Hansen and Jones predict same outcome in Rugby's Greatest Rivalry tour

Both Sir Steve Hansen and Eddie Jones have arrived at the same conclusion when predicting the four-Test section of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Tour, with both coaches expecting a series too tight to call.

The extended nature of the series leaves the door open for a 2-2 finish, but details of the official tiebreaker scenarios are yet to be confirmed.

Hansen, the 2015 Rugby World Cup-winning All Blacks coach, and Jones, the man who ended his title defence campaign in a famous 2019 semi-final while in charge of England, were asked for their verdicts on the Rugby Unity podcast, with Hansen pondering: “Four Tests, probably two-all.”

Jones was revealed to be of the same thinking by podcast host David Pembroke.

Without elaborating on his reasoning behind the prediction, Hansen said he was looking forward to what the series would reveal about both national teams, which currently occupy the top two places in the World Rugby rankings.

“It’s going to be fantastic to sit back and watch it, because they are contrasting styles,” Hansen said on the podcast. “And we’ll learn a little bit more about the All Black team and about the South Africans as well, because they’re going to have to front up against each other four times. So what style is actually making the better progress?”

Current All Blacks coach Dave Rennie is the third man to hold office since Hansen left his post, which he did after coming up short in 2019. Both intervening figures, Ian Foster and Scott Robertson, endured rocky tenures with the team.

Meanwhile, in South Africa, Hansen’s exit coincided with the beginning of one of the most fruitful eras in the nation’s rugby history; an era that persists heading into this historic seven-week tour.

Another ex-Wallabies head coach, Ewen McKenzie, chimed in to agree with Hansen and Jones’ series prediction, adding that he saw there being a greater chance the All Blacks could pull a rabbit out of the hat, while South Africa are likely to stick to their tried-and-true formula for success.

“I’m probably the same; it’s hard to pick,” McKenzie said. “I think it’s going to be a case of who blinks. I guess we know how South Africa is going to approach it, and we think we know what New Zealand might do. New Zealand can maybe do other things as well. So we can’t just make assumptions.

“They’ve got that element of, because it’s a new coach, they’ve got that ability to morph a bit; more than maybe South Africa do. I’m hoping, from a tactical point of view, that we’re going to see everything on the table at some point and see what actually works.

“In that context, two-all would be a great series for the world, for everyone watching.”