All Blacks to name new coach

World Cup-winners New Zealand will name their new coach on Friday with Steve Hansen the leading candidate, the team's official website said. The announcement of the All Blacks coach and his assistants has been keenly anticipated since Graham Henry stepped down on November 1, nine days after leading New Zealand to victory in Auckland. A story posted on www.AllBlacks.com said Hansen was "widely assumed" to be named alongside former Waikato chiefs coach Ian Foster and ex-Canterbury handler Aussie McLean. Hansen has been tipped to succeed Henry after helping him guide the All Blacks to World Cup glory by a single point in October's gripping final against France. But the incoming coach will have a tough act to follow after New Zealand won 88 Tests out of 103 under Henry, claimed five Tri-Nations titles and achieved three Grand Slams against the Northern Hemisphere Home Unions.