Hansen’s new role: talking to Super coaches

Chris Boyd will be happy. All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has given himself a new role that will see him become the main conduit between the national team and the five Super Rugby franchises in 2018.

The additional responsibility for the All Blacks gaffer comes after the recent departure of NZ Rugby high performance chief Don Tricker who has taken his talents to the San Diego Padres of Major League baseball.

Tricker used to be the middle man between the All Blacks and the Super Rugby franchises where the two worlds intersected.

But Hansen confirmed in an interview with the Star-Times he will be taking over Tricker’s role for 2018, which is notable given the number of injured All Blacks returning to rugby, and also includes the delicate matter of squeezing in national training camps in the midst of Super Rugby.

Hurricanes coach Boyd has, of course, already lamented his lack of communication with Hansen (there are, of course, two sides to every story and the All Blacks coach’s is somewhat different). He can certainly expect to hear those dulcet tones at the end of a call or three this campaign.

Hansen explained his new role when asked what he wanted from his All Black incumbents and contenders in Super Rugby.

‘‘You’re always looking for guys you have been working with to continue their development, the growth of their game understanding and bringing things to their core roles. It’s important for them to work hard and smart, and work in with their franchise coaches,’’ he said. ‘‘We keep out of the way as much as possible ... our specialist coaches speak to their specialist coaches a lot. We’ve used Don Tricker in the past as the conduit of conversations, but with him gone I’ll take up that role now.

‘‘That will be the only change from our point of view. We just want them to play well and enjoy their rugby.’’

With a high number of All Blacks on the comeback trail from major injury, such as Owen Franks, Joe Moody, Jordie Barrett, Israel Dagg and Nehe Milner-Skudder, as well as Kieran Read and Dane Coles on more longer-term plans, you can imagine the communication lines will be running hot.

Hansen confirmed rehab plans and timetables were worked out among the ‘‘wellbeing’’ departments of the All Blacks and franchises, with coaches then given the nod when players are"good to go’’. Hansen receives weekly updates on all his injured players’ progress.

Asked about positions he was concerned about heading into 2018, Hansen ticked off the obvious ones at third halfback (‘‘There’s plenty of candidates, just which one we take is the key’’) and a hooker to replace Dane Coles (‘‘We’ve got a bit of depth there, and it’s deciding do we need to build for the future?’’).

But then he cut to the crux: ‘‘The position we need to accelerate is first-five now that Lima [Sopoaga] has decided to go. From an experience point of view we don’t have a lot. Richie Mo’unga played well for the Crusaders last year and did well with us for the short time we had him, and Damian McKenzie is playing there for the Chiefs. We know he can play well at fullback, and if he can drive his team round the park well at 10 that’s a bonus.’’

Hansen also commented on Kieran Read’s return from injury: ‘‘The back is one of those things you’ve just got to make sure is dead right. You don’t want to risk it.’’

On the Kiwi derbies: ‘‘They’re good matches, high intensity and tough rugby ... I like them. They’re good for the players, good for the franchises from a gate point of view, and they’re good for selectors, that’s for sure.’’

On Jordie Barrett’s post-injury weight gain: ‘‘It’s an example of the All Blacks and Super Rugby franchises working well together. He has put the weight on which he was going to do anyway, but we’ve accelerated it because we had a good shot at it. He’ll be better for it. It sounds like he’s running faster and he’s definitely stronger.’’

We’ve used Don Tricker in the past . . . but with him gone I’ll take up that role now. Steve Hansen