NEW ZEALAND COACH Steve Hansen, who has kept the All Blacks as the number one side in the world since taking over four years ago, lives by a simple philosophy: “Make sure we get better at what we do”.
The straight-shooting Kiwi does not like to over-complicate the situation.
Behind his laconic exterior, however, is a shrewd operator tasked with arguably the toughest job in rugby-crazed New Zealand where maintaining the All Blacks at the top ranks alongside any business or political post.
“We know if we carry on doing what we’ve always done it won’t be good enough, everyone else is looking to get better too,” he says.
“We’ll look to add to our game in different ways and hopefully we can perfect that by the time we get to the World Cup.”
Even when the All Blacks lost the Rugby Championship decider to Australia less than six weeks from the start of the World Cup Hansen was unfazed, seeing similarities to when they lost to Australia before the 2011 World Cup.
“Back in 2011 we had an off night in Brisbane. It was something we learned from and we have to learn from this one. You bottle up the hurt and make it work for you.”
After years of living in Graham Henry’s shadow — first with Wales and then with the All Blacks — Hansen has blossomed since taking over as top-dog after New Zealand won the 2011 World Cup.
He has been named world coach of the year every year and is focused on setting a new coaching benchmark this year by having the All Blacks become the first side to win back-to-back World Cups.
The 56-year-old, affectionately known as “Shag” thanks to NZRU chief Steve Tew, has come a long way since his days as a handy, but not spectacular centre for Canterbury in the 1980s while spending non-playing days walking the beat as a burly police constable.
After cutting his coaching teeth with champion teams from Canterbury at provincial level and then with the Crusaders in the Super competition, Hansen had a wretched introduction to life as an international coach.
When he took over from Henry in Wales the team hit a record 11-match losing streak in 2003. Hansen decided not to renew that contract and in 2004 he was back in New Zealand as an All Blacks assistant coach under Henry. Since taking over, the All Blacks have played 47 tests, won 42, lost three and drawn two, for a winning ratio of 91.5 percent.
Steve “I don’t have all the ideas” Hansen knows his strengths and is astute enough to cover his weaknesses.
Grant Fox, a member of the 1987 World Cup-winning side, is a selector charged with challenging any preconceived ideas Hansen may have. Mental skills coach Gilbert Enoka teaches players how to have the “mental fortitude” to cope with pressure.
Hansen’s All Blacks have a family culture, where the players respect each other and enjoy each other’s company and anyone not buying into the “all together” philosophy is quickly shown the door.
It’s a case of juggling the good cop and bad cop routines for Hansen who has an intuitive sense of how to ignite each individual player.
When he dropped Sam Whitelock for three-Test novice Brodie Retallick in 2012, saying “Brodie is playing better than Sam”, Whitelock bounced back better than ever.
When out-of-form Israel Dagg was repeatedly selected this year it was because “we’ve got a lot of confidence in him” – though that confidence did not extend to a place in the 31-man squad.
As the All Blacks head to England looking to be on the winner’s podium after the final at Twickenham on October 31, the Hansen drawl delivers another of his sharp one-liners: “There’s no place for second place.”
