How obvious, All Blacks assistant coach Scott Hansen was asked today, will the changes to the team’s game plan and style be in the first Test against England in Dunedin on Saturday?
"Good question," Hansen replied, before setting about expertly skirting around the edges like the halfback he was and now coaches.
Hansen — a loyal lieutenant to Scott Robertson at the Crusaders and now the All Blacks — is known for his deep thinking of the game and ability to succinctly deliver a message. While he would never give away specifics before a match, let alone his first Test with a new coaching regime, there were clues in his response during media duties in Wellington.
"Fundamentally, it’s going to come down to our set piece and ability to provide momentum and apply pressure," Hansen added.
"That will still be our DNA, that’s All Black rugby. Then you look at our skill set within our game and ability to play through our forwards from 1 to 8 and our ability to find space with our backs. We’re excited to see the team come together for the first time."
Perhaps significantly, he also said this: "We’ll evolve during the year. It’s important to be decisive this week. That’s what we should expect from the All Blacks this weekend – to be a decisive team."
What 'decisive' likely means in practice
The "d-word" came up earlier, too, when Hansen was asked about the fine line between too much information and too little as the All Blacks prepare for their first challenge of the year with very little preparation time under a new coaching team.
"We’re just asking questions around where they need to be and what they need to know," Hansen said of the players. "At the end of the day, we need to be decisive."
In other words, the players will be expected to do everything with full commitment, even if some of the detail may be missing for the time being.
It’s clear the All Black pack will seek to destabilise the English through their scrum and lineout – no matter which team has possession – and will hope to bring a stripped-back directness and physicality of days gone by.
That’s the All Black DNA and it’s something Hansen’s fellow assistant Jason Ryan, the forwards coach, helped the team rediscover when he was lured from the Crusaders by former All Blacks head coach Ian Foster in 2022. Against the odds, it almost helped win them the World Cup.
It may also help explain why the All Blacks preferred someone like the combative Ethan Blackadder ahead of arguably more skilful Hoskins Sotutu. They will look to carry the ball with force and defend similarly.
Hansen had other things to say about the injured players — former captain Sam Cane; lock Josh Lord, who has been badly affected by knee and ankle issues this season; and Will Jordan, the outside back sidelined with a shoulder problem.
All three, along with the uncapped loose forward Peter Lakai and lock Sam Darry, have been with the team in Wellington.
"Sam Cane’s influence on the group has been of guidance and care," Hansen said of the loose forward whose back injury cut short his season in Japan. "He’s doing everything to help us get better.
"Lordy has come back from a tough season. We know the potential and what Lordy will be. And Will Jordan is Will Jordan."
Asked when Cane might be available (indications were for the Rugby Championship which starts in August), and Hansen would say only: "He will be available when he’s ready."
Otherwise, Hansen spoke about coaching Beauden Barrett for the first time: "The calmness and direction that he gives — I’ve been so impressed with Beaudy."
Robertson’s transition from Crusaders coach to the top job remains a hot topic. "Razor is Ray. There’s a lot of colour, a lot of energy. We’re really clear about what the boss wants."
But, Hansen insisted, it was important to be clear about who the leading characters were.
"This is the boys’ team. This is the All Blacks, it’s about the XV, it’s about the 23, it’s about the squad. They are the ones who need to be at the front leading it."
Hooker Codie Taylor was also asked about Robertson and whether he had changed. "Not a lot. Obviously, the expectations are higher because you’re the All Blacks coach, and rightly so. This nation prides itself on being a great rugby nation."
Hansen was queried on England, the other main characters over the next couple of weeks.
"A very, very good team," he said. "They’re balanced across the board and have dominance in their forward pack around physicality, and also the pressure game, the aerial attack.
"I really enjoyed watching them in the Six Nations and, in particular, the Irish and French games. They showed a beautiful style of rugby so we’re really excited to stand in front of that."
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