Steve Hansen's decision to announce his departure from the All Blacks next year has been viewed as a "huge mistake" by another World Cup-winning coach.

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Sir Clive Woodward believes Hansen's announcement last week, along with the confirmed exits of Rassie Erasmus and Joe Schmidt from South Africa and Ireland respectively, were nothing more than a "retirement party".

Woodward went as far as to call the moves from the trio as "weak".

"Making this public now is a huge mistake and if I was in Eddie Jones' shoes I'd be rubbing my hands," Woodward wrote in a column for the Daily Mail.

Woodward seemed to take more issue with Hansen's decision than the others though, stating it would be a "major distraction for the coach, team and country" leading up to and in Japan next year.

"The All Blacks always seem to make smart decisions on and off the pitch, so I am genuinely surprised by them.

"Having zero distractions is key and this is a major distraction for the coach, team and country. Players will wonder and continually be asked: 'Who is going to be in charge next?'."

Woodward noted things were different for Schmidt and Ireland with him departing due to family reasons but he wasn't as forgiving with the rest - including Warren Gatland and Wales.

"Let's win this for our coach is total nonsense and adds to the pressure, too. If players need external motivation at a World Cup they've lost the plot," Woodward added.

"In 2019 it will all be about Hansen, Erasmus, Gatland and Schmidt whether they like it or not. A key first test of this will be Ireland v England in the opening round of the Six Nations.

"If England can keep their powder dry, focus on the next game and not the next coach, I see them beating Ireland. Now that would be an amazing start to a brilliant year in test rugby."