Steve Hansen
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen doesn’t mind having a public pop at the Wallabies, but when it comes to one of world rugby’s enduring rivalries, and South African coach Heyneke Meyer, there is nothing but mutual respect.
“I myself have a huge amount of respect for their coach [Heyneke Meyer]. I think he’s a good man and a good coach,” Hansen said today, ahead of Saturday night’s test against South Africa in Wellington.
“Their captain Jean [de Villiers], having his 100th game [on Saturday] I’d like to congratulate him on that.”
stuff NZ
“It’s a marvellous achievement, especially when you see the way he started his career.
“His first two tests he was out for eight months [after the first] and then six months the second time.
“He’s shown a lot of character and that’s the character they have throughout their team.
“I was lucky enough to spend a bit of time with a number of them in the Baabaas [Barbarians] over the last couple of years and I really enjoyed their company.”
That extends to Meyer, with whom Hansen chats on a fairly regular basis. The All Blacks coach even went to Meyer’s home during last year’s Rugby Championship.
“We had a barbecue… and if we were in Christchurch [this week] we’d be doing the same there. Probably not a barbecue, but we’d have a meal together and we do speak and, like I said, I’ve got a lot of respect for South African people.
“It’s a beautiful country and they’ve gone through a hell of a lot and through sheer determination they’ve kept the country together and I enjoy their company.”
In fact, Hansen and Meyer even have a ritual going where the losing coach fetches the winner an after-match beer.
“He probably wants me to go and get a beer for him. We’ve got a wee thing going at the moment, he’s been getting it lately so he’s probably keen on me to go and get it.”
A fair bit has been made of Meyer’s decision to start 20-year-old Handre Pollard at first five-eighth on Saturday. A star of South Africa’s under-20 team, Pollard has just three test caps to his name and his selection is seen by some as a huge gamble. Not by Hansen, though.
“I remember when Dan Carter didn’t have any test caps [and] I was coaching Wales. He smashed us.”
Even though Hansen and White have totally different coaching philosophies when it comes to how the game should be played, they do both believe in having someone else fetching them their beers 😆
Good article.
Heyneke’s Shout 😆
@ Te Rangatira:
3 Wonderful post
.
@ ryecatcher:
Kia ora Rye…hope things are going well for you…All the best mate…
Nice article. Hansen seems like quite a decent bloke.
@ Te Rangatira:
5 HI TR. All good here.hope the same with you.
Meant to say “wonderful article” New respect for your
coach.
Have a great evening.My wifes sister lives in Tasmania,and she reports icy
weather and snow.(At the moment)
Kind regards Rye
Hansen looks like he could cut back on the odd beer.
Maybe get him a diet coke this time Heyneke.
😆
@ Te Rangatira:
Respect for SH because although results would give him cause
to be patronising and to damn HM with faint praise,he has not done so.
Lots of friendships between individual players.
Bissie and the ubiquitous Hore an example. And ………… cannot at the moment
remember his name(Your no 8 who took a comfort break during a game)
used to often take Schalk to his club after a test match to mingle with clubmates.
Kind regards Rye
@ ryecatcher:
Yeah…it’s still bloody cold here at night….
@ Te Rangatira:
Nothing like a good threesome to keep the cold at bay.
Regards Gunther.
😆
@ gunther:
10 Comfort break = Jerry Collins.He and Schalk are great mates.
@ gunther:
Too right…. I’m working on it…two lucky females.. :lol Thanks for the encouragement Gunther..you’re an inspiration..
@ ryecatcher:
Jerry Collins what a legend.
Compare him to the current incumbent.
Chalk and cheese.
@ gunther:
Kaino is a pisshead…
@ Te Rangatira:
That’s good to hear.
It’s like the karakters are disappearing from rugby sometimes.
@ gunther:
Yep… fricken professionals 😆
Hansen said ……”I said, I’ve got a lot of respect for South African people.”
He obviously hasn’t logged on here for a while.
😉
@ cane:
What are you talking about you farking kiwi nutter?
😆
19 @ gunther:
Oi Herr Gunther,
You tend to be a bit overzealous on the abrasive comments stuff.. often.
Hell, chap, just keep it a bit tighter for us… slightly more civil won’t hurt you or take away from the blogging experience!!
Now if someone had to call you a “Farking Saffa Nutter”, you would sure sling back a stinger, won’t you!!
You see that’s exactly what we try to curb and avoid here on R-T, as a blog very, very quickly errupts, as you are duly aware of in the past on Voldy’s site.
Now listen to me this time, please, I’m not going to continue to repeat myself, ad nauseam… next one is the shambok… siep-sop-braaiboud!
@ grootblousmile:
Pardon me it was ironic.
Cane is the best of the kiwis here.
@ grootblousmile:
I took no offence from Gunthers comment.
😉
But that doesn’t mean you can’t Yellow Card him anyway……………………..
Go on…………………………… make my day.
😉
Only a Yellow mind you.
@ gunther:
Freedom of expression ain’t what it used to be Gunna.
😉
Irony
When the intended meaning of a word or phrase is the opposite to the literal meaning.
@ cane:
😆
Justice 4 Baxxies.
@ gunther:
Not only do you have “The Prefect” on your case,
but now also “The Principal”.
A good old fashion caning is in order.
LOL.
@ cane
A rebel without a clue.
😆
@ gunther:
And they all lived happily ever after.
😉
You Tube it………………………….you’ll see.
Back to the Thread Topic.
Shag ( Steve Hanson ) is a dry dry old bastard.
But a really good barstard.
A no nonsense barstard.
And I have a feeling………………………….. that Heyneke ……………………………………. will be getting in the Heinekens’.
Don’t understand flyhalf/scrumhalf selection. Morne had poor kick at touch but goal kicking was spot on as was most of tactical kicking. Pienaar had shocker, not sure if I should again or still. When Habana was sin-binned Hougaard should’ve come on, understands backline play and could’ve covered wing when AUs had ball in hand. Up 9 points against AUs, dominating set pieces should’ve sent on Pollard, give him no experience then start him against AB’s. Biggest query, why isn’t Lambie starting, good balance between running and kicking game, has experience and young enough for next two world cups.
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