Hansen v Schmidt: a battle of wits
The final chapter of one of test rugby’s greatest rivalries in recent years will be written at Tokyo Stadium on Saturday night.
Some rugby romantics would love nothing better than to dab at moist eyes with a bottle of sherry at their elbows as New Zealanders Steve Hansen and Joe Schmidt attempt to outwit each other during the World Cup final in Yokohama early next month.
The bad news is they’re not going to get their wish. Not even close.
Come Saturday night, either Hansen or Schmidt will be forced to head back to his hotel room and start packing a suitcase.
Not that Hansen, who will finish soon after the World Cup, is thinking too closely about retiring his All Blacks blazer or much else for that matter. He just wants to zero in on Ireland.
‘‘I’m not worried about my All Black career, I’m more concerned that we earn the right to come back on Monday,’’ Hansen said. ‘‘What will be, will be.
‘‘You know that when you step up to this tournament. We have earned the right to get to the knockout stage, and now we have to earn the right to stay here.’’
Schmidt has every right to feel proud about his record against the All Blacks. Having coached against his fellow New Zealanders four times, he has secured two wins and two defeats.
The most recent was last
November when the Irish upset the All Blacks 16-9 in Dublin, the first time they had defeated the world champions in Ireland.
Two years earlier Ireland beat the All Blacks 40-29 in Chicago, recording their first-ever win over New Zealand.
Schmidt’s ability to extract the best out of his players, and give them a game plan that suits their skills, won’t be lost on Hansen.
Does Hansen enjoy attempting to outwit Schmidt?
‘‘Yeah, but no more than anyone else,’’ he said. ‘‘That’s what I am saying. It’s why we concentrate on ourselves. It’s our coaching group, it’s our management group and our group of players getting our week right.’’