In a development unlikely to really surprise anyone, hot favourite Steve Hansen has been appointed to succeed Graham Henry as head coach of the World Champion All Blacks.
Hansen, a 52-year-old who served with the police before getting into coaching, has been Henry’s assistant for the last 8 years and was seen as the ideal man to step in and provide continuity. His assistants will be named later.
Speaking about the appointment, Hansen said, “from a coaching point of view in this sport it’s the greatest honour you can receive. It comes with a huge amount of responsibility.”
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I am more concerned about who is going to be the next Springbok coach.Don’t worry about things we have no control over. ❓
@theswan4 (Comment 1) : you’re saying we have control over the next Bok coach? You clearly have more influence than I do 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 2) : Clever headline btw. Brings back memories from school.
Must say, I like the way they do things, the assistant coach gets picked and it gets done , no waiting forever to make such decisions… Good for you NZ…
@war1 (Comment 3) : thanks… I’m glad SOMEONE got it. Even though I had to take liberties with the spelling (I think the band was Hanson)
@robdylan (Comment 5) : Yep, that it was.
Now we need a good Bok coach who is not gona screw up everything and not a political pawn
Is it a public Holiday in RSA or something? 7 comments and this hasn’t turned into a school/junior rugby thread yet? 😯 😯
😛
Lekke rustig langs die dam……
@KSA Shark © (Comment 8) : wonder what the junior rugby players are doing on this PH 16-12-2011 😆
@KSA Shark © (Comment 8) : mention one of jan serfontein or ‘franna’ venter or just any of the blue bulls youngsters and you’ll have the usual suspects lauding them like they’re talking about NINETY-something Test capped jonny wilkinson. 🙄
@Franshark (Comment 10) : Well Franna, having in the past spoken to Justin Bircher, a qualified biokineticist who amongst other things is the Kearsney conditioning coach, I can tell you that the holidays pose a far greater challenge to schoolboy coaches than their senior pro counterparts, esp those in charge of teams made up primarily of boarders (who usually come from afar). Like pro rugby much of the focus at this time of year for schools rugby is on achieving individual set conditioning targets, however as opposed to pros who train as a squad over the Christmas holidays, for the schoolboys self disciple and self motivation are key coz they often have to work thru their programmes on their own.
I think Justin mentioned places like Spain and the Maldives as regions where some of his players holidayed last Dec.and were hopefully carrying out their fitness training.
Hope this long comment was enough to keep the junior rugby flag flying high.
What holiday is it btw? Can’t ever remember one in the middle of December. 😡
Darn, a few seconds too late again.
Speaking of SBR, I mind watching watching the Middleburg Sevens a few months ago, and the team that Maritzburg College put out had the likes of Lwazi Sithole, Marcel Coetzee and one more with an uncanny likeness in his name to Sharks players.
A sign by the rugby Gods?
@LordHope (Comment 14) : I didn’t watch the @lantic 7s this year but might that player be Magiel Joubert.
Sithole was probably the leading tryscorer in KZN 1st team SBR this season – an excellent finisher. Young Marcel is still only u16 – a very promising player. Hopefully the Sharks will be able to retain Marcel’s services once he completes his schooling.
@LordHope (Comment 13) : reconciliation day (versoenings dag) formerly known as ”gelofte dag” (day of vow?)
Meh, far too many to keep track.
Kudos to anyone who can remember them all.
Kiwis appear a little bit of both about Hansen being appointed, apparently as dour as Kgalema Motlanthe on a good day, but otherwise mostly happy that there is continuity.
Watching the Heineken Cup and Clemont wing Julien Malzieu looked like he just tried to karate kid kick a Leicester player. Crazy stuff
Luckily it turned out to be an air kick.
So the All Blacks have continuity…but I wonder what new tricks Hanson can bring to the party to keep their gameplan fresh and ahead of the world like they have been. As for the Bok coach…after the amazing wonder that PDV is they can appoint Steve Hoffmeyer for all I care!
@SheldonK (Comment 19) : i think he is starting a rugby team with all the kids he is having …
Wonder who will be the new bok coach and his assistants?
David ellis,the french defensive coach, is no longer with french team.
@bergshark (Comment 22) : The french have a defensive coach? He must be as usefull as a Jewish pig farmer!
@SheldonK:he was def coach when they beat the kiwis in ’07 wc semi.
Thing with the french is their unpredictability and if they wanna play or not.so it is difficult to judge his coaching with the players and team’s performance .would be interesting to hear his thoughts on def .couldn’t hurt to get him over and hear what he has to say?
@bergshark (Comment 24) : Yeh no information is completely useless i guess. new ideas couldnt hurt.