Hansen, Gatland to bow out in WC play-off

STEVE Hansen may have failed in his quest to deliver New Zealand a third consecutive World Cup, but he will step down as one of the most successful rugby union coaches of all time.

The 60-year-old enjoys a record most coaches, in any sport, could only dream of.

Ahead of Friday’s third-place play-off, he has won 92 out of 106 Tests, with four draws and just 10 losses.

That gives Hansen a 86.7 per cent winning ratio and under his tenure the All Blacks lost to just Australia (three), Ireland (two), South Africa (two), England (two) and the British and Irish Lions (one).

A straight-talking coach never afraid to shy away from tough selection calls, Hansen said he was “desperately hurting” after the 19-7 semi-final defeat by England.

“I don’t want to compare rugby to death but it’s like someone losing a family member to a car crash,” he said ahead of the third-place playoff against Wales, an unwanted match he noted he had never had to endure before.

“Having been here in 2007, it ’s d i s appoi nt i ng , t here’s not hi ng you ca n say about that,” said Hansen, who was Gra ha m Hen r y ’s a ssi st a nt when the All Blacks last tasted World Cup defeat in the 2007 quarter-f inals.

Leaving on a high

However, he was gracious in defeat, acknowledging England had been the better side on the day.

“No loss is easy to take. But there’s no shame in getting beaten by them.”

Hansen’s Wales counterpart Warren Gatland will also bow out from his 12-year stint as coach having earned the respect of the sport’s powerhouses, but never reaching a World Cup final, and with just one more chance to notch up a win over his native New Zealand.

Wales went down 19-16 to South Africa in Sunday’s semifinal in Yokohama, leaving them a third-place play-off with the All Blacks.

“The biggest thing I am proud of is that we have earned respect from the rest of the world in terms of what we have achieved in the last 12 years. I am not sure it was there before that,” said the 56-year-old Gatland.

“World rankings, where we were at [10th], what we have achieved in terms of Six Nations and Grand Slams.”

Gatland added of Friday’s match: “It’s my last game in charge of Wales and it will be monumental. I would love to beat the All Blacks. That is one I have not achieved.”

Regardless of Friday’s result, Gatland will end his time with Wales as one of the most highly respected coaches in world rugby, having led the Welsh to four Six Nations titles since taking over in 2007.