New Zealand Rugby interim boss Steve Lancaster has clarified the organisation's position on the appointment of a replacement for former coach Scott Robertson with less than two years until the World Cup.

The successful candidate must be a New Zealander with international experience in a head role.

Lancaster says that with only two years until the World Cup, they simply don’t have time for someone to find their feet at this level, so they’re looking for someone that can hit the ground running.

He told Mike Hosking it’s very much a point in time criteria given where we’re at in the cycle, and the overall context.

Lancaster says assistants will be decided once the initial set-up is in place.

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