All Blacks coach Graham Henry expressed concern about the length of the Super Rugby season on a rare non-match related visit into the heart of enemy territory.

Henry was appearing onstage alongside his New Zealand compatriot and Wallabies counterpart Robbie Deans at the Hearts In Union lunch in Sydney on Friday.

Host nation New Zealand are widely regarded as the favourite for this year's Rugby World Cup.

However, Henry was typically wary and pragmatic about New Zealand's prospects of a second World Cup win, 24 years after taking the inaugural tournament at home.

"We've won 19 out of our last 20 matches, but it means nothing going into this Rugby World Cup," Henry said.

While the Super Rugby tournament would usually wind up at the end of May, the new expanded 15-team competition will not end until the first week of July.

The major southern hemisphere countries will then squeeze in a handful of Tests including the Tri-Nations tournament before the World Cup starts in September.

"I'm a little bit worried and concerned about the length of Super Rugby and how that's going to take the edge off people," Henry said.

"How we handle these guys when they get out of Super Rugby and into the international environment is going to be pretty critical."

Fellow Kiwi Deans said his Wallabies were a group that were clearly "on the ascendancy".

He expects injured captain Rocky Elsom to be available for Australia's first Test of the year against Samoa on July 17.

He gave the powerful flanker's leadership skills a big recommendation.

"I think Rocky will surprise people this year, he is a smart man, he's a very driven man," Deans said.

The Wallabies coach revealed his valuable utility back James O'Connor would have to wait a little longer to move into a midfield role.

O'Connor has excelled at five-eighth and inside centre for the Western Force this year, after establishing himself on the wing for Australia.

"He is going to fill out a lot more, his key position passion is midfield," Deans said of O'Connor.

"I don't think he's ready physically yet to front up for 80 minutes routinely in that position, but he's a good bloke to have on your side, he can make things happen."

"Every game he plays he makes a big difference to. The greatest evidence of it is he took up goalkicking less than 12 months ago and he's damned near mastered it."

While their relationship has sometimes been reported as being prickly, Henry and Deans enjoyed some cheerful banter.

Asked about the reasons for their coaching longevity, both pointed to their spouse, though Henry joked coaching every year since 1973 was "a touch of madness".

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