Biographies, as opposed to autobiographies, are uncommon in New Zealand sport, and certainly not as persuasive or as subjective as achieved by Gregor Paul in his study of former All Blacks coach Steve Hansen in Steve Hansen – The Legacy.
Biographies are the lifeblood of non-fiction publishing in other genres around the world yet in New Zealand sport, at least, they remain the exception.
They can only ever be one person's assessment of their subject, and therein lies the measure for readers – how well did the writer know, understand and comprehend, his subject?
Time can also be a factor in writing biographies, although in sport, with its ability to move on quickly, as another superstar steps up to occupy vacant space, that is not so much the issue. Sometimes, there can be a danger that studies are attempted too early.
For instance, how different might a biography of Sir Robert Muldoon be when afforded the time to assess what effects his policies of the moment had years later? So it applies in a sport where the longer-term impact of Hansen's maybe some years away yet.
But there is little doubt that the onset of professional rugby provided an outlet for Hansen's coaching that might have been much less substantial in an amateur era. The life expectancy of coaches tended to be brief if things didn't go too well.
Hansen, as Paul reveals, was bound to coach given the influence of his father Des in Christchurch club rugby. Just how much he would achieve would come down to his ability to learn, listen and realise that he didn't have all the answers – something some coaches can take a long time to learn.
But he always had an eye for talent, never better than when insisting that Richie McCaw be signed up promptly by the Crusaders when he travelled north to pursue a university career at Lincoln.
However, it would be some years before they worked together at international level. Hansen left New Zealand and went through Test coaching 101 with Wales, learning much more among the skills-challenged Welsh than would have been the case had he stayed in the New Zealand system.
His education with Wales was cut short. Graham Henry called him up to be part of his coaching team when appointed in 2004. But taking up that role eventually committed Hansen, albeit unknowingly, to the All Blacks for what became a 16-year, four Rugby World Cup tournament cycle.
Hansen took time to mellow in the role, and while in the shadow of Henry, in the scheme of things, he and fellow assistant coach Wayne Smith were significant influences in the events from 2004-2011. Success against the British & Irish Lions in 2005, the introduction of a rest and rotation method, and the downfall of the All Blacks in Cardiff in 2007 could have resulted in the demise of Henry's coaching structure.
But, in defiance of convention Henry, and his team, were retained, and while it wasn't a glorious renewal, as the events of 2009 and losing to the Springboks recount, it was a base-setting experience given a rocket-like boost by NRL coaching legend Wayne Bennett who rarked up the crew with his post-Cup session with the coaches and their leaders' group.
Hansen's public persona was always to have concern for his players. That was evident at Cardiff in 2007. Amid the dross of defeat to France at the quarter-final stage, the worst result in World Cups by the All Blacks, Hansen was alert enough to come out to the waiting media conference area some minutes ahead of Henry and McCaw. He reminded the participants that young men were hurting very much from the on-field events, and could they remember that when speaking to them?
It was a quality that revealed much of the man, although he wasn't yet the complete article. He still felt he needed to turn around his attitude towards the media. That road to Damascus moment has been public knowledge in that he worked with former high-profile interviewer and media coach Ian Fraser. It was revealing when Hansen revealed his new leaf, possibly for the first time, at a press conference the day after a match in Hamilton, that there was a much more relaxed atmosphere to the few media representatives who had turned up for the event.
It was around the same time it became clear he was a good chance to step up to the head coaching role should Henry step aside if the side was successful in Auckland in 2011.
It also says something for his method, that after being criticised by former All Blacks lock Andy Haden for the way he appeared to be coaching the forwards, Hansen sought out the one man in New Zealand rugby who had a doctorate in lineout play. Their discussion, according to Haden, included the gift of an idea that resulted in the Tony Woodcock try scored in the 2011 World Cup final and a version adapted for McCaw to score a match-winning try against South Africa a year or two later.
As expected, once the All Blacks won the 2011 World Cup, Hansen duly became the new head coach. That left him facing a new challenge; how to inspire the side who had been there and done that?
To him, it was obvious; to do what no one else had done. That was to retain the Cup. Paul describes how that challenge was put in front of a team still largely intact.
What followed was some of the most exhilarating rugby produced consistently by any rugby team in history. The record the All Blacks achieved during Hansen's tenure over eight years was astonishing. Their ability to come back late in games, on the back of plays that had no right to succeed, said much of the environment in which their confidence allowed them to play that way.
The 2015 World Cup success was a tour de force and in spite of the departure of foundation players like McCaw, Dan Carter, Woodcock, Keven Mealamu, Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith, it defied belief that New Zealand could continue to defy the odds and remain for a season or two more at the same high level.
The drawn series against the 2017 Lions is a study in Hansen's method of getting into the pre-series and pre-match mind games of getting on top of his rival coach and fellow New Zealander, Warren Gatland. Paul looks at this in-depth, and while the shame of the outcome of the series rested with World Rugby's refereeing group, it gave opponents a perception of chinks in the All Blacks armour ahead of the 2019 World Cup, something both South Africa and Ireland used to advantage.
New Zealand overcame issues it faced from a resurgent South Africa before the 2019 World Cup. It won the game that mattered when claiming the World Cup pool game between the two.
But, in one of the books most telling revelations, Paul explores a crack in the Hansen mask ahead of the semifinal against England. That was over his decision to go with Scott Barrett on the blindside of the scrum at Sam Cane's expense. Hansen's turmoil was lain bare by Paul. It was uncharacteristic of his usual confidence. And, it is a salutary lesson for those who follow.
Hunches, generally, should not be pursued in games of consequence, although Hansen could point to his 2015 final hunch regarding Conrad Smith's pre-halftime exit for Sonny Bill Williams. But, it could be argued it was successful because it was in response to what was happening on the field. The 2019 decision was a pre-meditated move, one that allowed opponents more time to react.
Ranfurly Shield history is full of similar examples. Coaches are always looking to do something different to surprise, but they don't trial their plan in games. Too often, that dooms their effort to failure. Under the intense video scrutiny all teams face, Hansen felt he had to go with something he had been unable to trial significantly in white-hot Test play. The result for Hansen was the end of his hat-trick hopes and a third placing for his side.
Losing to England is never easy for New Zealand. But, there was a modicum of satisfaction that may become more evident in time. That was South Africa's success in beating England in the final made it an asterisk moment, the first time the World Cup had been won by a team beaten in pool play. And as was so often the case in Hansen's era, it was the All Blacks on the end of the asterisk.
Whether any biographer could get nearer to the core of the man is unlikely. Paul, who enjoyed a working relationship with Hansen throughout his tenure, has got close. He had some support from Hansen in the project, but no one else had better qualifications to do the job.
The result is a compelling, readable account of a coach whose influence still exists and who deserves the classification of the finest coach the All Blacks have ever had.
Steve Hansen – The Legacy. By Gregor Paul. Published by HarperCollins, 2021.
Thanks Peter, yes I thought long and hard about that but was swayed by the fact Hansen maintained his level for pretty much eight years and handled that change of personnel midway through with the All Blacks playing a quality of rugby that was better than anyone else throughout the period. Also, time has revealed that many of Allen's players felt let down by his decision not to take them to South Africa in 1970. Good to hear from you, and trust all is well.
Fine review that Lynn. Big call last sentence. In modern times probably but my ageing mind often reverts back to Fred Allen Esq.