Hansen on Meyer and Jean

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.

"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.''

 "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


Perhaps some of our Bok "supporters" should take note of that.

 Moz, i think he may be talking about Meyer as a human being. Though the rest is very possibly a little diplomacy/spin. 
Unless he is talking about the respect he has for the speed at which Meyer is able to wrestle a cold one from a crowded bar. 

 There is no doubting Meyer is a nice chap with plenty of Bok passion. 
Sadly he happens to be an average coach who is too conservative for the job and out of touch with the way test matches are to be won and his selection of old timers is most concerning. 

 Kudos to HM ,JDV and Hansen .Hopefuly Hansen will be waiting for his beer after the game...

Aahh, speak for yourself Cloudy; I'll be cheering for Ireland as my 2nd team after the ABs!  

 moodaa
Traitor - when I was in Europe last time around -  I cheered for any SH team against any NH team.    When the AB's play England  I am an AB supporter - when the Aussies play Wales I ma an Aussie supporter - when Argentina play France I am an Argentinian supporter, etc.    

 I support the underdogs when SA is not playing and this weekend the Boks are also the underdogs.

 I have Irish heritage though Mike so will always support them after the ABs.

 Moodaa Moodaa
Fine - I understand.   However, I have French, Dutch and German ancestry - with a springkling of  Danish as well - but also local ancestry (being descended also from Eva of the Goiringaikona) - so I am descended from a real mixture.   My ancestors hated the British  empire though and they forbid marriage with anybody of English, Scottish and Welsh descent, but the Irish were OK.
It reminds me of a famous SA story about a previous Prime Minsiter of the Cape Colony - John X Merriman.   His father was the Archbishop of Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape and he became member of the Cape Parliament at a very young age and by 26 was a cabinet minister.   He met a daughter of the noble Prins Vintzent family from Mossel Bay in the Southern Cape    When they wanted to get married - the Vintzent family sent the daughter to the Netherlands  to separate the two - he was not regarded as good enough to marry the daughter.   She came back after  a year and got married anyway.   
By the way Merriman was member of Parliament for 55 years - the longest term of membership of Parliament ever.   He represented Stellenbosch constituency  in Parliament - and was the founder of Old Mutual - the fourth biggest international business conglomerate rooted in SA.  
That was part and parcel of Cape Colony life in the 19th century - so you get the message!!!