I don't think that they are intentionally losing right now to prevent themselves from 'peaking'. However, I must say I'd prefer for them to peak say maybe next year, or in the early stages of 2011, as this would mean the decrease would not be as bad as it was in 2007. As someone put it (I think it was Eddie Jones, or maybe it was Bob Dwyer?), the All Blacks peaked in 2004 (against France) or in the second Lions' test. Personally, I think it was in the 2004 test, as I cannot recall a performance like it since. It has been the one test that has always stuck in my mind.
Still, the general feeling was that it was just sour grapes. Looking back on it now, I think he had a fair point (whoever it was).
There is nothing I see right now that backs it up, aside from God awful rugby and Henry's 'you get more out of a loss than a win' attitude. I think after the last WC he's weary of letting the New Zealand public in on his plans, as it can be scrutinised and can potentially come back to bite him in the bum (e.g the 'judge me on the World Cup' statement).
I don't think there is a grand plan as such, like there was last time around. Because at the end of the day, it doesn't come down to new techniques, it comes down to players doing what they're paid to do, play rugby, and making combinations work, which comes from the best team playing week in, week out. Hopefully, Henry has learnt from this mistake, and if anyone can, it's him. Currently, we're playing bad because players from our best team have been out injured or are out injured. We don't have the depth of 2005-2007, but that's because Henry hasn't been using the methods from those years by and large imo. When players are coming back injured, the combinations still aren't quite there, as they need to get used to playing again.
The fact of the matter is, that no matter what the Deans lovers say, Henry's average All Blacks are still beating his team at home after looking down and out with twenty minutes remaining in the match. I don't actually think Deans would be able to do a better job of it personally. Gatland maybe, but that's a couple of years in the making. We might be losing to South Africa in their own backyard, but our record over there has never actually been all that impressive. I still think we have what it takes to beat them in New Zealand this year.
So, no, I don't think there is any real grand plan, more a prolonged rebuilding phase, which I would prefer to peaking three years out from the World Cup and a slow decline. It helps that it's being played here, as the All Blacks' record at home as nothing to be poked fun at.
