The incomparable reign of Steve Hansen as All Blacks coach will finish after next year’s Rugby World Cup in Japan.
Hansen has announced that next year will be his eighth and last in charge of the world champions, ending with what he hopes is the successful defence of the Webb Ellis Cup.
The 59-year-old hasn’t made a decision about his future beyond 2019, denying some reports he plans to take up an over-arching director role at New Zealand Rugby.
Hansen has overseen the All Blacks during a period of unprecedented success, with just eight losses in his 96 Tests in charge.
That betters the record achieved during the eight years of Graham Henry’s tenure, when Hansen was an assistant.
“It’s right to have someone new after the World Cup,” Hansen said on Friday.
“I’d like to coach this team for the rest of my living days but it’s not the right thing to do.
“I think change after the Rugby World Cup will bring a new outlook for the team and it’ll be time for someone else to enhance the legacy of the All Blacks.”
The former policeman enjoyed success with Canterbury and the Crusaders before taking charge of Wales for two years in 2002.
He was enticed home by Henry after John Mitchell was deposed as All Backs coach.
Hansen has overseen the career of some of world rugby’s finest players such as Richie McCaw and Dan Carter.
His ability to maintain the All Blacks’ high standards after such players moved on is a measure of his coaching ability.
Hansen said he wanted to make the announcement about his future early so New Zealand Rugby had time to identify a successor.
“This is a critical process which shouldn’t be rushed and shouldn’t be made in the turbulent period that tends to follow a Rugby World Cup campaign,” he said.
A number of overseas-based contenders will be in the mix for 2020, including Warren Gatland, Vern Cotter and Dave Rennie.
Hansen’s long-time assistant Ian Foster will also be in contention, along with successful Crusaders coach Scott Robertson.
Wal
Roar Guru
As suspected it a bit ugly, the AB's have played 5 fewer games, (199-204) for 61 more wins (173 - 112)
taylorman
Roar Guru
Well those if not fors are pretty big deals. They say if not for food poisoning in 95 we'd have four titles and Leslie would be a great coach where other than 95 he was hopeless. If not for the 07 debacle we could have another. Same with henrys Lions, can't rewrite history with if not fors. Deans was poor internationally as head coach, as was Smith.
Kane
Roar Guru
"Did he lead them in a better place than where he found them? Did he win the 6 nations, dominate the Comp – something I guess you could say that Wales have found in Gatland?" "Former Welsh centre Tom Shanklin, who played 70 matches, told the Telegraph this year Wales were fitter, eating better and had specific training plans by the time Hansen departed. "When he left, Wales were in a far better position," Shanklin said. "He gave us the freedom to play.""
adam smith
Guest
Agreed Shane. I find it odd some people are insinuating Hansen has only had good results due to inheriting Henry’s systems & players. Did Hansen have no impact or say on those systems & players whilst an assistant?! I’m sure he had a portion of influence on both.
Jacko
Guest
paulo said.....You can’t say the Hansen isn’t great because of great playing stocks Soapit replied......you absolutely can say he’s not great because of that. Soapit added.......if he wins 2 wc’s in a row tho i think it will pretty much locked in. thats the kind of special thats needed for greatness with what he has. if he doesnt, i dont think he’ll qualify particularly as it hasnt ever come up trumps without having the extra advantages There is nothing to misunderstand there...Soapit is saying that Hansen must win 2 WCs to be considered great.....PLAIN AND SIMPLE.......I disagreed...when i disagreed he said he didnt say that...again SIMPLE But YES...lets move on PLEASE
Jacko
Guest
Nothing to do with you Fionn so unless you have a comment then why bother butting in?
woodart
Guest
to have a young unmarried mother as P.M. ,and a breakdancer as All Black coach would be pretty damn cool.......
woodart
Guest
maybe an intersting parallel is how many P.M.s we have both had.......
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
Another Cheika special that.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
Jacko, do you intentionally misrepresent what people say, or just fail to comprehend it?
soapit
Roar Guru
i cant explain it any better that whats been provided jacko. you have tied your story up in too many knots for me to unravel with the time im willing to allocate to you i'll just leave you and your straw man alone to chat.
Jacko
Guest
No probs Soapit....i proved in your words what you wrote yet you still say its wrong...i guess the world is still flat eh? keep believing you wrote different to what is in black and white on YOUR POSTS...denial is not a good way to get thru your issues...re-read your no 2..."for a coach to be considered great they must win 2 in a row, which i only ever said was the case for hansens unique position"...So in your words you say in Hansens case he has to win 2 WCs to be great... 1. "Your if he wins 2 wc’s in a row tho i think it will pretty much locked in. thats the kind of special thats needed for greatness with what he has. if he doesnt, i dont think he’ll qualify particularly as it hasnt ever come up trumps without having the extra advantages"..........words...taken from your post...You are allowed to read what you wrote before hitting "add comment" but once you put it out there it is there for us all to read.
soapit
Roar Guru
jacko mate its there in black and white. your very first sentence in fact contains 2 statements made up or altered by you on my behalf. these being 1. 1 wc is no achievement, which i never said 2. for a coach to be considered great they must win 2 in a row, which i only ever said was the case for hansens unique position. pretty clear. not making stuff up at all, except for the entire basis of your post that is. seems some calm careful reading on your end wouldnt go astray either.
CUW
Roar Rookie
a little warped theory but in fairness to Deans ( and forgetting Hansen) had Beale worn the right boots and kicked the penalty , today people will be talking about Deans in a different light. i think that slip ranks way up there with Steven Gerrard's slip that cost Liverpool the EPL title in 2013 ( i think). its a pity such mistakes come back to haunt the coach more than the players.....
jacko
Guest
Sorry Gloria but the players available to cheika are far better than the results he and his team are getting. He gets games where the Wallabies look like a great team for parts of a match then they lose to Arg or Scotland etc.....
jacko
Guest
if he wins 2 wc’s in a row tho i think it will pretty much locked in. thats the kind of special thats needed for greatness with what he has. if he doesnt, i dont think he’ll qualify particularly as it hasnt ever come up trumps without having the extra advantages Thats taken from your post.....Not making stuff up for you at all...perhaps you may need to look at what you write.
Lara
Guest
The man did it his way. The results are impressive, the quality of play also, but that he also saw raw talent n let it mature n kept the old boys keen n hungry. Great coaches know how to handle players, use their strengths, improve their weaknesses n create game plans that suits his team. Hansen is not a spider , he assembled a great team of coaches n the ability to work towards one common goal was always the focus. RWC 2019 will be a challenge n the opposition are closing in, what a great time in World Rugby. Hansen doesn’t need to win to prove a point, he has already done that, but if he doesn’t he would probably feel more for his players than himself.
No 8
Guest
Hi Bluesfan K Read has already said the AB s practiced the dropped goal but Barrett decided not to not to take it. That given you probably now will admit Hansen is a great coach.
soapit
Guest
no other coach has had the talent available to hansen, therefore you cant compare direct results from other coaches against each other, although i am obviously not saying winning a world cup is no achievement no matter how its done. therefore your logic, extrapolated on my behalf, is not correct. that usually happens when people make stuff up for me
Gloria
Roar Rookie
Yeah, because everything for a Kiwi must be measured against the Australian equivalent. The rest of the Universe is irrelevant. As long as you can claim superiority over an Australian. He has a very successful coaching record but the players he has at his disposal account for much of that. Obviously.