Steve Hansen: All Blacks have found 'something that's been missing the last couple years'

Sir Steve Hansen says it’s an “exciting time” to be an All Blacks fan after a clean sweep of the July Tests under new head coach Dave Rennie.

The former Test coach, known as one of the greats after leading New Zealand to 2015 Rugby World Cup glory, was full of praise for the newcomer Rennie, whom he’d squared off with plenty of times as coach of Toyota Verblitz against Rennie’s Kobe Steelers in Japan Rugby League One over recent seasons.

Hansen was positive on Rennie’s appointment from the outset, saying “he’s no dummy” when reflecting on the wealth of experience under Rennie’s belt that he will have learned from in his stints in Europe and with the Wallabies.

Hansen went on to commend Rennie’s communication skills, saying “when he talks, it makes sense.”

After New Zealand’s latest win, a 40-21 victory over Ireland at Eden Park, Hansen was singing a similar tune.

“I thought they really had clarity in their game; everyone understood what was required,” Hansen told the Rugby Unity podcast. “Their start was strong; they went out with a real purpose and physicality, and the skill level — they’re starting to get their timing and an understanding of how they can keep the ball alive.

“It was pretty good to watch, to be fair. It was back to our strengths of how we’ve played in the past. If they keep doing that, if they keep growing, and they look tight and united as a group — which is something I think that’s been missing in the last couple of years.

“I think it’s a pretty exciting time if you’re an All Blacks fan.”

Exciting New Zealand fans the most will be their team’s attack, which produced 18 tries with the most carries and metres carried of any team in the inaugural Nations Championship through three games. Hansen said the team is thriving by using the multiple strings to the players’ bows.

“I think their running game is allowing them to kick smarter,” he explained. “If you look at the types of kicks they’re putting in, you’ve got Jordie Barrett putting the ball in behind, you’ve got Ruben Love finding 50/22s, they’re finding space with their kicking and forcing the opposition to readjust.

“Going back to the old days, we used to call it the triple threat game, where you could run it, kick it, or pass it. They’re starting to really hurt teams, build momentum in their own game around those three areas – and there’s still a long way to go – but each one of those three areas feeds the other. If you get them right, and your running lines are good, then all of a sudden you’re forcing teams to change how they defend, and they’re giving you space in behind, so your kicking game comes into it. Then you become a handful.”

Ex-Wallabies head coach Ewen McKenzie was also full of praise for the All Blacks’ new game plan, and highlighted how a different attacking philosophy can make the upcoming Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Tour all the more ‘great’.

“I think the first high ball contest was at the nine-minute mark. We’ve been watching Test matches for the last 18 months, and it’s just been box kick, box kick, box kick. It’s just been about the aerial contest,” said McKenzie, one of the podcasters.

“If you switch to the South African game, those sorts of things are still in the exam, but there are other games now where there are other ways of playing. That type of kicking has dropped off, and it’s become the 13 putting the grubber through, or those sorts of attacking kicks.

“So, it is evolving. The All Blacks are showing a bit of a different direction for teams, because at the moment I think everyone’s been looking at the Springboks and going, how do we play like them? Or how do we match them? So you end up playing like them, looking for driving mauls and all of that.

“New Zealand has suddenly given us a different look at something else, showing reward for skill, and doing the fundamentals of rugby really well. It’s giving alternatives, which I think is great. It allows us to see the game played in different ways, successfully.

“Now, the South Africa-New Zealand series, tactically, is going to take on a whole new perspective because you’ve got contrasting styles. It’s going to be really interesting.”