Rugby has lost its way – Hansen

Former All Blacks coach Steve Hansen believes rugby has lost its way at the international level and challenges top nations to put their ‘‘self-interest’’ aside and get their shot at a post-coronavirus restart right.

In an extensive interview with Wales Online, the recently retired All Blacks head coach, who ended a 16-year association with the New Zealand team at last year’s World Cup in Japan, spoke with passion about the opportunity in front of rugby in the wake of the Covoid-19 sporting shutdown.

Like many in the code, Hansen sees the eventual resumption as a chance to reset some fundamental aspects of the international game as rugby looks to salvage something from an unpromising position.

He also supports Warren Gatland’s proposed one-off match between the All Blacks and LIons ahead of next year’s scheduled tour of South Africa from the British and irish composite side, though stopped short of tagging it a ‘‘rematch’’ following the controversial drawn series of 2017 in New Zealand.

In an interview where the most recent All Blacks coach copped on the chin his own failings from notable misfires against the Lions and at the 2019 World Cup, Hansen perked up at the scenario facing the sport when it eventually resumes after the cataclysmic shutdown that has sent many nations to the brink.

‘‘We have an opportunity now to start with a blank page because you have got everybody putting self-interest to the side,’’ he said.

‘‘They know they could be gone if they don’t do the right thing.

‘‘So it’s a great opportunity to bring everybody together, north, south, individual countries and do what it is right for the game. It’s been a long time coming because it’s been needed for quite some time.’’

The mood for change in the game has been enhanced by a leadership battle at the top of World Rugby, with incumbent Bill Beaumont being challenged by his deputy Agustin Pichot for the chairman’s job.

‘‘There has been a lot of selfinterest and if we don’t do the right thing we could lose the game and that would be a tragedy,’’ Hansen said. ‘‘We have lost our way in rugby a little bit and we haven’t been working well enough together.

‘‘Maybe this pandemic has caused a crisis that means we have to. If that’s the case, then that’s one positive to come out of something that’s pretty ordinary.’’

Hansen also saw merit in Gatland’s proposed matchup between the Lions and All Blacks before the composite side headed to South Africa next year.

‘‘It won’t be a decider because it won’t be the same people involved,’’ he said.

‘‘But what he’s saying is let’s have this game to try and help make some money because the game is in trouble.

‘‘You have one rugby nation, in the United States, who have gone bankrupt, we’ve got Australia on the brink, we know England have got a financial crisis ... everybody will have because you are not getting paid the TV rights and those are what makes the game go round.

‘‘The game is in financial crisis ... Anything that allows us to create some income is important.’’

The former All Blacks coach is in lockdown in Christchurch with his family.