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.”
@ gunther:
87 William Booth? The Salvation Army now involved?
Regards Rye
@ gunther:
You are always asking. You never have a point or an opinion to put across.
😉
82 @ MacroBok:
Different burden of proof.
@ Nama:
like what? she said there was no proof of intent to murder at all
@ MacroBok:
4 bullets into a confined space like the toilet cubicle with the caliber bullets that he used.
If they’ve charged him with “just” murder, Nel would’ve been able to concentrate on that which would’ve increased his chances of getting him found guilty of murder, no matter who the person was behind the door. As it is, he had to prove that Oscar knew that it was Reeva behind the door. Something he obviously failed to do.
You aren’t innocent until proven guilty. You are innocent until you commit a crime.
The courts have not been able to prove guilt on a criminal level that’s all.
I suspect if the Steenkamps go after Oscar in civil court he will get cleaned out, just like OJ.
@ Stormersboy:
Did they not settle already?
@ Nama:
Not sure. I remember there were discussions around that but I don’t know where it ended.
@ Nama: No I don’t think so Nama. I stand to be corrected but when would they had had the opportunity. He’s been on trial for murder after all.
what’s your guys’ opinion of the dropping of Steyn and more interestingly, the insertion of Pollard into the hot seat? I know where I stand on this.
So as to avoid wasting time……..
I think it is a brave move and one I endorse.
Go for broke. Its a gamble undoubtedly but one that’s desperately needed to break the shackles of where Springbok rugby was going.
I don’t think its a short term winning move by HM but I do think it a long term ‘right’ decision. Pollard is a fantastically talented player, a natural leader and a pivotal type of player. Hansen was comparing him to a young Carter. I don’t suspect gamesmanship at play here. Why? Because he is the real deal. Inexperienced certainly. But undoubtedly talented which has already been confirmed at the recently completed Junior RWC.
The Boks will lose come saturday. But at least we’ll see a different type of game emerge. That in itself will be refreshing.
@ Tassies:
It is essentially a go for broke decision, if he has faith in Pollard he should have played him vs Aus…
It essentially all boils down to Morne’s last kick that got him dropped.
essientially 😉
Am I pulling an Atlas here? Talking to myself.
I might be growing older but is this the first sign of senility?
Somebody out there?
@ MacroBok: Ha. Life at last. Saved me from a premeditated attack of self-doubt. Thanks MB.
Returning to the subject; I agree.
I think HM simply has had enough. Out with the old. In with the new.
I might not play the tables but I like a gamble. Especially this one.
Personally I can’t see us taking the honours in the Cake Tin come saturday. But I’ll avoid disappointment by looking for the positive changes in the way we might play the game. Pollard will lie flatter and attack the gain line. Thats how he goes about his business. Its going to be interesting to see how the rest of the backline adapt to his style and I’ll especially be watching to see how Willie uses this opportunity to get into the game. Rain is forecast, which is a pity.
So on that note, I’m happy to switch out the light here under the mountain where most sensible people are sleeping. Cheers
Fark me m’lady, but did you see the size (diameter) of those holes in the door?
The piece of sh*t knew exactly how powerful his “zombie-stoppers” were & IMO had every intention to kill.
Cnut.
Hey, I was on another thread, why did my post end up here?
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen on Thursday called for rugby union to “rip up the rule book” and simplify its laws after a string of officiating blunders in the Rugby Championship.
Hansen was careful not to criticise referees themselves, but said the complexity of the rules they had to enforce made their job difficult.
“If I was allowed to do one thing in the game I’d rip the rule book up and I’d write another one and just put in the rules that are necessary,” he told reporters ahead of New Zealand’s Test against South Africa in Wellington this weekend.
“We’ve got so many. If you read the rule book there’s clause 5 (a) 2 (c). You read it and it doesn’t even sound like English. The people that suffer the most are the people in the middle.”
Argentina had a legitimate try disallowed at a crucial moment in their 28-9 loss to New Zealand last week and South Africa suffered an agonising 24-23 defeat in Australia after wing Bryan Habana was sin-binned for a tackle controversially deemed to be high.
Springbok fans were furious last year when Bismarck du Plessis was sent off after receiving two yellow cards during South Africa’s 29-15 loss to the All Blacks, with the International Rugby Board (IRB) later admitting the first card for a tackle on Dan Carter was a mistake.
Hansen said the referees’ task was made harder because rules could be interpreted differently between their home nation, the northern/southern hemispheres and the IRB.
“If they’ve got three different ideas you’ve got three different messages coming at you and I think that’s difficult,” he said.
Hansen suggested the IRB take responsibility for hiring a panel of top referees and touch judges, who could then officiate at all Test matches.
“I’d like them to employ the top 10 refs and get them to do all the games, that way they’d become better and more consistent,” he said.
“Give them two touch judges for the year and say ‘that’s your team, we’ll judge you as a team’.”
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