Wales ‘helped All Blacks’

Eddie Jones claims coaching Wales helped New Zealand rugby knights Graham Henry and Steve Hansen turn the All Blacks into World Cup champions.

Henry left the Blues to coach Wales in 1998 and, after early success, including a win over England, he became the first overseas coach of the British and Irish Lions in 2001.

He parted ways with Wales after a run of defeats in 2002, with a record of 20 wins, 13 defeats and two draws.

Henry was replaced by Hansen, his assistant, who took charge through to the end of the 2019 World Cup.

Hansen finished with 10 wins in 29 tests as Wales head coach.

Henry and Hansen teamed up in 2004 with the All Blacks, who whitewashed the British and Irish Lions in a 2005 series.

Jones said on his England Rugby podcast that Henry and Hansen were ‘‘two of the best coaches we have seen’’.

He attributed their World Cup success to knowledge gleaned of northern hemisphere rugby traits during their time with Wales.

‘‘There is definitely a different philosophy in rugby in the southern and northern hemispheres because of the conditions they are played under,’’ Jones said.

‘‘The southern hemisphere is much more about ball usage, you want to have the ball for longer periods of time. The northern hemisphere is more about ball-winning and territory.

‘‘The coaches who have done best are those who have been brought up to the northern hemisphere then gone back to the southern having learnt a lot.

‘‘Look at Graham Henry and Steve Hansen, two of the best coaches we have seen.’’