World in reunion: All Blacks bask in back-to-back titles

Back-to-back World Cups with perhaps the greatest team of all time. How to follow that, especially on foot of five of the great All Blacks individually riding off into the sunset?

Even New Zealand would have trouble replenishing such stocks, but then again, if any country can, it is the land of the long white cloud, where rugby is arguably at the root of their national identity

There is, or course, still plenty more to achieve, with the Lions coming to New Zealand in two years' time and the prospect of a third World Cup in a row in Japan in 2019. To that end, Steve Hansen, who turned 56 last May, strongly hinted that he would be around for the first challenge but not the second.

Guiding principle

“I’m not saying I couldn’t do it again,” Hansen commented in the All Blacks’ post-World Cup final in Pennyhill Park Hotel in Bagshot yesterday, with no evident signs of a hangover.

“I’m saying I don’t know that it’s right for the team. If it’s not right for the team, I don’t want to do it. That is our guiding principle. What comes first is the team, individuals second. I’d love to coach the All Blacks until the day I die; it’s the best job in the world as far as I am concerned for a rugby coach.

“But is that right for the team? I wouldn’t think so. While I was offered a contract to go through to 2019, I didn’t take it because I didn’t think it was right. When we get to the end of 2017, we’ll look at that. But my feeling tells me it won’t be right.”

Having been on the All Blacks coaching ticket since 2004, first as assistant to Graham Henry for two World Cup cycles, Hansen quipped: "You only get 10 years for murder back home so! I like the idea of changing the guard halfway through a cycle which has a World Cup in the middle of it.

“I think when people come in, it is easy to get some really dramatic shift early and it is a lot harder to keep that momentum going. Also, for a long time, we have put everything on the World Cup as the centre, but unless you’ve got real strength of character, you can be tricked into making decisions which are right for your survival, as opposed to what is right for the team. I would probably say it is more likely that I won’t be there after 2017.”

Amazing series

With regard to the goal of beating the Lions, Hansen said: “The two immediate things are, one, re-establish ourselves in 2016. Two, get ready for that Lions tour. They are amazing series in their own right, they only come round every few years, they are a massive time for the country and it’ll be a great challenge for the team. Then you are halfway through the process again of getting ready for another World Cup.”

As for winning the World Cup for a third time in a row, Hansen said: “The first target has to be: do this bit right. The second target: put a full stop on this. Get those processes right, you allow yourself to start building a foundation for what comes next.”

Sitting alongside Hansen was Richie McCaw, who has been offered a place on the team but will almost certainly head off into retirement. Hansen was given a hard act to follow, after the 2011 triumph, but McCaw said: “He put a full stop on 2011 and inspired the belief and desire that we could do something special now, while doing everything right along the way.

“Four years ago when he said we want to be number one until the next World Cup and win it again, you sort of go ‘jeepers, you’re thinking a long way out’. But that belief rubbed off on everyone and everyone wanted to achieve that. Steve never let complacency slip in. He brought in new players with energy and had faith that they would do the job.”

Not that Saturday night marked the end of it, but it must have been a hell of a party. “I wasn’t there right until the end, but the boys did pretty well,” said McCaw with a smile. “I was in bed around 4am, but apparently there were a few boys still going around 6am. As they should. I had friends and family here and it was nice to spend a bit of time with them.”

Unsurprisingly, McCaw confirmed the impression that retaining the trophy away from home was altogether less pressurised than regaining it after 20 years on home soil, especially as he was playing through the pain barrier four years ago.

Satisfaction

“Completely different. Four years ago I had a lot of things going on with the injuries and stuff like that; 2011, it was the emotional side that was just as draining as the physical side. This time we perhaps didn’t get pushed as hard as four years ago, but it was still a tough game that could have gone either way. It felt like we had more control than four years ago. The relief isn’t as huge as 2011, but the satisfaction was the same.”

It would be the last time McCaw will ever play with Dan Carter, Ma'a Nonu, Conrad Smith and Keven Mealamu, or indeed any of them would play with the All Blacks again. But what a way to sign off.

“A small part of you is sad that those guys won’t be seen playing for the All Blacks again,” said McCaw. “But what better way to finish, because the service they’ve given over the years is one of the big reasons this team has been able to perform in the way it has.

“We didn’t get too hung up on that stuff because it’s more about enjoying the moment. It’s great to be able to walk around with loose shoulders and a grin on your face.”

Must be a nice place to be.