One of the world's leading rugby agents has revealed that the search for the next All Blacks coach was seen as nothing more than "box ticking" by some of his clients, who refused to take up New Zealand Rugby's invitation to apply.

Esportif global director Duncan Sandlant, who looks after Dave Rennie and Vern Cotter, among others, conceded NZ Rugby was stuck between a "rock and a hard place" in lining up Steve Hansen's successor but was still critical of the overall process.

STU FORSTER/GETTY IMAGES Esportif global director Duncan Sandlant says that Jamie Joseph's superb World Cup with Japan was 'real coaching'.

"I think that some of that process, in my view, they [NZ Rugby] didn't get right," Sandlant told Will Greenwood's Podcast.

"I wouldn't agree with inviting 26 [coaches] to apply because the reality is that's it's such a big job that there's less than 10 and arguably less than five in the world who could actually do that job.

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"That bit was wrong and I had a number of clients who were asked to apply who didn't because they knew that it wasn't really anything other than box ticking."

Sandlant's comments will add more pressure on NZ Rugby after the likes of Rennie, Cotter, Warren Gatland and Jamie Joseph refused to throw their hats in the ring.

Incoming NZ Rugby CEO Mark Robinson has also conceded there were issues with how the process unfolded, telling Stuff: "We are certainly going to look at that and we think we can make tweaks going forward. We've got to look at timing, processes and all those things."

Sandlant contrasted NZ Rugby's approach with that of Australia, Wales and Ireland, who identified their coaching targets early and chased them hard, although he saw the New Zealand landscape as more complex.

KAI SCHWOERER/GETTY IMAGES Dave Rennie said he was approached to apply for the All Blacks job but was already deep in discussions with the Wallabies.

"The tricky bit for them [NZ Rugby] was they had a situation with a new CEO, who doesn't even start until January 1 but has obviously been involved in this process," Sandlant told Will Greenwood's Podcast.

"They also had a situation where I don't think the New Zealand public would have accepted them rolling in Ian Foster without having gone through a proper process.

"So, I think they were caught between a rock and a hard place and that's not what others have done.

"If you look at Australia, which I had a fair bit to do with, and Wales, which I had a bit to do with, and Ireland.

"They identified their guy, did their search, they did their homework, they found their guy and they went after him.

STU FORSTER/GETTY IMAGES Kiwi Vern Cotter is one of the most highly rated coaches in Europe.

"I don't think New Zealand could have done that because the bloke sitting underneath [Foster] was part of their environment.

"For them for have appointed Scott Robertson three months before a World Cup, I just don't think that could have ever occurred with that role."

Sandlant also said he had reservations about Robertson's readiness for the All Blacks job and argued that the Jamie Joseph-Tony Brown team had more runs on the board.

"You can't take away what Razor's done at the Crusaders but experience is something that's massive," he said.

"My view would be put him in an environment where he can really prove himself. I would still say there are question marks around him with a team [Crusaders] that is just so well run.

"It's harder to judge a coach when the talent pool is so good.

"You look at a World Cup, what Jamie Joseph and Tony Brown did with Japan was nothing short of remarkable.

"They had two locks there that wouldn't make a Super Rugby side yet they knocked over Ireland and Scotland.

"That for me is real coaching and should be given more weight than a situation where you've pretty much got an All Black team you're coaching."