After seven successful years as All Blacks head coach, after infinite displays of scintillating rugby and after one hell of a journey, this was Steve Hansen’s last competitive game in charge of New Zealand.
He’s been a great coach. One of their most successful ever. Yet it would all end on a sour note. Not just beaten, but taken apart by an England side who just seemed to want it more in Yokohama.
Hansen’s reaction to the gutting loss revealed the man’s true colours though.
Humbleness still lines his every act. Sportsmanship and grace is still the name of the game. Last week, after yet another invincible performance from the All Blacks, Hansen didn’t take any credit then and unprompted, he began his post match press conference by praising Joe Schmidt and by thanking Rory Best. This wasn’t just a charm-offensive act.
This was genuine and it’s the way one of the game’s best ever managers does his business. Because one week on, after an ugly day for New Zealand, a day they’re not used to – Hansen was still the same mannerly, unassuming character.
That will have been a bitter pill to swallow. It would have been very easy for Steve Hansen to create a few excuses, to lay the blame on his players, but instead, he turned the attention straight to England.
“Firstly, I’d just like to congratulate England. England played a tremendous game of footy… At the end of the day, that’s what rugby’s about so well done to them,” he began.
Hansen was then given the opportunity to bask in the glory of the previous seven years. Not for him. He thanked his players, thanked Japan for their hosting of the tournament. And moved on.
“We have to take that on the chin, but all credit to England. Our boys tried right until the end so I’m really proud of them.
“Thanks to Japan for a wonderful, wonderful tournament. Appreciate it.”
Last week, he started by praising Best and Schmidt.
This week, he praises England and makes no bones about it.
His last big game over the All Blacks, and Steve Hansen doesn't want any of the attention.
Sportsmanship. Humbleness. He's a class actpic.twitter.com/nIeL8s5LzV
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) October 26, 2019
You can’t buy class.
