Steve Hansen

Steve Hansen

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen doesn’t mind having a public pop at the Wallabies, but when it comes to one of world rugby’s enduring rivalries, and South African coach Heyneke Meyer, there is nothing but mutual respect.

“I myself have a huge amount of respect for their coach [Heyneke Meyer]. I think he’s a good man and a good coach,” Hansen said today, ahead of Saturday night’s test against South Africa in Wellington.

“Their captain Jean [de Villiers], having his 100th game [on Saturday] I’d like to congratulate him on that.”

stuff NZ

“It’s a marvellous achievement, especially when you see the way he started his career.

“His first two tests he was out for eight months [after the first] and then six months the second time.

“He’s shown a lot of character and that’s the character they have throughout their team.

“I was lucky enough to spend a bit of time with a number of them in the Baabaas [Barbarians] over the last couple of years and I really enjoyed their company.”

That extends to Meyer, with whom Hansen chats on a fairly regular basis. The All Blacks coach even went to Meyer’s home during last year’s Rugby Championship.

“We had a barbecue… and if we were in Christchurch [this week] we’d be doing the same there. Probably not a barbecue, but we’d have a meal together and we do speak and, like I said, I’ve got a lot of respect for South African people.

“It’s a beautiful country and they’ve gone through a hell of a lot and through sheer determination they’ve kept the country together and I enjoy their company.”

In fact, Hansen and Meyer even have a ritual going where the losing coach fetches the winner an after-match beer.

“He probably wants me to go and get a beer for him. We’ve got a wee thing going at the moment, he’s been getting it lately so he’s probably keen on me to go and get it.”

A fair bit has been made of Meyer’s decision to start 20-year-old Handre Pollard at first five-eighth on Saturday. A star of South Africa’s under-20 team, Pollard has just three test caps to his name and his selection is seen by some as a huge gamble. Not by Hansen, though.

“I remember when Dan Carter didn’t have any test caps [and] I was coaching Wales. He smashed us.”

109 Responses to The Rugby Championship: Hansen on Meyer

  • 61

    50 @ Nama:
    That’s EXACTLY where I think the is grossly erring..

    The story by OP was so unlikely / improbable (onwaarskynlik) and smacked of reckless inconsideration or reckless abandon… and of course if you shoot at someone through the door, meaning to shoot at “an intruder” there at least has to be the forsight that the bullets could hit the person… and if they hit the person there is always the possibility of it causing a death.

    He was not firing at immediate and imminent danger, there was a closed door between him and the so-called assailant… so all measures of self-defence (noodweer) is out of the question.

    I’ve discussed this with a few learned friends in the legal profession, having done a heap of crimal defence myself for years… and also discussed it with my elder brother who was a practicing advocate (after also practicing before that for years as an attorney), till his almost fatal motorbike accident a few years ago… and all of us were ad idem that his version(s) of the story was highly improbable, highly unlikely and pointed to clear fabrication.. specially in light of his altered testimony over time during the trial.

    But hey… that’s my take on the matter.

    I’m all for the principal of rather letting 9 guys who are guilty go free, rather than convict 1 innocent person… it is a very clear principle which keeps us away from jungle justice.

    I am also all for getting the State to prove guilt… to keep them having their investigative standards high… and in this regard it must be said that the police botched a number of things on the crime scene and in investigating the matter properly… and even going to lenghts to try and ascribe certain attributes to OP, to help prove his guilt… which smacks of “vooroordeel” or pre-conceived ambition to get him to be found guilty.

    The investigator’s duty is not to persecute, but to prosecute… so that the truth wins the day… even if that truth is against a finding of guilty. Some of the balistics and forensic evidence smacks of persecution rather than proper prosecution.

  • 62

    @ gunther:
    Looks as if he will be found guilty of culpable homicide, just like I’ve told you in February last year.

    Mense wat dink hulle is donners smart, is nie altyd so donners smart nie. (That would be you.)
    😀

  • 63

    @ Nama:

    Ja you are very mos clever.

    Are you a lawyer?

    Most people said culpable homicide.

    😆

  • 64

    We need to bring Norty into this discussion.

    His expertise is also vital.

  • 65

    @ grootblousmile:
    I agree with what you say in the beginning of your post. The problem however is that Nel never spent enough time on that because he was trying to prove premed murder. So he was trying to prove that Oscar knew that it was REEVA behind the door and that he intended to kill HER. At the end it turns out, he could not do it.

    Had the state gone for just murder, I’m sure he would’ve done it differently.

  • 66

    @ gunther:
    When was that?

    You were adament that it was premeditated murder. Was just waiting for the cell phone records to reveal that she was humping Hougie and that would’ve been the motive. You owe Hougie an apology.
    😉

  • 67

    gunther wrote:

    We need to bring Norty into this discussion.

    His expertise is also vital.

    I’m a dinosaur…in our days he wouldn’t have seen a court room

  • 68

    @ Blue Bird:
    55
    It’s all to easy to become a sharks basher these days.

    Just read Nortie’s posts for a few days and….

    Hey Presto !!!!!
    😥

  • 69

    Afraid
    what’s going on here?

  • 71

    jeez,
    need to go to the bathroom but
    with all the Oscar fans here
    I’d rather not!! Happy-Grin

  • 72

    @ Nama:

    I still think they had an argument.

    But I didn’t say he would get done for murder because the premeditation would be tough to prove.

    It was in my opinion a crime passionel.

    And it’s adamant.

    Not adament.

    Seeing as you are so clever mos.

    😆

  • 73

    @ nortierd:

    Slipped on the stairs.

    😆

  • 74

    You now have to be a lawyer to discuss a murder trial that had been in the public domain for over a year.

    Next we’ll hear that you had to be a n ex Bok player to discuss the Boks’ performance.

    😉

  • 75

    @ Charo:
    Long time, no see.
    I backed your boys, AGAIN, hope they do manage to pull it off this weekend…a new backline, but the Cheetahs have an even fresher one, so think you can do it.
    I’m glad Swiel is playing

  • 76

    @ gunther:
    Thanks for the English lesson. That’s why you are here mos.

    To help me when I make mistakes with the queens language.
    😉

  • 77

    grootblousmile wrote:

    50 @ Nama:
    That’s EXACTLY where I think the is grossly erring..
    The story by OP was so unlikely / improbable (onwaarskynlik) and smacked of reckless inconsideration or reckless abandon… and of course if you shoot at someone through the door, meaning to shoot at “an intruder” there at least has to be the forsight that the bullets could hit the person… and if they hit the person there is always the possibility of it causing a death.
    He was not firing at immediate and imminent danger, there was a closed door between him and the so-called assailant… so all measures of self-defence (noodweer) is out of the question.

    “What if” the assailant had a gun?

    That’s what I would think.

  • 78

    Nama wrote:

    You now have to be a lawyer to discuss a murder trial that had been in the public domain for over a year.

    Next we’ll hear that you had to be a n ex Bok player to discuss the Boks’ performance.

    Unless your name is Ashwin 😆

  • 79

    nortierd @ 78
    Pleasure

  • 80

    @ Nama:

    I was just asking you were discussing it was such authority.

    😆

  • 81

    @ nortierd:

    Ashwhine is like Nama.

    He knows it all too.

    😆

  • 82

    Nama wrote:

    @ grootblousmile:
    I agree with what you say in the beginning of your post. The problem however is that Nel never spent enough time on that because he was trying to prove premed murder. So he was trying to prove that Oscar knew that it was REEVA behind the door and that he intended to kill HER. At the end it turns out, he could not do it.
    Had the state gone for just murder, I’m sure he would’ve done it differently.

    The judge found him not guilty of premeditated murder, nor can she find him guilty of murder.

    Or am I wrong?

  • 83

    @ gunther:
    Brendan hasn’t told Nama to “put up,or shut up” yet
    😆

  • 84

    @ nortierd:
    Not yet 😀

  • 85

    @ nortierd:

    Look it won’t be long before Ashwin puts up.

    With the new quota coaching rule we are going to need all hands on deck.

    😆

  • 86

    @ gunther:
    Speaking of which…I see Atlas had some long conversations with himself last night 😆
    Deciding which country to support from after next year’s World Cup

  • 87

    I’m going for a cheeky run on the mountain.

    I’ll be back later to hear Nama’s Oscar debrief it will save me having to listen to William Booth and the other so called experts waffle on the Oscar channel.

    😆

  • 88

    What’s the difference between Reeva Steenkamp and Oscar Pistorius?

    Oscar managed to dodge a bullet.

  • 89

    Our farktup power has just gone futt again in our futtup little town…

    And I was working online with clients in Pretoria and in The Strand….

    I will Dolus Directus someone soon, if this continues!

  • 90

    @ Charo:
    68 Hi pal.Go Sharks. But…….Lionel Cronje?
    Keep well
    \Regards Rye

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