Following New Zealand's clean sweep against a notably weakened French squad, former All Blacks coach Sir Steve Hansen shared his insights on the team's performance and their evolving playstyle under coach Scott Robertson. The All Blacks secured wins in Dunedin, Wellington, and Hamilton with scores of 31-27, 43-17, and 29-19, respectively.
France, led by coach Fabien Galthie, faced criticism for sending a less experienced team down under, a strategic move born from an agreement with the French Rugby Federation and the LNR to rest key players. This decision, however, presented the All Blacks with a prime opportunity to tinker with their lineup and strategies, a chance Hansen believes was well-utilized by Robertson and his coaching staff.
"France gave them the opportunity to experiment, and they’ve done that,"
Hansen explained on the DSPN podcast with Martin Devlin. Despite the French squad's inexperience, they posed a challenge that Hansen thinks benefited the All Blacks: "France themselves experimented. They brought out a team without their top players, but they also were prepared to play all their squad."
The conversation shifted towards the All Blacks' tactical approach under Robertson's guidance. Hansen spoke highly of the team's aspirations to enhance their speed and skill level, crucial elements for the fast-paced game they aim to perfect.
"If you’re going to play fast, it takes a lot of high skills. So, they’re working on that and it’ll take a little while to bed it in."
Hansen remarked, affirming the team's commitment to a dynamic and instinctive style of play, which he believes is a natural fit for New Zealand rugby's ethos of fluid, opportunistic play.
The discussion took a financial turn as Hansen touched upon the broader implications of New Zealand Rugby's future following a significant potential sponsorship loss. "Whether the opposition allow them to do that will be a big $60 million question, I guess," he mused, hinting at the challenges ahead for the All Blacks as they navigate both on-field strategies and off-field financial realities.
As the All Blacks continue to refine their gameplay, the blend of new talent and strategic experimentation showcased in this series against France may well be the crucible in which the future success of New Zealand rugby is forged.
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Following New Zealand's clean sweep against a notably weakened French squad, former All Blacks coach Sir Steve Hansen shared his insights on the team's performance and their evolving playstyle under coach Scott Robertson. The All Blacks secured wins in Dunedin, Wellington, and Hamilton with scores of 31-27, 43-17, and 29-19, respectively.
France, led by coach Fabien Galthie, faced criticism for sending a less experienced team down under, a strategic move born from an agreement with the French Rugby Federation and the LNR to rest key players. This decision, however, presented the All Blacks with a prime opportunity to tinker with their lineup and strategies, a chance Hansen believes was well-utilized by Robertson and his coaching staff.
"France gave them the opportunity to experiment, and they’ve done that,"
Hansen explained on the DSPN podcast with Martin Devlin. Despite the French squad's inexperience, they posed a challenge that Hansen thinks benefited the All Blacks: "France themselves experimented. They brought out a team without their top players, but they also were prepared to play all their squad."
The conversation shifted towards the All Blacks' tactical approach under Robertson's guidance. Hansen spoke highly of the team's aspirations to enhance their speed and skill level, crucial elements for the fast-paced game they aim to perfect.
"If you’re going to play fast, it takes a lot of high skills. So, they’re working on that and it’ll take a little while to bed it in."
Hansen remarked, affirming the team's commitment to a dynamic and instinctive style of play, which he believes is a natural fit for New Zealand rugby's ethos of fluid, opportunistic play.
The discussion took a financial turn as Hansen touched upon the broader implications of New Zealand Rugby's future following a significant potential sponsorship loss. "Whether the opposition allow them to do that will be a big $60 million question, I guess," he mused, hinting at the challenges ahead for the All Blacks as they navigate both on-field strategies and off-field financial realities.
As the All Blacks continue to refine their gameplay, the blend of new talent and strategic experimentation showcased in this series against France may well be the crucible in which the future success of New Zealand rugby is forged.