The All Blacks assistant coach Steve Hansen is refusing to rule himself in or out for the Highlanders Super 15 coach job.
Hansen's been linked to the vacant position and the All Blacks coach Graham Henry admitted last week there was some foundation to the speculation.
With a restricted international programme next year ahead of the world cup, Henry wants his assistants, Hansen and Wayne Smith keeping in touch with the players and indicated Hansen's taking on the role would make sense.
But Hansen sidestepped the issue at yesterday's news conference in Auckland.
And he'srefused to play mind games with the Springbok's coach Peter de Villiers who says his World and Tri-Nations champion side is no longer in awe of the All Blacks.
