For over 30 years, Eden Park has been the impenetrable fortress of New Zealand’s pride and joy: The All Blacks. It’s a sacred theatre of blood and thunder, a wall of noise that has seen opponent after opponent buckle under the pressure. But the once all-conquering kiwis are at a crossroads after underwhelming performances, and an apparent breakdown of team culture saw the dismissal of head coach, Scott Robertson.
As New Zealand Rugby mulls over the biggest appointment in the sport of rugby, gone are the days of back-to back World Cup conquests under Steve Hansen for the All Blacks. But reflecting on how a group of people became so dominant and successful year after year, paints a clear picture that the All Blacks can take inspiration from. Going back to the future with Hansen would rebuild the foundations that brought about the greatest era of New Zealand rugby ever seen.
If the recent reports around a breakdown of internal team culture in the All Blacks are true, then bringing back someone who formed the most effective winning machine that New Zealand rugby has ever seen, makes sense. There’s no denying that Hansen’s record in Japan right now with Toyota Verblitz is woeful, but the fundamentals of what the All Blacks are lacking and need, are the fundamentals of what Steve Hansen is as a rugby coach.
A culture-obsessive, Hansen has always understood that: “The process is more important than the outcome.” In the victory-demanding world of the All Blacks, a statement like this can go down like a cup of cold sick, but there is not a soul on this earth that understands how to bring about sustainable long-term success for the All Blacks more than Steve Hansen.
What made the All Blacks so dominant when Hansen was head coach was that there was a universal understanding internally, that the team, the unit, is everything, and that the players have to grow as humans as well as rugby players in order to not just match, but raise the bar of what it means to wear the iconic black jersey. For Hansen, the first building block of this is understanding how psychology relates to what you’re trying to achieve: “Learn how to lead yourself before you lead others.” This means understanding your own strengths and weaknesses as a coach, whilst being able to self-reflect, be pragmatic, and admit if you’ve gotten something wrong and listen to those around you, including the players.
Understanding what the players are looking for in you as a head coach is also essential for Hansen. Ensuring that the players feel valued and feel a genuine motivation to show up to work each day is vital, a balance between enjoyment in rugby and a ruthless determination to win is what Hansen strived for – and it’s exactly what he got. Achieving this means enforcing universal standards for players and staff at every level of the group; if your late to a team meeting, which was even the case once with Hansen himself, you get held to account even by those below you in the chain of command. The players have to excel in more than just rugby. Being an All Black is far more than throwing and kicking rugby balls, it’s about inspiring people by being authentic. Hansen’s policy of “no dickheads” in the All Blacks camp allows for the team to synergise and stand out both on and off the rugby pitch as professionals.
Do New Zealand have the same level of talent now as they did when Hansen was last hitting stride? No, no one ever has, but New Zealand rugby is crying out for a figurehead that will inspire both fans and players. Rumours are running rampant that New Zealand’s talisman, Ardie Savea will be leaving New Zealand behind to play his rugby elsewhere. The return of Hansen would be a game changer. If there is anyone who knows what it takes to stop the formidable South African Springboks from winning an unprecedented third World Cup – it’s the man who defined what it means to be a modern-day All Black, a definition that needs to be embodied now more than ever since New Zealand’s last World Cup win in 2015.
The All-Black’s capitulation against a rampant England at Twickenham was a performance that was the antithesis of what we expect from New Zealand on a rugby pitch. Likewise, 4 losses out of their last 5 games against South Africa means that we are under no illusions as to who rules the rugby roost. That feeling of inevitability; that the All Blacks will find a way to win no matter what, just isn’t there anymore and hasn’t been for some time now. They look vulnerable.
On the surface, a 74%-win rate for the All Blacks under Scott Robertson may seem a world away from being anything sackable, but this is only part of a much bigger picture of All Blacks decline, which reaching the 2019 Rugby World Cup final papered over the cracks of. Hansen’s win rate of 88%, with 2 World Cups to show for it, is more than just a record to be proud of, it’s the blueprint to success that the All Blacks are crying out for.
New Zealand Rugby has acted ruthlessly in sacking Robertson after just 2 years in the post, now they must bring back the most successful coach in their history to not just steady the ship, but to get them sailing towards victory ahead of the era-defining Rugby World Cup next year.
