As the rugby world turns its eyes towards the innovative strategies of Springboks' head coach Rassie Erasmus, former All Blacks coach Sir Steve Hansen has offered some sage advice to New Zealand’s new coach, Dave Rennie. With a storied history that includes leading New Zealand to Rugby World Cup glory, Hansen understands the nuanced art of coaching at the highest level. Amidst a backdrop of recent All Blacks challenges and coaching changes, he cautions against a wholesale imitation of the Springboks’ tactics, despite their undeniable success on the international stage.
Under Erasmus, South Africa has enjoyed a golden era, securing back-to-back World Cup victories and usurping the All Blacks’ dominance in the Rugby Championship. Erasmus’s tenure reintroduced tactics like the 'Bomb Squad' and innovative play strategies that have reshaped how teams approach the game. However, Hansen, speaking on the DSPN podcast, emphasized the importance of adapting rather than adopting these methods wholesale. “With what Rassie Erasmus has done, it just seems like everyone in World Rugby is looking to that going, ‘Well, that’s the model. Everyone has to do the same model, has to react the same way, behave the same way, select the same way, treat their players the same way’,” host Martin Devlin noted, capturing a common sentiment in current rugby discussions.
"I keep arguing, and maybe I’m an old man shouting at the moon, that you can take elements of it, but I’m just not so sure or convinced yet that New Zealand can follow that exact same model that is right for our country. What are your thoughts?”
Hansen’s reply was reflective of his deep understanding of the sport’s cultural and tactical variances. “Well, I’m with you,” he said. “Look, one of the things I’ve learned both coaching in Wales and Japan is that what works with New Zealanders doesn’t always work with other people. How you coach in one country doesn’t mean you have to coach like that because you’ve got different cultures, you’ve got different backgrounds, and various different things happening within the place that you’re coaching in.”
While acknowledging the brilliance of Erasmus's strategies, Hansen encourages Rennie to selectively integrate aspects that align with the All Blacks’ ethos and strengths. “So, what’s happening in South Africa is what’s happening, yes there are one or two things that you can look at and say: ‘Yeah, I’d pinched that idea, but that idea there may not suit us.’ I think that’s the art of being a good coach, you can work out what suits your team and what doesn’t,” Hansen elaborated.
Hansen also expressed optimism about the future under Rennie, particularly highlighting the potential of New Zealand’s forwards. “I look forward to the group that is taking the All Blacks now, working out how they’re going to play with the talent they’ve got. We’ve got big props that can scrum, but they can also play rugby,” he noted, pointing out the dual capabilities essential in modern rugby. This balanced approach, valuing both innovation and tradition, might just be the key to regaining their former glory and perhaps reshaping the future of New Zealand rugby.
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As the rugby world turns its eyes towards the innovative strategies of Springboks' head coach Rassie Erasmus, former All Blacks coach Sir Steve Hansen has offered some sage advice to New Zealand’s new coach, Dave Rennie. With a storied history that includes leading New Zealand to Rugby World Cup glory, Hansen understands the nuanced art of coaching at the highest level. Amidst a backdrop of recent All Blacks challenges and coaching changes, he cautions against a wholesale imitation of the Springboks’ tactics, despite their undeniable success on the international stage.
Under Erasmus, South Africa has enjoyed a golden era, securing back-to-back World Cup victories and usurping the All Blacks’ dominance in the Rugby Championship. Erasmus’s tenure reintroduced tactics like the 'Bomb Squad' and innovative play strategies that have reshaped how teams approach the game. However, Hansen, speaking on the DSPN podcast, emphasized the importance of adapting rather than adopting these methods wholesale. “With what Rassie Erasmus has done, it just seems like everyone in World Rugby is looking to that going, ‘Well, that’s the model. Everyone has to do the same model, has to react the same way, behave the same way, select the same way, treat their players the same way’,” host Martin Devlin noted, capturing a common sentiment in current rugby discussions.
"I keep arguing, and maybe I’m an old man shouting at the moon, that you can take elements of it, but I’m just not so sure or convinced yet that New Zealand can follow that exact same model that is right for our country. What are your thoughts?”
Hansen’s reply was reflective of his deep understanding of the sport’s cultural and tactical variances. “Well, I’m with you,” he said. “Look, one of the things I’ve learned both coaching in Wales and Japan is that what works with New Zealanders doesn’t always work with other people. How you coach in one country doesn’t mean you have to coach like that because you’ve got different cultures, you’ve got different backgrounds, and various different things happening within the place that you’re coaching in.”
While acknowledging the brilliance of Erasmus's strategies, Hansen encourages Rennie to selectively integrate aspects that align with the All Blacks’ ethos and strengths. “So, what’s happening in South Africa is what’s happening, yes there are one or two things that you can look at and say: ‘Yeah, I’d pinched that idea, but that idea there may not suit us.’ I think that’s the art of being a good coach, you can work out what suits your team and what doesn’t,” Hansen elaborated.
Hansen also expressed optimism about the future under Rennie, particularly highlighting the potential of New Zealand’s forwards. “I look forward to the group that is taking the All Blacks now, working out how they’re going to play with the talent they’ve got. We’ve got big props that can scrum, but they can also play rugby,” he noted, pointing out the dual capabilities essential in modern rugby. This balanced approach, valuing both innovation and tradition, might just be the key to regaining their former glory and perhaps reshaping the future of New Zealand rugby.