New Zealanders trust Robbie Deans more than Graham Henry while All Blacks legend Colin Meads is rugby's most respected figure, a new survey has revealed.
The New Zealand Reader's Digest Most Trusted Person in 2008 poll features 11 rugby personalities in its top 100, including 10 past or present All Blacks.
Meads is the top-ranked rugby personality, coming in at No.3 on a poll headed by Victoria Cross winner Corporal William Apiata with athletics great Peter Snell second.
Henry records one of the biggest falls on the new poll, slipping 14 places from last year to be ranked 46th among New Zealand's most trusted people in 2008.
That leaves him languishing behind Deans who is placed at No. 35.
The poll, now running in its eighth year, was conducted by independent marketing research company The Leading Edge in early March.
This was before Deans had secured another Super rugby title with the Crusaders.
He is now immersed in his new job as coach of the Wallabies and set to go head-to-head with Henry when the four-test Bledisloe Cup series starts in Sydney on July 26.
Social commentator Harry Mills told the Reader's Digest the World Cup cloud still dogs Henry.
Henry pleaded for trust in his controversial methods in the buildup to last year's tournament but came away with a quarter-final loss to record New Zealand's worst Cup finish.
"People have forgiven Deans for going to Australia because he delivered for us," said Mills.
"Henry led us to a loss in the World Cup but refuses to step down, For that, we are less forgiving."
All Blacks captain Richie McCaw is the only current player in the top 100, coming in at No. 20 alongside Queen Elizabeth II.
John Kirwan, the former All Blacks great who is now coaching Japan and has been fronting a mental illness campaign for men in New Zealand, is sixth-equal on the list alongside netball star Irene Van Dyk.
Sir Brian Lochore, a former All Blacks captain, coach and selector is 15th equal.
Joe Karam, the former All Blacks fullback who headed the fight to free David Bain, is ranked 39th.
New Zealand Rugby Union chairman Jock Hobbs is No. 49 and Jonah Lomu is placed at 54.
Marc Ellis, these days a successful business man, is ranked 64th. That's 10 places higher than his mate Matthew Ridge, a former All Black who made a successful transition to league and is listed in this survey as a "sports personality".
