Steve Hansen extends contract

Hooroo

I rmember when Henry was coach, a group of ferners were questioning Hansens involvement in the AB's and that he had no place there.
 
How times change and people can get better and learn. Poor ole knee-jerk just doesn't get used as often as he wishes.

mariner4life

i remember that! It's when we sucked wasn't it? And he was blamed because our lineout was an abortion, and a few other aspects of our forward play were pretty ordinary as well.

Chris B.

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Hooroo" data-cid="599980" data-time="1469409173">
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I rmember when Henry was coach, a group of ferners were questioning Hansens involvement in the AB's and that he had no place there.
 
How times change and people can get better and learn. Poor ole knee-jerk just doesn't get used as often as he wishes.
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</blockquote>
 
He's certainly learned a lot. :)
 
Around about the time he learned about contesting the throw on opposition lineouts he got a shitload better!!!!!

Chris B.

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="rotated" data-cid="599979" data-time="1469409150">
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Obviously disappointing we weren't able to poach the best coach in the world currently Eddie Jones or the one before that Michael Cheika but I guess we will have to make do with Hansen, Smith, Cron, Fox and tolerate Foster.
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Wonder what sort of horrible thing would have happened if he hadn't re-signed?
 
It's certainly scuppered Toddy's chances .....for now. :)

Milk

He's certainly not held in high regard on the international rugby podcasts I listen to. Understandable seeings as I very rarely like other international coaches who aren't shy of having a dig either.
 
I think the consensus overseas is that a donkey could coach the All Blacks to a World Cup and he doesn't deserve the plaudits he gets. I strongly disagree. The All Blacks head coach needs to create an environment that the best players in the world crave being a part of, and will spurn significant cash offers while pursuing it. You've also got to manage selections so the next tier and the recently dropped don't fly the coup when they also get large offers to play overseas too.
 
Finally, maintaining consistency of performance and a culture of constant improvement when you head into most games as an unbackable favourite is very tough. A lot of teams know they have to play the game of their life to beat the All Blacks, which is the challenge for them. However, equally challenging is the knowledge that you don't have to play the game of your life to beat the opposition, and yet somehow not get complacent.

taniwharugby

I think you only need to look at how often media pundits around the place had written off the likes of McCaw and DC right back to 2010, and yet Hansen & co knew what they were doing...there is more to this coaching lark than the media think...

Unite

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="599981" data-time="1469409287">
i remember that! It's when we sucked wasn't it? And he was blamed because our lineout was an abortion, and a few other aspects of our forward play were pretty ordinary as well.</blockquote>
Yes but Byrne has been credited with fixing those areas back then...

rotated

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Milk" data-cid="599988" data-time="1469410202">
<div>
I think the consensus overseas is that a donkey could coach the All Blacks to a World Cup and he doesn't deserve the plaudits he gets. I strongly disagree. The All Blacks head coach needs to create an environment that the best players in the world crave being a part of, and will spurn significant cash offers while pursuing it. You've also got to manage selections so the next tier and the recently dropped don't fly the coup when they also get large offers to play overseas too.
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</blockquote>
 
100%
 
I made this point a lot in the Henry vs Deans debate - who is the better one man coach is a irrelevant in today's international rugby scene. It is about the entire coaching structure - and Henry and now Hansen know what they don't know and make sure they have the smartest guys around filling those slots. Henry went to the interview in 2003 with Smith and Hansen (and Lochore as a selector) up his sleeve on the table - he gets it. In 2007 Deans brought nothing but a vague suggestion of Pat Lam and then didn't even demand selecting his assistants when he got the Aussie gig.
 
Same thing with Hansen, the guy is more of a general manager than a coach these days. Unlike most other international coaches who feel a compulsion to be the smartest guy in the room (and tell you about it in the case of Cheika and Jones) Hansen will readily admit he isn't even top 3 in the AB set up.
 
Not knowing what you don't know is a rare skill in an ego driven profession like this.

Hooroo

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="rotated" data-cid="600013" data-time="1469413688">
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Not knowing what you don't know is a rare skill in an ego driven profession like this.
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Just because I like the phrase, shouldn't it be "Knowing what you don't know"?

rotated

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Hooroo" data-cid="600015" data-time="1469414217">
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Just because I like the phrase, shouldn't it be "Knowing what you don't know"?
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That would be it. Shows how much I know!

ACT Crusader

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="599981" data-time="1469409287">
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i remember that! It's when we sucked wasn't it? And he was blamed because our lineout was an abortion, and a few other aspects of our forward play were pretty ordinary as well. 
</div>
</blockquote>
 
I may be rewriting history here, but didn't the improvement come when the coaches were shuffled?
 
Remember when Henry "shook things up" and switched the roles between the three of them. It was thereafter I thought things started to change in the forwards (when Smith took those reins)?

Hooroo

Yes, I remember it that way too.

taniwharugby

was a bit of angst on here and in media about the shuffling too IIRC.

antipodean

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Milk" data-cid="599988" data-time="1469410202">He's certainly not held in high regard on the international rugby podcasts I listen to.</blockquote> Are you listening to those for comedy value? <blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="600018" data-time="1469414693">I may be rewriting history here, but didn't the improvement come when the coaches were shuffled? Remember when Henry "shook things up" and switched the roles between the three of them. It was thereafter I thought things started to change in the forwards (when Smith took those reins)?</blockquote> IIRC that was the same time they decided to simplify everything and speed it up rather than complicated moves that had four switching to six, two coming three steps forward and one back jumping as a decoy, eight moving one step back and six forward clattering into his lifter who forgot to turn around after six ran off. Meanwhile Matfield stood still, jumped into the air and stole the lineout.

Nepia

While this is great news, I do hope they have a two year plan to bring Rennie into the line up - he can spend the next two years making some coin in Europe/Japan and then come straight back to push Fozzie from next in line in the assistants.

mariner4life

nah ACTC i was going to write the same thing. I was sure that was the catalyst to us pretty much taking over world rugby.

Bovidae

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="600031" data-time="1469417200">
<div>
While this is great news, I do hope they have a two year plan to bring Rennie into the line up - he can spend the next two years making some coin in Europe/Japan and then come straight back to push Fozzie from next in line in the assistants. 
</div>
</blockquote>
 
On that topic, some interesting comments by Tew today:
 
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote">
 
"We've kept the guys that we consider worthy of being on that list fully informed," Tew said, after announcing that <strike>Tew</strike> Hansen was extending his present deal by two years.
 
"They know what's going on and we, particularly through Don Tricker our high performance guy, spend a lot of time talking to the coaches, both here and overseas, and we're in constant contact with them.
 
"I think probably the best option will be [that] whoever takes over in 2020 is at the World Cup in 2019, in one capacity or another. But we'll work through that with the board, and Steve will have an input into that, in terms of how we plan for it."
</blockquote>
 
So we wait for 2019 to see. If coaches head overseas then we can assume they aren't in the running.

rotated

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="600018" data-time="1469414693">
<div>
I may be rewriting history here, but didn't the improvement come when the coaches were shuffled?
 
Remember when Henry "shook things up" and switched the roles between the three of them. It was thereafter I thought things started to change in the forwards (when Smith took those reins)?
</div>
</blockquote>
 
Henry took forwards, Hansen backs, Smith defence.
 
Personally I think it had less to do with the switch and more the personnel - we debuted Whitelock, Thorn stepped it up a gear and Williams managed to stay healthy.

taniwharugby

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bovidae" data-cid="600036" data-time="1469418270">
<div>
On that topic, some interesting comments by Tew today:
 
 
So we wait for 2019 to see. If coaches head overseas then we can assume they aren't in the running.
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</blockquote>
 
depends, might be with another team at the RWC....

Billy Tell

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Milk" data-cid="599988" data-time="1469410202">
<div>
He's certainly not held in high regard on the international rugby podcasts I listen to. Understandable seeings as I very rarely like other international coaches who aren't shy of having a dig either.
 
I think the consensus overseas is that a donkey could coach the All Blacks to a World Cup and he doesn't deserve the plaudits he gets. I strongly disagree. The All Blacks head coach needs to create an environment that the best players in the world crave being a part of, and will spurn significant cash offers while pursuing it. You've also got to manage selections so the next tier and the recently dropped don't fly the coup when they also get large offers to play overseas too.
 
Finally, maintaining consistency of performance and a culture of constant improvement when you head into most games as an unbackable favourite is very tough. A lot of teams know they have to play the game of their life to beat the All Blacks, which is the challenge for them. However, equally challenging is the knowledge that you don't have to play the game of your life to beat the opposition, and yet somehow not get complacent.
</div>
</blockquote>
Absolutely. The Irish circle jerk about Joe Schmidt like young lads from St Andrew's college would if their English teacher was a former Penthouse Pet.
 
Even by AB standards in the professional era, his record is so far stunning. I guess some NH people think back to his tenure with Wales. He also has a dry sense of humour that probably doesn't endear him to international journalists.
 
Just look at Laurie Mains and his <70% win-rate (OK pre-pro era) for how a poorish coach/selector can bring the ABs back to the field.

The Silver Fern

Steve Hansen extends contract