Ireland coach Joe Schmidt should be the next cab off the rank to coach the All Blacks once Steve Hansen departs, according to former captain Richie McCaw.
With Hansen's future seemingly undecided after next year's World Cup in Japan, speculation is rife as to who should replace the 2015 World Cup winning coach at the helm of the All Blacks.
Crusaders mastermind Scott Robertson is a name on the lips of many Kiwi fans, as to the likes of current assistant coach Ian Foster to ascend to the top job in the same way Hansen did after Sir Graham Henry.
McCaw though, is backing Joe Schmidt to be the next All Blacks coach, having tasted success on the global stage with Ireland.
Speaking at an event with sponsor AIG in London, McCaw spoke of his adoration for what Schmidt has achieved in the international game.
"There's no doubt that people admire what Joe has done with the Irish team," McCaw said.
"He's been away for a while, but there's no doubt amongst the people who understand rugby that he has a very good way of looking at the game.
"I think everybody sits there hoping one day he'll come back and put himself back in the mix in New Zealand, and we get the benefit of all the experience he's had at an international level and obviously quite a few years successfully at club level as well."
Schmidt's record with Ireland speaks for itself, last year lifting the nation's first European Grand Slam since 2009 as well as seeing them climb to second in the world rankings behind only the All Blacks.
Coincidentally, Schmidt himself can make a big statement as to his credentials to take the All Blacks job, when Ireland host the world champions in Dublin next weekend.
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