Hansen: I spoke to Boyd
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has countered claims of poor communication made by Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd.
Boyd caused something of a stir last month when, during the announcement he was leaving the Hurricanes, he said he had not spoken to Hansen for three years.
Hansen, speaking to Radio Sport’s Martin Devlin, said he had spoken to Boyd in that period. “Yeah I did. We’ll leave it at that we don’t need to go back there.”
Asked about the All Blacks camps which have sparked angst among Super Rugby ranks due to the disruption they will cause this season, Hansen said they were a necessity even though it means some players will miss franchise games. Two one-day camps, split between the south and north franchises, will focus on skills, leadership and game changes. Two three-day camps will be more dedicated to preparing for the threetest series against France in June.
“Yes, I understand that it’s not great for anybody really; it’s not great for the Super clubs and it’s not great for our preparation. It’s just one of those things we have to do because of the way the calendar is. It won’t have to happen next year because Super [Rugby] won’t be interrupted halfway through,” Hansen said.
“I have heard and read you can just rock up and beat France. I think that’s totally arrogant.
“That’s taking the All Blacks jersey for granted that you just turn up and win, and it’s certainly taking the French for granted.
“It’s not the way we believe it should be done.”
In terms of selection for the season ahead, Hansen said the All Blacks needed 21 replacements last year and was hopeful he would not have to use too many outside those exposed to test rugby in 2016. anywhere near rugby’s list of all-time howlers.
There are marginal decisions made in almost every test these days and coaches, should they choose, could single out instances after any game and attribute their defeat to that one decision. Most choose not to because if they start pulling that thread, the entire fabric will unravel. For every decision that goes against a team, there will be one that goes their way. This is the natural balance of the sporting universe.
Wayne Barnes missed that forward pass by the French at the World Cup in 2007, but four years later Joubert seemed to miss a few offside infringements by Richie McCaw.
There is rough and there is smooth — in sport it is imperative to accept them both, but apparently that ethos is crumbling.
There is a new pathway for defeated and vexed coaches now: blame someone else.
And coaches who take this path have the added incentive of knowing that if they make enough fuss and divert media into focusing on the failings of an official rather than the inadequacy of their team, then World Rugby may cave in to what has become a pseudo witch-hunt and give the seething masses what they want — an official’s head on a stick.
This may sound beyond the realms of possibility, but it’s what has happened in the case of Wales losing 12-6. Millions of rugby followers didn’t watch the game but will consider that Wales really won it 13-12 and remain on track to win an Grand Slam. any other player in Europe’s top five leagues.
The 24-year-old, who this month reached 100 Premier League goals in only 141 appearances, could have added to his tally but for two great saves by Juve’s veteran keeper Gianluigi Buffon in the first half.
With the twice Premier League Golden Boot winner in this sort of form, however, Tottenham will feel they can topple Juventus in the second leg at Wembley next month.
Kane paid tribute to the way his teammates recovered from conceding twice in the first nine minutes — Gonzalo Higuain striking twice for the hosts.
“We could have capitulated, away from home in the Champions League. It showed character,” he said. “It was an excellent performance after that and we take two away goals to Wembley. A great result.”
Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri said his side had been taken aback by Tottenham’s riposte.
“We started very well but then we struggled to keep the ball because Tottenham were playing so well,” he said.
In Basel, Manchester City all but assured themselves of a place in the quarter-finals with a 4-0 win over Basel. In-form Sergio Aguero also scored his 198th City goal.
— Reuters