answered the question."
The All Blacks will be out to defend their Eden Park fortress on Sunday in the second Bledisloe Cup test in Auckland on Sunday.
The All Blacks have not lost a match at Eden Park since 1994, against France - a stretch of 43 consecutive test matches, including the 2011 World Cup final, while the Wallabies haven't won at the Auckland stadium since 1986.
Join us at 4pm Sunday for live updates of the second All Blacks v Wallabies Bledisloe Cup test
