The New Zealand coaches will be taking on new roles on their end of season tour to Japan and Europe.
At the naming of the 33-man squad for the six-match trip head coach Graham Henry confirmed the reshuffle which will see him in charge of the forwards, Steve Hansen working on attack and Wayne Smith taking over defensive duties.
Henry has been the defence coach since his appointment in late 2003 with Hansen the forwards coach and Smith in charge of the attack.
But Hansen came in for intense criticism during the recent Tri-Nations as the All Blacks line-out floundered badly and the attack has also struggled with tries scarce.
With the World Cup now under two years away fans will be hoping it provides the spark the All Blacks need after an indifferent season to date.
'We're always trying to improve what we're doing and we think this is an opportunity to do that and get better,' said Henry.
But he admitted to a touch of nerves about his new role.
'I haven't coached the forwards for a while I haven't jumped in too many line-outs but I'm looking forward to it,' he said.
'I think if you've got a bit of apprehension and nerves it brings the best out of you. It's good for me to have that challenge.'
Hansen was unfazed about the switch, saying: 'I think it's exciting. It's something we talked about earlier in the year. How do we keep growing ourselves? How do we keep growing the group?
'We felt on balance this was the best time to do it this year.'
He continued: 'We're not going to be changing the blueprint of what we've been working on for a number of years. We spoke to the senior core of players and they are excited about it as well.'
Henry said the tour, which will include Tests against Australia, Wales, Italy, England and France and a match against the Barbarians, had two main objectives with a 'small eye' on the World Cup in New Zealand in 2011.
'Our basic goals for this tour are to play quality rugby that we're proud of and also to sort out some selections for the future,' he said.
'There are a number of guys in this side who have been with the All Blacks for some time and we need to make sure that those selections are right going forward.'
With that in mind, Henry expects all the players in the squad to get a start at some point during the next few weeks.
'There are probably 10 guys who are injured at the moment and a number of very good players left behind (this time),' he said.
'It's important that these guys (selected) cement themselves in the team going forward. To do that they have to play, so they are going to get an opportunity.'
