Inner circle kept in dark on quit plan
Steve Hansen kept the All Blacks staff in the dark for almost as long as the New Zealand public before announcing his decision to step down as head coach.
Speaking to Newstalk ZB’s Martin Devlin, All Blacks selector Grant Fox revealed that Hansen only delivered his decision to the rest of the team staff less than 24 hours before the official announcement on Friday.
“We didn’t know anything more than what was sort of speculation in the media except on Thursday after . . . a meeting around 2-2.30 at the Heritage hotel before the awards dinner [where] he formally told everybody,” Fox said.
“I thought that would probably be the outcome but wasn’t certain. We only got a little bit more notice than the rest of New Zealand.”
Hansen, who has been involved with the team since 2004 and head coach since 2012, said he was stepping down after next year’s World Cup so that a fresh voice and a new set of eyes can take over.
Fox believes Hansen’s decision was selfless and based on putting the team first.
“You get to the end of the World Cup next year, whichever way that goes, and that’s a big tournament — it takes a lot out of you. So it’s going to be a heck of a big year.
“And I think what Steve has done is put the team first. They know sort of what he’s up to. We expect the players to have their contracts — those who are staying and leaving — sorted before next year.
“So Steve has just done the same thing and given New Zealand rugby plenty of time to sort out the process to find out who succeeds him.”
The 46-cap former All Black praised Hansen’s abilities as a coach and his genuine character, saying he made everyone else in the team better.
“From the get-go, he’s been really open and honest. He doesn’t say much but he’s got quick wits about him. What I think for the guy is he’s hugely about his team and players.
“There’s a brutal honesty about how that environment operates, but there’s compassion at the same time which sounds a little bit of a contradiction but the two can go hand in hand.
“He’s got a very, very sharp rugby brain, he’s got great people skills . . . in my view, what he’s done is he’s empowered the people around him.”
With Hansen’s plans now confirmed, the attention will now turn towards his successor. Ireland’s head coach Joe Schmidt has ruled himself out for now, which means Hansen’s assistant Ian Foster will be favourite to take charge.