Steve Hansen's impeccable legacy due one last hurrah
On Wednesday, Steve Hansen will name his 31-player squad to contest the World Cup in Japan. It will be a talented group who will be favourites to win the tournament for the third time in a row and if they are successful a big reason why will be due to Hansen and his coaching group.
It takes a bit to fluster the All Blacks head coach, a man who replied “just my arm” when asked during the 2015 World Cup whether he had anything more up his sleeve.
But in the immediate aftermath of the occasion of his 100th test recently, Hansen appeared visibly emotional for a moment when asked whether or not the 36-0 victory in the Eden Park Bledisloe Cup decider made his milestone more special.
“Look,” he told Sky Sports interviewer Ian Smith, “I’m immensely proud… it’s a privilege.” With Hansen’s voice catching at this point, Smith wrapped it up. Both appeared relieved at the decision.
Later, Hansen told the assembled media how proud he was that his players responded to what had happened in Perth seven days prior. He was thoroughly composed at this point but there was no doubt this test was more special than most.
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He had already been recognised by the players for reaching 100 tests alongside former head coach Sir Graham Henry, Hansen’s predecessor. But Hansen’s wife Natasha and children had bought him a watch with an engraved message, a gift, one could safely say, that hit a different but just as significant emotional chord.
The victory over the Wallabies will allow Hansen to leave for new pastures after the World Cup without ever losing the Bledisloe Cup. “Not on my watch,” was the mantra, and, given the way his men performed despite the pressure and expectation was a credit to them and Hansen’s coaching group, including assistant Ian Foster, who was presented with a ceremonial mere marking his own 100th test.
With the keyboard warriors writing off Hansen and his team as old and tired and next to useless after the Perth loss it’s no wonder the head coach was feeling more pressure than usual last week. Hansen does well to ignore the worst of it, but some would have filtered through.
“Everyone externally was starting to get a bit shaky, starting to question whether the coaches still had it, the players still had it,” Hansen said.
There were questions about his skipper Kieran Read, Hansen said. Some punters wearing black at Perth’s Optus Stadium were muttering about how Read was apparently a shadow of his former self, seemingly unaware of how compromised he was by the sending off of Scott Barrett and the mountain of defensive work he got through, and clearly that criticism had got through to Hansen too.
“The external group of our nation can now breathe slightly easier,” he added.
But he continued: “The day New Zealand rugby doesn’t have an external scrutiny like it does [is the day] the game is not where it was. People care, they have high expectations and those high expectations I think drive the high internal expectations as well.”
If the former policeman and current racehorse owner and enthusiast sometimes sounds like he has seen it all, that’s because he pretty much has. And that’s life in general. As All Blacks head coach his record after 100 tests is 87 wins, four draws and only nine defeats.
Only Australia have beaten the All Blacks more than twice during Hansen’s reign.
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He has the experience to know what’s right and what isn’t and the confidence to go with his instincts if in any doubt. He has said before that his work as a cop gave him insights into human behaviour and he has spoken before too about how working with horses has taught him the importance of picking up cues and adapting.
After assisting Henry to the 2011 victory in New Zealand and leading the All Blacks to the 2015 triumph in England, there could hardly be a better person to head the coaching group to Japan.
Which is not to say he’ll do it all himself. Foster, who, along with Scott Robertson is a leading contender to replace Hansen next year, will play his own part as a foil and occasional provocateur.
“He’s a strong man, Foz,” Hansen said a day after handing the Wallabies a hiding. “You may not think he is but he’s got his own opinions and he doesn’t change them too easily.
“We trust each other a lot. My whole philosophy on coaching is if you give people the job then you’ve got to step back and let them do it and empower them to do it and guide them when you need to guide them.
“We’re good mates and we’ll always be good mates.”
Hansen’s record as All Blacks head coach
Played: 100
Won: 87
Drawn: 4 (South Africa 2, British and Irish Lions, Australia)
Lost: 9 (Australia 3, Ireland 2, South Africa 2, England, British and Irish Lions)
This article first appeared on nzherald.co.nz and is republished with permission.
Comments on RugbyPass
A Turtle has more pace and leg drive than Owen Franks, so it’s a good thing he only had to run 90 metres for that try.
2 Go to commentsOh Tamati Tua was in the vastly over-rated Leon MacDonalds Blues system? Well, no wonder he was wasted, much like Emoni Narawa and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens under MacDonald. now look at them. Good thing Tua isn’t eligible, the Aussies latch on to any player who isn’t tied down.
2 Go to commentsMark Telea is a lot of things, but a defensive juggernaut has never been one of them. There will be far bigger tests in that regard for the youngster.
10 Go to commentsLove and respect to Fiji but not a chance outside of 7s
4 Go to commentsGood summation Ned. Agree the Canes were out-muscled for once (except at the scrum!) by a focused Brumbies outfit. Tua deserves consideration for higher honors after the way he humbled Jordie and the Canes defense. Thankfully, his lack of eligibility for Oz keeps him from Joe’s plans. While I also agree the injuries affected the Canes performance, some players seemed to lack focus and intensity for this match. Perhaps after the Blues demolished the Brumbies, they thought it was going to be easy? A good reminder that any slip up in preparation can have a big affect on the result. Brumbies deserved that win.
2 Go to commentsKarl Dixon should never have been appointed this fixture, absolute disgrace, He’s not much of a referee anyway, didn't have the balls to send his mate care off
5 Go to commentsBrilliant article! Harry of 8/9
2 Go to comments‘UK athletes' have been in the NFL from the start.
1 Go to commentsIt’s going to be Scott Barrett. He’s the coaches mate and captain of a previously elite team. Ardie a great option but scooter has worked with the coach and Ardie still as big a leader as needed.
23 Go to commentsI commend Colin Scotts bio All Balls. He was the first Aussie to make it to NFL. But he was poached and did a full apprenticeship at the University of Hawaii. He was 130kgs surfed played 1st grade cricket etc. big guy by normal but not NFL standards and a top athlete. Even then the nfl were picking up Tongans and Samoans for their natural size and explosive power. They want explosive power not cardio from the big boys so a guy like Taniela Tupou would have been good if picked up young enough. He has fast twitch and they’d bulk the little lad up and give him something to do. soccer teams set up academies and look for Over Sara’s talent eg Messi was at Barcelona since a teenager and harry kewell went to Leeds as a teenager like 16 or something.
11 Go to commentsThe article alludes to the fact that this isn’t about picking a captain. But picking a great captain. So who would make for a great All Black captain - not just an obvious or safe shoo-in? I’m not sure Ardie’s the guy and Barret doesn’t stand out either.
23 Go to commentsI guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
45 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
5 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
45 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
42 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
42 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
42 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
45 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
5 Go to comments