All Blacks: Steve Hansen unlikely to lead All Blacks at next Rugby World Cup

All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen and captain Richie McCaw with the William Webb Ellis Cup. Photo / Brett Phibbs

A day after the deeds of the afternoon, and the night, before, Steve Hansen's voice was a little croaky but his mind clear. Asked if he wanted to extend his contract as All Blacks head coach from 2017 to go through to the next World Cup in Japan in 2019, he said: "I'd probably say it was more likely I won't be there after 2017".

That means the British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand in 2017 is likely to be his swansong. If so, that would have given him seven years in the job after he took over from Sir Graham Henry following the All Blacks' 2011 World Cup success, and that, Hansen believes, is long enough.

"There's a reason why it [contract] only goes to 2017, and it's because I'm not sure about that [continuing]. I wouldn't say no, but I'm certainly not saying yes, either. You only get 10 years for murder back home ... I like the idea of changing the guard halfway through a four-year cycle which has the World Cup in the middle of it.

"I think when people come in it's easy to get some real dramatic shifts early and it's a lot harder to keep that momentum going. And I think also for a long time we put everything on the World Cup ... unless you've got some real strength of character, you can be ... tricked into making decisions that are right for your survival as opposed to what's right for the team.

"I'd probably say it was more likely I won't be there after 2017. It's been a good trip so far and we've just got to finish it off."

The day before, in the Twickenham cauldron, he and his team finished their World Cup campaign magnificently by beating the Wallabies 34-17. The No1 team in the world were clearly the best team at the World Cup by any measurement - physical and mental fitness, coaching and the type of rugby they play. They are deserved champions too for the way they carried themselves here in the United Kingdom for nearly two months, and a lot of the credit for all of the above must go to Hansen.

In losing only three tests since their 2011 World Cup success, Hansen and his fellow coaches, have taken this team to new heights. He will have a rebuilding job next year following the departure of several veterans, including skipper Richie McCaw, Dan Carter and the midfield of Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith, but Hansen will be looking forward to moulding a different group of individuals ahead of the carrot of a British and Irish Lions series the year after.

Hansen said he celebrated in the "usual" manner after yesterday's final - a few beers in the changing room and a couple of red wines later before the Champagne came out. He has often spoken about the need to get off the test rugby rollercoaster and enjoy the moment and clearly the emotions and stress involved in coaching the All Blacks must play a part in his considering giving it away in two years.

Steve Hansen and Richie McCaw with the Rugby World Cup. Photo / Brett Phibbs

"Every test is emotional," Hansen said. "You spend a long time building up for it. Your week is about building blocks so you facilitate a performance on Saturday and then you don't have any control over it."

McCaw, sitting alongside Hansen and the William Webb Ellis trophy at the team's Pennyhill Hotel base in Surrey, said his head coach - who was instrumental in getting him from Otago to Canterbury all those years ago - played a huge part in the All Blacks creating history by being the first side to defend their title and the first New Zealand team to win it offshore.

When Hansen took over at the end of 2011, McCaw said, he inspired "the desire and belief that we could do something special now. But along the way, doing it the right way to give ourselves a chance. Perhaps four years ago when he said we want to be No1 in the world right through to the next World Cup you'd sort of go, 'Jeepers, we're a long way out', but as we started to get things under our belt that belief rubbed through everyone.

"Led by Steve, he never let complacency step in. He brought in new players with energy, but had faith in the guys who were doing the job and you could see that in the mix of the men we had on the field last night. We had some pretty exciting players who will be around for a long time."

- Patrick McKendry in London