Eloquent, pragmatic, perceptive, loyal, humorous, and defensive when he wants to be – that is former RWC-winning All Blacks head coach Sir Steve “Shag” Hansen in a nutshell.
No doubt, there is more to the former Kiwi police officer.
For the best part, Shag exudes human traits, albeit in different proportions. When he used to be at the helm of the ABs, I had the privilege of shoving my Sony voice recorder under his chin or crouching, holding and engaging as part of the media scrum post-Test matches.
I recall, several years ago, rubbing my hands with glee at the thought of having a Q+A with Shag to myself because the “big boys” of rugby writing did not want to travel to the remote rural town of Wairoa in the North Island of New Zealand.
With the then 2019 RWC looming, I was hoping he would throw me a morsel or two for the back-page lead story, after a high school first XV team clinic. No matter what angle I had tried, Shag had sidestepped any attempt to confirm the status of squad members.
“You did well,” a grinning Shag had said, with a hearty slap on the back after I had switched off my recording device. No, I had not, but I came away seeing a bloke in a different light than what many see on TV.
But it is what Shag said recently on a podcast that got me wondering if he had been “playing cards” with his family just before the interview.
That is when his alter ego, Stanley, comes charging out, letting pride get in the way. Even the kids do not want to play when Stanley is around. The family members know because they had identified the Stanley alter ego that Shag tries to keep on a leash.
Steve Hansen, during the World XV training session. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images for Barbarians)
This time my preoccupation is with his uncompromising calls to be rid of the TMO bunker system because it assumes the mantle of refereeing games “in replay”.
Citing RWC stand-in skipper Ardie Savea’s ‘jackling’ penalty in the final, Shag labelled it a classic case of “inconsistency”. Was it really? I would say it is more likely to be a referee’s mistake.
That is not to say I’m better versed in the laws but, assuming Shag is right, Barnes had overlooked Savea’s release of the ball before carrying on foraging. If so, a penalty to the ABs.
When the lower-tier teams have decisions go against them, especially on a losing note, the patronising rhetoric out there seems to be “you played really well and were unlucky”. When the New Zealands and Englands of the world lose: “It is time to sack the TMO. The fans are really getting sick of it. We’re going to turn off a lot of people”.
Trust me, the lower-tier fans have had a gutful of this sort of inconsistency.
Should we sack the whole bang lot of the suits who run World Rugby, Shag? Whatever happened to the ABs’ sense of introspection?
I think that they could have taken out the refs/TMO/bunker from their equation. Those who wear the tag of being “among the best in the world” must show us why they are above the blame game.
I am guessing Shag’s advocating this drastic measure to show support for his former ABs assistant, Ian “Fozz” Foster. It is his way of saying the changing-of-guards ceremony is fine because Shag’s predecessor, Graham Henry, had done that for him.
Had Fozz won, the ritual of the outgoing head coach ushering in his assistant would have been a finger-wagging “I-told-you-so” to the face of NZ Rugby and silenced Fozz’s critics.
It is no secret some NZ fans had treated Fozz abysmally but the end does not justify the means. The irony is, predominantly the very fans Shag believes may be turning off the game may also be the ones who had turned on Barnes and Fozz like a pack of undomesticated dogs.
While Shag does admit Barnes “isn’t the problem”, I have not heard him publicly denounce the cowardly act of not just death threats against the Englishman who has since quit, but also those who openly partake in bullying the ref.
Fruitpicker
Roar Rookie
Aha, a petrol head. You've ingested too many fumes, buddy. Stay off that dirt. It can lead to disorientation. Enjoy your pies. Cheers
Fruitpicker
Roar Rookie
Interesting because it gives Dallaglio's views more weight, not that Shag is one-eyed. The reality is people have been grumbling about the TMO/bunker throughout the Super Rugby and Rugby Championship series. In NZ, we are becoming accustomed to officials treating the ABs no different to the rest of the world. I must agree, the ABs have had the "benefit of doubt" too often. For a team that had only picked up a red card "3 times" in its test history after SBW's reckless tackle against the Lions in 2017 sums it up. Now the ABs have to look at which players are liabilities and sideline them (Dane Coles). Their card count has become more like any other "elite" nations. That's where I believe is, yet again, a reason for TMO/bunker to stymie "inconsistencies". The global fan base need that to keep faith in the code.
Fruitpicker
Roar Rookie
Appreciate your feedback. I believe there's a camp that don't want a bar of tech use and another that wants to embrace it. It often comes as a shock to fans but the latter group wants it because it believes many decisions have gone against them. Having followed games for years and written mostly opinion pieces, I find many sports scribes attempt to write pieces to please fans for "likes". I simply write as I see it. I'm not hesitant to swim against the tide, without favour or fear. I recall years ago, an NPC match where a "touchie" was marshalling a lineout with the ref at the end of the Magpies v Wellington match. As the play moved on, a Bay front-rower in the lineout punched his Wellington on the flush of his jaw. In those days, they used to have citing commissioners. If my memory serves me well, he had pointed that out. The matter was reviewed and the player banned for a number of matches. When asked why the touchie didn;t point it out, the Bay official said: "I was looking at my watch at the time." Nonsense. I didn't believe and most pragmatic wouldn't, either, parochialism aside. For that reason, I believe the system to weed out such acts should always reign supreme over other variables, such as flow of the game, etc. Yes, I'm "old school", too, and believe officials make errors, although the TMO with the help of his nerds, should be more accurate. For someone who played cricket to a weekend warrior level, I found the "human element" to controlling games a never-ending controversy. I used to cover premier club, age-group reps, domestic and test level and that thread of discontent always prevailed. It's interesting the ICC had moved swiftly to "neutral" umpires and the problem has become more transparent. Hey, Danny, thanks for your input. I suppose fans will always have their opinions. It's great to agree to disagree. I always find I'm richer for the engagement. Let's see where WR takes us.
Fruitpicker
Roar Rookie
Thank god for freedom of expression and having your own opinions. That you see me as all of the above with what you’ve stated is your prerogative. I write with assertion. If you find that arrogant and condescending then that’s your prerogative. Again, that you feel someone should have refereed or played the game to have an opinion is garbage. (not arrogance on my part but your opinion). Yet you contradict yourself to say I can have an opinion. Why ask about someone refereeing. I’m guessing 98% of people here have never refereed to a decent level, never mind test. If your assertion that my opinion and anyone else who hasn’t officiated has a lesser opinion, that also is total garbage. Some of the best sports scribes have analysed and written reports/previews with no experience. It just shows you know nothing about sports coverage. For the record, I’ve spoken to many elite referees, including Ben O’Keeffe, and not just in rugby. Numerous codes including soccer, hockey, cricket, basketball, etc. Again, you’re entitled to your opinion. I ain’t no shrinking violet. But you should know that. You find me all of the above.
Danny McGowan
Roar Rookie
I see Lawrence Dallaglio has joined the chorus too. And I sure he has an axe to grind. His opinion as I believe Shag's was (he actually talked about it a few times BEFORE WC) is not about this game (nor is mine as correct team won etc) but what is happening to game .
piru
Roar Rookie
I’m never impolite unless someone else is You've been very "impolite" (not to mention condescending, patronising and downright rude) to several people who've had the temerity to disagree with you on this page. You've changed your tune on ARs, you've gone from querying why they would ever have a different opinion to the referee, to saying the referee can "take or leave" their advice. Well which is it? I've made my position clear, what's yours? The reason I queried your refereeing experience is that it's quite clear from the way you talk about it, that you've never refereed a game. Does that mean you can't have an opinion? Of course not Does it mean that opinion carries less weight than someone who has? I'd say it does. Does it mean you might benefit from talking to (instead of down to) actual referees? Again, I'd say yes. I'm not playing any "sensitivity card" - I deal with far worse than you every day.
piru
Roar Rookie
delete
Fruitpicker
Roar Rookie
That's not an issue at all. Everyone is entitled to their views. Where I have to raise the stakes is when people play the individual rather than the ball. Yes, I've worked for mainstream media newspapers all my life. Finished in 2020. Cheers.
ScottD
Roar Guru
“If the Boks were on the other end no way Hansen is saying this.” Supposition by you and quite disrespectful about a guy who has given so much to the game internationally and has coached and mentored in multiple countries. Personally I think that he is saying it because he believes it to be accurate and needed to be said. He isn’t the only coach in the international arena who has made comments along those lines over the years and in fact he has been saying something similar about the TMO system for some time.
piru
Roar Rookie
Were you a professional writer? I had no idea
Ankle-tapped Waterboy
Roar Rookie
Thank you for the expert advice. I will add "ad hominem" to my [short] mental list of tags about your approach. Thank you.
James in NZ
Roar Rookie
As a fan I hate having to factor in the ref's style or interpretations. I know the argument is usually well don't let the ref factor in. That game where the ref blew on Foley for taking too long to take the final penalty. Probably was to the letter of the law, but it robbed the WB of a win they clearly deserved. I just think it stinks that we have to accept 10% (give or take) of the result will come down to the whistle blower. I used to be a wine waiter, I was told that a good waiter, was present when he needed to be, but invisible when not. Thinking the ideal ref would be the same, the modern game is extremely fast though. That French QF was at breakneck speed and I do think the Boks deserved the big prize (I liked Just Nuisance's it was a repeat of 2011 logic).
scrum
Roar Rookie
There are head contacts which are deemed not foul play so no action. The other issue other than the punters being driven by their biases is the expectation that every call has to be correct. That’s never going to happen, in a dynamic game like Rugby with many rules ref mistakes are a certainty. The public will not accept that while at the same time demanding Refs be less involved. The reality for most is it’s all about their team and getting the right decision for their team as opposed to the right decision for the game.
fiwiboy7042
Roar Rookie
As I said before, that ref in the NZ-SA Test in SA copped a lot worse from a 'fan'. Clue: PvZ
James in NZ
Roar Rookie
What about the head contacts that were completely missed? There were at least 2x in the QF and final each? That's the inconsistency. I was thinking though, what's the point of complaining online about rugby, politics, entertainment etc? The best answer I could come with is if millions of peoples do it, maybe the big boys will notice and follow suit.
Danny McGowan
Roar Rookie
No I haven't done any articles on ROAR etc, as I know I not good enough writer to do it. But anyway apart from that anyway (I wasn't originally getting at you but the article for being wrong) . I guessing you go to a fair bit of NPC etc in the Bay , do you genuinely think the use of TMOs at test level makes for better game than what you see at this level? I posted here and other places well before the fianl that for first time I was struggling with watching a WC , as I found the constant stops for checks etc, and the refs (and this is worst) seem to be losing confidence to ref game as TMO is doing a lot of it. See I am old school and believe refs make the odd mistakes, never as many as the players, and have nevr said a ref has cost my team (whether it one I support or coach etc) a game. I always liked sports because it was played and controlled by humans, and seemingly going more and more like virtual sport. Hell I always reckon cricket was ruined by the 3rd umpire, and kind of killed interest in game for me , and I dislike rugby going down same track.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Like I said ...Reckless for sure! ...Poor execution ? ...Yes definetely !...We all know the neck and head are out of bounds ..Deserving of sanction ? ...Yes ! ...But it would have taken a very brave ref to issue a red card 3 minutes into a World Cup final..Would have had to be more obvious ...But I'm only arguing it wasnt cynical....A deliberate attempt to take Bongi out ? ...Look at it in real time ....Slow motion definetely distorts reality ..So maybe here is a suggestion ...Remove slo mo replays from the TMOs arsenal..Yes have another look but look at it as the ref saw it ..Then decide..
woodart
Roar Rookie
was through there friday and monday on my way up to gisbourne and back. I found wairoa,(again) and called in to ostlers pie shop. as for exotic places in the bay, my normal choice of exotica in the bay is meanee speedway, as a racer AND a spectator, so know more about dishing dirt AND eating it than you probably ever will.
Fruitpicker
Roar Rookie
Stop becoming all sensitive, mate. You didn't think I'd let you get away with your off-the-ball remarks on the "columnist", did you? If you can dish it out, you can shovel it in your mouth when served back cold. Oh, I've lived in Hawke's Bay for almost a quarter century. Let me know when you're there the next time. I'll point out a few exotic places you never knew existed.
Fruitpicker
Roar Rookie
All fair points. It's ridiculous how, on having seen a player sent off for yellow/red cards, the team's "victim" is forgotten in terms of HIA tests. Besides, another pertinent point you raise is who the heck does these assessments? Akin to boxing, there should be two medical doctors present from each team. Or, more effectively, a neutral World Rugby-appointed GP, who assesses and passes each HIA case.