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Scott Hansen: How the All Blacks are building for the 2027 World Cup
By Ned Lester
2024 was anticipated as something of a rebirth for the All Blacks. With New Zealand’s formerly undoubted global dominance eroded through a number of historic losses in the recent World Cup cycles, a new coach with new energy was sought as the remedy.
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However, the competitiveness of the global order in its current state offers very little margin for error and introducing new faces to the international arena is not as simple as it once was for World Rugby’s heavyweights. And so, outside of a Californian voyage to face Fiji and a foray to Tokyo to face Japan, new head coach Scott Robertson opted to field his best available men throughout the All Blacks’ 14-Test season.
Were it not for injuries befalling a handful of loose forwards, a couple of locks and the odd back, opportunities for New Zealand’s 2024 Test rookies looked to be few and far between.
Injuries are unfortunately a part of this beautiful game and so a number of opportunities presented themselves, leading to extended stints for the likes of Wallace Sititi and Cortez Ratima, who both established their places in the matchday 23 during The Rugby Championship.
But, the apparent reluctance to field youngsters outside of injury-enforced changes has raised some eyebrows among those hoping for a more dramatic shift in personnel within the environment. Reflecting on the balance of building for future wins and dealing with the opposition at hand throughout 2024, All Blacks attack coach Scott Hansen adopted a broad perspective.
“If you have a quick snapshot of what’s happened this year already around the 12 debutants, bringing in some new exciting players into the All Blacks environment, adding different layers around relationships and growth. I feel we’ve been focussed on doing that daily, weekly, by Test,” Hansen told the Aotearoa Rugby Pod.
“You live live, you learn, you grow. Next thing for sure mate, like anything, like any job, like any environment, you’re going to learn your lessons, you’re going to sit back, adjust to how you can be better.
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“I think everyone in this All Black team, both players and team always focussed on that. We understand the true privilege of being in the All Blacks environment. We understand the legacy but also the excitement around this is our time.
“So, definitely lessons from the year and looking forward to going forward with this very, very exciting group.”
Hansen then narrowed in on the 2027 Rugby World Cup plan specifically.
“You focus on each Test, that’s for sure but in the background you’ve got an understanding of where you’re gonna grow your game and what that looks like, you’ve got to understand where your layers can be, where we need to be at this stage.
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“Our biggest challenge is how we evolve, and a massive part of that is selection around getting All Blacks to that level where when you’re heading into World Cups they’ve got experience, whether that be 30, 40, 50, 60 Tests.
“And the experience is not just the Test, the experience is being in a corner during a Test match and learning ‘I didn’t get out of that as well as I should have’. The experience is ‘in that moment, that lineout throw I didn’t quite nail it and/or I did, what’s the experience from that?’
“So we often talk about Tests but I believe is contextual and elemental around what that is during it. Bringing a team up to Europe, conditions in Paris the other night, wow what an environment; Peter Lakai, just a little taste of that.
“So we’ll build all of those experiences as we get into that cycle essentially and that’s what we’re doing currently.”
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Have to agree with comments below on lack of progress in attack. Our forwards are well and truly on target to providing a platform that can win an RWC. Our attack has been average for years now. We showed some glimpses against France of looking like the ABs, so lets give it time. Roigard is a key man...his physicality and athleticism will ensure we get the quick recycled ball we need, not to mention his exorcet boot. Ten is the big issue. I'm a big fan of BB and Mac, but I think they are both part of our super impact bench. RM would be part of the puzzle...was never a super fan, but after many years he gradually arrived a proper test 10 and I think he would play his best footie if you gave him another 3 years until 2027. Breaking up 12/13 would be a mistake. You need muscle in midfield more than anything now. Havilli got tossed around like a rag doll. SA would lick their lips at not having Jordie and Reiko there...they are defensive rocks. Reiko possibly best defensive 13 in world rugby. We got smashed the moment he wasnt there against Argentina. Proctor got thrown around against Japan...would be manhandled by boks. We need a Riley Higgens to come into the enviroment now, to start to understand the where the bar is set. Reiko also gives us the luxury of not having wing cover on the bench, if Jordan is at 15. Caleb is a lock down, but the other wing is up for grabs. Talea has been a match winner, but worry about his lack of pace. But back to Hansen, the jury is still def out, but lets give him next season to find the answers.
There are clues in these interviews that explain the ABs muddled and confused backline attack.
Imagine sitting through this for an hour and trying to decipher what he means.
"Now Jordie I need you to run an elemental line, and Reiko you need to be etheral, but only in the context of the esoteric nature of the layer we are in"
🤣
Scott Hansen would give former All Black coach John Mitchell a run for his money for taking the English language & talking in a very confusing manner & this could very well explain whilst the All Black players were at times disjointed when no doubt having had to listen to word salads from Scott Hansen.
So....no actual plan at all? Didn't hear anything solid, but maybe he's keeping it secret? Forward play and depth is building nicely. Backs and attack not so much. Bringing back Mo'unga is not the answer, that's a band-aid at best. Where's the young talent and plays to finish a game out? Even some handling work will help the team
I've been disappointed over lack of new players tried this year. 9's they really didn't have much choice, 1 test for proctor, a few minutes for love. That's it in the backs. No new wings, we desperately need new 10,12,13 axis.
I think Hansen's gobbledygook is becoming apparent to most - one wonders how the AB team copes with it. He personally must take responsibility for below-par back play and AB attack. But everyone can see this coaching group is trying to take credit for something they have been very poor in - picking new players based on form - and standing down those who have not performed well. Most of the new caps he is claiming either got token minutes or were only there through injuries. Genius. The fact that they don't "own" this and pretend, only makes it worse and undermines a lot of optimism for the future.
Some sad haters in this comments section. We need to get behind these boys, the best coaching staff we have at the minute. The backline isn't firing on all cylinders yet, but look at the work the forwards are doing - especially at set piece. We'll get there.
Such basic reflections - is that it? Does not inspire confidence in making progress (and the 12 debutants while factual is really 4: ratima, lakai, sititi and tosí)
He bores me to death
Scott Hansen is full of weasel words. Words used in any context to avoid actually saying something. The Abs coaching team seems to specialise in these words.
I actually find razor a bit more revealing than previous coaches.
Mark Robinson though could talk for days without saying anything. “We’ve been working hard in that space with relevant stake holders but again it’s about balance and growth going forward, so we’ll keep at it etc etc”