The All Blacks are looking for a new technical coach after Mick Byrne decided to take up a job in Australia so he could be nearer his family.

Byrne had spent 11 seasons with the world champions and helped develop their kicking game and the players' ability under the high ball, a skill aided by his time as a player in AFL. He will now take up a post in Australia focused on helping school-leavers find employment in the sports sector and will work under Rod Kafer.

"I haven't know many more lower feelings in my sporting life than Cardiff in 2007. Then you go to some great highs like this year and 2011," Byrne, who also worked with Scotland and South Africa, told Newstalk ZB. "And in between it was just a great ride.

"People come into the environment in 2015 and say 'this is what the All Blacks do' but they don't realise it's been 10 years in the making. They don't realise how much heartache and inspiration has gone into getting it there.

"People can walk into the All Blacks and try and replicate things but what's working today will be moved on next year and it's the drivers of those programmes that makes it work. I'm reminded of people saying to [Michael] Schumacher once saying he wins because he has the best car. And he said, 'well, you get in the car and drive it then and see how you go'. It's the drivers that make it work.

"It wasn't an easy decision to make and certainly if I was living in New Zealand I would have signed up till the end. But it's like all families. Just because you leave it doesn't end. I'm certainly looking forward to retaining those friendships. Long may the All Black machine roll on."