When it comes to coaching, Steve Hansen is in a class of his own.
Taking over as All Blacks head coach after the 2011 Rugby World Cup, Hansen has become one of the most successful coaches in professional sport.
A look at his resume tells the story.
- Hansen has coached the All Blacks for a total of 64 matches since 2012. The All Blacks have lost just three and drawn two, good enough for a 92.2 percent win rate.
- He has been named World Rugby coach of the year three times (2012, 2013, 2014) and looks odds-on to claim a fourth award this year, which would put him one behind his predecessor Graham Henry.
- Amazingly, Hansen is undefeated at home, going a perfect 28/28.
- His teams like to score a lot, beating opponents by an average of 21.5 points.
- He has coached the All Blacks in 64 tests, the second most by any New Zealand coach. Henry leads the way with 103 tests as coach.
- In 2013, Hansen-lead New Zealand became the first rugby nation in the professional era to achieve a 100 per cent record in a calendar year.
- The All Blacks trophy cabinet under Hansen is:
Rugby World Cup - 2015
Rugby Championship - 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016
Bledisloe Cup - 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
Freedom Cup - 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
Hillary Shield - 2013, 2014
Dave Gallaher Trophy - 2013
World Rugby Team of the Year - 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
- Perhaps the only blemish on Hansen's CV is the 2015 Rugby Championship. In a shortened competition to ensure better preparation for the Rugby World Cup, the All Blacks lost to Australia, who eventually went on to claim the title after an undefeated tournament.
That must have really bugged Hansen, because he hasn't lost since.