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Hansen disappointed with media portrayal of Gatland

By Nicholas McGee
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has criticised the New Zealand media for their portrayal of British and Irish Lions boss Warren Gatland as a clown.

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New Zealand can claim a series victory over the Lions in Saturday’s second Test in Wellington after winning the first Test in Auckland 30-15.

The series has been set against a backdrop of a war of words between the two coaches, with Gatland questioning the All Blacks’ tactics and claiming Hansen’s men had targeted scrum-half Conor Murray illegally in the Eden Park opener.

Reacting to Gatland’s comments the New Zealand Herald produced a caricature of him wearing a clown nose, which did not sit well with Hansen.

“You guys are having a field day at the moment between Gats and I, so I am not feeding it,” Hansen told a media conference.

“I think it is really disappointing. It’s one thing to have a bit of banter and then you guys beef it up to make it bigger than it really is. I have heard you say that I don’t like him and we won’t have a beer.

“I have got a lot of respect for him. I think he is a good coach. I have got a lot of respect for the Lions, they are a good team.

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“To come out and do that, you are ridiculing somebody that doesn’t deserve it. At the end of the day, we are all coaches trying to do what we think is right.

“Sometimes, people don’t always agree with what we do, but that’s okay, you are allowed to have your opinion.

“But to ridicule someone is not right. It’s a bit disappointing, really.

“I read somewhere where I lashed out at Warren Gatland. I haven’t lashed out at Warren Gatland at all. I have got a lot of respect for him, I am looking forward to having a beer with him and a chuckle about life.

“We’ve got a lot of common interests. He likes racing horses, so do I; he coaches Wales, I’ve been through that experience myself.

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“It’s the media that ramp it up because it sells you guys newspapers. Who am I to say ‘stop it’? But I do look at it and think that’s not actually how it went.”

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Bull Shark 1 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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