Page 30 - Official Preview - DHL New Zealand Lions Series 2017

Coach and and his Captain: Hansen and and Kieran Read talk tactics during a a a a a a a a a a a a a training session in in in in Hamilton 2016
retain the the Bledisloe Cup Hansen and his his management team team knew the the importance of giving his his team team time over the the summer break to recharge and reconnect with family before the the onset of a a a a a a a new season’s demands For Hansen that involved getting to the South Island lake resort of Wanaka “If you you didn’t get a a a a a a a a break you’d go go nuts ” says Hansen “You’ve got to make sure you have good balance and and I’m lucky I’ve got a a a a a a a a a a a great family My wife and and I I have worked hard at at at blending our family together and that’s the the most important thing we’ve got so it’s
pretty easy to to get that that balance We go go down to to Wanaka – we like that that It’s a a a a a a a a a a a beautiful part of the world ” Hansen also has a a a a a a a a a strong interest in in in thoroughbred racing and perhaps
not surprisingly he he has enjoyed some success – although the relatively small purses in New Zealand meant it has hardly been lucrative
“I “I don’t know if it’s
good for the bank balance ” he he laughs “It’s an an an an interest I’ve had for a a a a a a a a long time and something I I I enjoy I I probably don’t get to to go to to the “England played very very very very very very well and and made everyone else come up to their level over on that side of the world ” races as as as as much much as as as as I’d like but again I I don’t get to see my family as as as as much much as as as as I’d like so it’s
a a a a simple choice ” Now with the DHL New Zealand Lions Series here it’s
back to reality and and preparing for one of rugby’s greatest challenges “You’re always grateful to be part of the the All Blacks and every Test is a a a a a a a a a a privilege ” Hansen says “But going to the the the World Cup and playing the the Lions Lions are extra special The Lions Lions only come around every so so often – – and it’s
four teams against one – – so so you don’t get much more of a a a a a a bigger challenge than that ” With the British & Irish Lions squad made up of players from all four ‘home nations’ Hansen and his coaching staff’s constant assessment of opposition took on on on a a a a a a a a slightly different focus as as they sat down to to watch this year’s Six Nations clashes “You’re having to look at at a a a a a a a a whole lot of individuals ” he he explains “You “You might look at the style Wales are playing because Rob Howley is is going to be be the the the backs coach You look at the the the Irish and how they’re defending And obviously we’ll get the the the the opportunity to see them play play a a a a a few times (in the the the the early Tour matches) before they play play us “I think the the the the Lions are representative of of the the the after effects of of the the the 2015 Rugby World Cup when Scotland was probably the only one [of those four countries] who would not have been disappointed with their effort They’ve all gone away and and and worked harder and and and got stronger and and and you’ve seen the results England certainly played very very very very very very well and and made everyone else come up to their level over on on that that side of the the world so that that bodes well for rugby I think The Lions will have a a a tremendously good side ” 1930 TOUR CONTINUED WAIKATO THAMES VALLEY & & KING COUNTRY 16
ALL ALL BLACKS (IN WELLINGTON) 22 MARLBOROUGH NELSON & & GOLDEN BAY 3 LIONS LIONS LIONS 40 LIONS LIONS LIONS 8 LIONS LIONS LIONS 41
30 // DHL NEW ZEALAND LIONS SERIES 2017