Departing All Blacks coach Ian Foster has brushed aside suggestions he may be considered to take the Wallabies reins, after the departure of World Cup villain Eddie Jones.
Rugby Australia has been left beating the bushes for a new coach, after Jones ended his disastrous tenure just 10 months into a four-year contract, failing to guide the national team out of tournament poolplay for the first time.
All manner of names have been proposed for the position, including the man stepping away from the same job on this side of the Tasman. Foster, 58, was effectively forced out of the All Blacks role, when NZ Rugby broke with tradition to appoint Crusaders maestro Scott Robertson before the World Cup.
Days after leading New Zealand to the final in France, Foster is now on the open market, but is keeping his next move - including any job offers from Australia - close to his chest.
"I've been on a plane for 24 hours," he said on arrival at Auckland Airport. "I'm old school - I don't know how to use [airplane wi-fi].
"I actually like switching off, it's a pleasant relief to turn the phone off.
"I've got a few things sorted, but I'm not going to tell you."
When pushed on the Wallabies position, Foster would not confirm nor deny.
"Like I said, I just got home. I haven't slept much for a day, and I'm looking forward to going home and then just re-evaluating."
Previously, Foster has confirmed he hopes to continue coaching in the future and revealed he refused to discuss appointment to another national team before the World Cup.
"There are no secret plans," he said last week. "It might be my stubborn pride, but I felt the right thing for the team is, every time they looked at me, I didn't want them reading that I was talking to someone else or looking at something else, because I don't think that's conducive to a team environment.
"I don't think it looks good."
Jones was rumoured to have discussed a return to the Japan national team, while he was preparing Australia for the world tournament.
Rugby Australia chief executive Phil Waugh insists his organisation will not make any hasty decisions, after axing Kiwi Dave Rennie to make way for Jones earlier this year.
"I think everyone's a candidate," he said. "Obviously, Fozzy had a great campaign this year and probably a pretty close final that could have gone either way.
"We're open to getting to getting the best coach for our system and for our team."
One coach who apparently isn't a candidate is former Crusaders and Wallabies guru Robbie Deans - the longest-serving Australia coach with 75 tests.
"You don't go back," said Deans, who now coaches Panasonic Wild Knights in Japan. "It's never good to go back, I don't think, and you've got what you need here.
"Yeah, you'll solve it."
