Steve Hansen: Rugby is in danger of becoming boring

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said rugby is at risk of becoming boring. Photo / Getty Images.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has expressed serious concerns about the state of modern-day rugby, saying it lacks entertainment and is in desperate need of change.

Hansen raise the issues in an interview with WalesOnline.co.uk where he voiced genuine fears for a game being dominated by defence at the expense of entertainment.

Hansen called for action to be taken before millions of floating fans begin tuning in to see 'boring' matches at the World Cup.

Hansen outlined his fears for the game after watching what he believed to be drab, defence-dominated Six Nations encounters between France and Wales and Ireland and England at the weekend.

"I've actually got big concerns about the game at the moment, because there are not enough tries being scored, which is turning the fans away," said Hansen, a former Wales coach who has set the standards with the All Blacks.

"I think there's a responsibility on the coaches and the players as well. We are trying to get defensive lines up really quickly, but I think we've probably gone too far with it.

"There's a responsibility to the game. If we don't do that, then we are not going to have any running rugby.

"There were only three tries scored in the two games I went to over the weekend. No-one is prepared to take the risk, because they are going to get belted behind the advantage line if they move the ball.

"If we want to encourage people to watch the game, then scoring tries is what does that.

"We can get blinded by a loyalty to our team or we can say to ourselves, 'Is this really the game we want?'

"If we don't address it, then we are going to get very boring rugby matches.

"We are about to go into a showpiece for the sport at the World Cup. There are going to be millions and millions of people watching it and then all you're going to see is people kick goals."