Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

'Freak of nature': Former All Blacks boss Steve Hansen reveals 'best athlete I ever coached'

(Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

Steve Hansen has revealed the best athlete he ever coached in his illustrious rugby career spanning 24 years.

ADVERTISEMENT

The former All Blacks coach was spoilt for choice with players he mentored as an assistant from 2004 until 2011 and as the head coach from 2012 until 2019, with the likes of Richie McCaw, Dan Carter, Kieran Read and Keven Mealamu – among many others – enjoying stellar careers under him.

But speaking to The Daily Telegraph in Australia, Hansen labelled former All Black, now Sydney Rooster, Sonny Bill Williams as “a freak” and “the best athlete I ever coached”.

Video Spacer

The time Hong Kong beat Joe Roff | The Aussie Rugby Show | Episode 16

Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
Duration 0:00
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time 0:00
 
1x
    • Chapters
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions off, selected
      Video Spacer

      The time Hong Kong beat Joe Roff | The Aussie Rugby Show | Episode 16

      “The greatest rugby player I’ve coached was (Richie) McCaw but Sonny would be the best athlete I’ve coached from a pure athlete sense,” Hansen said. “He’s a freak of nature.”

      Hansen mentored Williams in the All Blacks in two separate stints between 2011 and 2019. He stepped down from the role after last year’s World Cup, which Williams competed in, with 93 wins in 107 tests – an 87 percent winning rate, the best by any rugby coach with at least 15 games under their belt.

      He also described Williams as a “role model.”

      “Sonny is 35 now but he’s been an active athlete for a long time and he really looks after himself. He’s a freak of nature,” Hansen said.

      “There is no reason, as long as he stays injury-free, that he won’t do the job. He had been out of league for a while before coming back and going to Toronto, but he’s just such a good athlete.

      ADVERTISEMENT

      “As he has got older, he has matured. His training habits and his off-field habits are world-class now. He will be a good role model for the young fellas in the club.”

      Williams was a part of New Zealand’s World Cup wins in 2011 and 2015, coming off the bench in both finals. Against Australia in the 2015 decider, he executed a pivotal play – offloading to a rampaging Ma’a Nonu who beat a handful of defenders to score, handing New Zealand a comfortable 18-point lead early in the second half.

      https://www.instagram.com/p/CEpx2ElAwgQ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

      Hansen said that pass was a perfect example of why Williams is so impressive.

      “That is the sort of thing he can do, can’t he? He can do things other people can’t do.”

      Williams’ unique combination of strength and skill has made him one of, if not the, greatest rugby code-hopper, with titles in the NRL and world rugby coupled with mesmerising performances.

      ADVERTISEMENT

      “There are a lot of similarities (between rugby league and union). You have that rushed defence and a shorter offside line than we have so you can learn things from that,” Hansen said.

      “They are two different games but the fundamentals are the same.”

      Williams has 118 NRL games to his credit and 24 tests with the Kiwis, as well as 58 test caps with the All Blacks. During his time with the Crusaders, Chiefs and Blues in Super Rugby, he gained 61 caps.

      Hansen said he keeps an eye on the NRL and will watch Williams’ return with keen interest. Tomorrow night will mark the 35-year-old’s first match in the competition in six years, where he is set to come off the bench in the Roosters grand final rematch against the Raiders in Canberra.

      Meanwhile, Hansen said with no All Blacks games on-field yet, he feels no sense of loss having stepped away from coaching. A Bledisloe series and Rugby Championship have both been discussed between respective Sanzaar unions for 2020, but nothing has been finalised.

      But Hansen expects if there is an All Blacks game soon, he will feel it.

      “I’m sure there will be a tug in the old heart when they finally get out onto the track. But Fossie [Ian Foster] will do a great job with them I’m sure, and I’m really excited for him to take the team to the next level.

      “It will be exciting to watch.”

      ADVERTISEMENT

      Boks Office | Episode 37 | Six Nations Round 4 Review

      Cape Town | Leg 2 | Day 2 | HSBC Challenger Series 2025 | Full Day Replay

      Gloucester-Hartpury vs Bristol Bears | PWR 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

      Boks Office | Episode 36 | Six Nations Round 3 Review

      Why did Scotland's Finn Russell take the crucial kick from the wrong place? | Whistle Watch

      England A vs Ireland A | Full Match Replay

      Kubota Spears vs Shizuoka BlueRevs | JRLO 2024/2025 | Full Match Replay

      Watch now: Lomu - The Lost Tapes

      Trending on RugbyPass

      Comments

      0 Comments
      Be the first to comment...

      Join free and tell us what you really think!

      Sign up for free
      ADVERTISEMENT

      Latest Features

      Comments on RugbyPass

      A
      Amelia Jonathan 1 hour ago
      The defining moment that will 'raise massive question marks' for Ireland

      My name is Amelia Jonathan from the United States, Using this opportunity to thank Dr. Ughulu is a grateful thing to me, for over years I have been sick with Hepatitis B disease, I have done a lot of things to get cured of my diseases and nothing has worked out. I have taken different types of medication for it , but it still doesn’t work for me. I still keep going for a check up so that the doctor will tell me my disease has be gone, because i’m taking my medicine with no result nothing has been cured, I have spent a lot of money just to get cure of Hepatitis B. until my old time friend came to my place and saw what am going through, and then direct me to contact Dr. Ughulu who is a very powerful man, which I did explain my problem to Dr. Ughulu and send me a herbal remedy bottle and explain to me how I should drink it. So I started to drink the herbal tea in one week that I drink the herbal tea. I went for a check up to check if I’m cured from Hepatitis B disease, then the nurse told me nothing is wrong with me anymore and said I’m fine. I am the happiest person right now. I promise Dr Ughulu I will testify about his good work on the internet. Reach out to Dr. Ughulu Via: drughulupowerfulspelltemple@gmail.com Thank you so much sir for what you did for me you’re the best of all. TEXT OR CALL: +1(252) 409-1841 or website: https://drughulupowerfulsp.wixsite.com/my-site-ughulu WHATSAPP NUMBER: +1(720) 794-2516

      10 Go to comments
      A
      Amelia Jonathan 1 hour ago
      The defining moment that will 'raise massive question marks' for Ireland

      My name is Amelia Jonathan from the United States, Using this opportunity to thank Dr. Ughulu is a grateful thing to me, for over years I have been sick with Hepatitis B disease, I have done a lot of things to get cured of my diseases and nothing has worked out. I have taken different types of medication for it , but it still doesn’t work for me. I still keep going for a check up so that the doctor will tell me my disease has be gone, because i’m taking my medicine with no result nothing has been cured, I have spent a lot of money just to get cure of Hepatitis B. until my old time friend came to my place and saw what am going through, and then direct me to contact Dr. Ughulu who is a very powerful man, which I did explain my problem to Dr. Ughulu and send me a herbal remedy bottle and explain to me how I should drink it. So I started to drink the herbal tea in one week that I drink the herbal tea. I went for a check up to check if I’m cured from Hepatitis B disease, then the nurse told me nothing is wrong with me anymore and said I’m fine. I am the happiest person right now. I promise Dr Ughulu I will testify about his good work on the internet. Reach out to Dr. Ughulu Via: drughulupowerfulspelltemple@gmail.com Thank you so much sir for what you did for me you’re the best of all. TEXT OR CALL: +1(252) 409-1841 or website: https://drughulupowerfulsp.wixsite.com/my-site-ughulu WHATSAPP NUMBER: +1(720) 794-2516

      10 Go to comments
      LONG READ
      LONG READ Did innovative England emerge strongest from the Six Nations? Did innovative England emerge strongest from the Six Nations?
      Search