Steve Hansen, the coach of the All Blacks, is the international rugby coach with the highest winning percentage of all time, at an extraordinary 88% or 91 wins from 104 games.
However, I recently learnt a surprising fact about his coaching career that shines a new light on the man.
While Steve Hansen was coach for the Welsh rugby team from 2002-2004, he pre-sided over a record 11 consecutive international losses. Following this, Hansen did not seek to renew his contract. He moved back to New Zealand and took an assistant coaching position at the All Blacks.
Given this, I can only imagine what kind of mental battle Hansen had to fight when he took the helm of the All Blacks in 2011.
I wonder if he dealt with imposter syndrome? Did his previous record feel like a skeleton in the closet? What about the palpable pressure of a rugby obsessed nation that isn’t used to losing?
Regardless of what Hansen felt back in 2011, his record has proven he has the chops to be one of the all-time great rugby coaches. He clearly hasn’t let his past define the professionalism and dedication he has brought to his role as All Black’s coach.
And his story is not yet finished. Hansen has a chance to write history by taking the All Blacks to a third consecutive World Cup victory in the coming 3 weeks.
Okay, sorry, I promise, the rugby related posts won’t persist for too much longer.