Hansen out-coached by Gatland in
The second test gave a hint. The third test confirmed it. Steve Hansen has lost total command of his once imperious All Blacks, with rogue elements starting to tear the place down.
We have witnessed an epic series and an epic failure for Hansen, not because he lost — which he kind of did through a series draw — but for the way the All Blacks played.
Yes, the Lions were good, particularly at working out where the offside line was and finding space in wide zones with ease. But not that good.
The All Blacks have been so bad in some areas that a World Cup rethink is inevitable, which may be no bad thing. Hansen was out-coached by Warren Gatland, no doubt about it, and those of us who doubted the Waikato man’s credentials (guilty here) have been left red faced.
Apart from the odd magic moment — provided by rookies Jordie Barrett and Ngani Laumape — the All Blacks were largely awful in the finale at chris.rattue@ nzherald.co. nz Eden Park in a test which only rose to the occasion because of the occasion.
It was substandard rugby from the two best test teams on the planet, the difference being that the All Blacks have established standards to be compared with, while each Lions team sets their own.
In retrospect, it was a masterstroke by the tourists to play like tourists in the first game at Whangarei, setting the expectations low and establishing fertile ground for an us-against-theworld mentality after they copped a bagging.
While the Lions moved steadily forward, the All Blacks have gone backwards. Not only did they fail to respond tactically to the pressure, but their precision and skills have declined badly.
And dare we say it, maybe the Richie McCaw factor is finally wearing off, that dedication to the basics, the battle, sticking to the plot, the cause.
Two of the most instructive instances of the All Black decline came late in the second test in Wellington, and both involved Aaron Cruden.
The replacement back from the sometimes unruly Chiefs franchise gave up a costly and ridiculous penalty for a needless block on a Lions runner, then lobbed the most stupid crossfield hit-and-hope kick you might see from anyone aged above 15.
Cruden will be beyond All Black selection soon. But he could have been dropped there and then, for a lazy shot for glory at complete odds with the All Black ethos, exemplified by the masterful late victory march against Ireland in 2013.
I fear that Hansen has lost his
I fear that Hansen has lost his touch, the edge having gone out of his decision making, and perhaps even his voice.
touch, the edge having gone out of his decision making, and perhaps even his voice. The All Blacks tried to win the second and third tests the easy way, with miracle passes and kicks. Kieran Read seemed powerless to alter the tactics. There have been other bad signs. Sonny Bill Williams’ shoulder hit and red card in Wellington was followed by something almost as bad from veteran Jerome Kaino at Eden Park, a vicious swinging arm to Alun Wyn Jones’ head which was a borderline red moment itself, although yellow was always the favourite.
The All Blacks really missed the wholehearted team ethos and