1
Hansen: 'We all know where our nipples are'
By Iain Strachan
New Zealand head coach Steve Hansen has welcomed World Rugby's latest proposal to safeguard the wellbeing of players.
The governing body is set to trial a new regulation during the Under-20 Championship in which players will not be able to make contact with opponents above their chest during a tackle, with the change aimed to reduce instances of head injuries and other types of potentially dangerous contact.
The plans have been criticised in some quarters within the game, but Hansen feels the initiative has merit.
Continue reading below...
"I think it's good, I think it's better than below the shoulder because there's quite a lot of games where you make the tackle and it doesn't look to be a bad tackle and yet it's been penalised," the All Blacks coach said.
"The clearer you can make it, the better - we all know where our nipples are, so hit below that and you're okay.
"Is it going to solve the problems? We're still going to get concussions because you've got two or three people piling into a collision and not everyone's putting their head in the right place."
The World Cup-winning coach also defended himself against criticism of the timing of the All Blacks' latest training camp, which has caused some disruption to New Zealand's Super Rugby teams.
"Is it ideal for everybody? No," he said.
"But it is what it is and we have had plenty of time to plan for it, and plenty of time to understand. When you look at the [Super Rugby] results, what effect did it really have?
"We want the players to leave here invigorated and excited … we can get all 'Sulky Sally' about it, or we can get on with it, you know? It is just the way it is."
New Zealand face France at Auckland's Eden Park on June 9 in the first of three Tests, with the series also including games in Wellington and Dunedin.
Trending on RugbyPass
2
Bristol confirm Harry Byrne signing
3
Sam Burgess' admission of guilt over rugby union experience
4
Close to perfection: Johann van Graan's favourite game
5
Latest Comments
Has there ever been a Red and Black you don't rate GP over the years? However to be fair most of your favs have had the goods.
Go to commentsI'm not very hopeful of a better change to the sport. Putting an Aussie in charge after they failed for two decades is just disgusting. What else will be brought in to weaken the game? What new rule changes will be made? How will the game be grown?
Nothing of value in this letter. There is no definitive drive towards something better. Just more of the same as usual. The most successful WC team is getting snubbed again and again for WC's hosting rights. What will make other competitions any different?
My beloved rugby is already a global sport. Why is there no SH team chosen between the Boks, AB's, Wallabies and Fiji? Like a B&I Lions team to tour Europe and America? A team that could face not only countries but also the B&I Lions? Wouldn't that make for a great spectacle that will also bring lots of eyeballs to the sport?
Instead with an Aussie in charge, rugby will become more like rugby league. Rugby will most likely become less global if we look at what have become of rugby in Australia. He can't save rugby in Australia, how will he improve the global footprint of rugby world wide?
I hope to be proven wrong and that he will raise up the sport to new heights, but I am very much in doubt. It's like hiring a gardener to a CEO position in a global company expecting great results. It just won't happen. Call me negative or call me whatever you'd like, Robinson is the wrong man for the job.
Go to comments