Steve Hansen on Joey Manu's All Blacks hopes and Pieter-Steph du Toit's injury

Scott Robertson will soon have the services of former NRL star Joey Manu, should he wish to, according to Manu’s club coach Sir Steve Hansen.

Hansen, the former All Blacks head coach, landed Manu’s signature after the 28-year-old opted to pursue his rugby union dream, a dream that ultimately includes a black jersey.

Manu has in his corner not just Hansen but his All Blacks successor Ian Foster, as well as international veterans like Aaron Smith and now Michael Hooper to aid his transition back to the 15-man game.

The NRL champion made an impressive start to his time in Japan League One, showing flashes of what Kiwi fans hope to be a Sonny Bill Williams-esque reintroduction to union. Hansen was asked about the comparison.

“They’re both very, very good athletes and Joey’s got a massive desire to be good in the game of rugby and he’s picking up things pretty quickly,” the Verblitz coach replied on Sport Nation’s Beaver & Guy. “A naturally gifted athlete, got size, got pace – the same as Sonny did. Both good men, I’m very impressed with the character of Joey, what you see is what you get and he’s really easy to coach.

“I think he’s in the right place, with regard to being away from all the pressure of it. He can just find his feet slowly, and we haven’t put too much pressure on him but he’s played a lot of the games – he’s obviously playing well enough to be selected, and he’s only going to get better and better as time goes on.”

2011 Rugby World Cup winner Stephen Donald then told Hansen of his prediction for Manu to be selected for the All Blacks at the 2027 Rugby World Cup, following up by asking the coach whether he was on point with such a prediction.

“I don’t know, you’d probably want to ask Scott Robertson that. Look, there’s no secret that’s what he wants to do and obviously, he’d have to come home and play for the Chiefs to do that.

“But in the meantime our job’s to make him as good as we possibly can and hopefully he can reach that dream. Not having any say in who picks the team, I can’t say he’ll make it but I think he’s a pretty handy footballer.”

Unfortunately for Manu and Verblitz, the team is without reigning World Player of the Year Pieter-Steph du Toit in their quest to turn a poor start to their new campaign around.

Despite an X-factor showing off the bench from Manu over the weekend, the Toyota side fell to a 38-22 loss to the Saitama Wild Knights. The Springbok’s presence was sorely missed.

Hansen, having coached some of the greats of the game in Richie McCaw and Dan Carter among many, many more, was asked how much havoc the two-time World Cup winner wreaks.

“Well, the biggest havoc he causes is he crushes your hand every time you shake it. He’s got a mitt on him the size of a baseball glove.

“Big Piet’s not here at the moment, he hurt his shoulder in the November series so he’s just went under the knife on Friday. He could be out for the whole season, so it’s a bit disappointing.

“He’s a wonderful, wonderful human being, Pieter-Steph du Toit. He’s a gentle giant off the field and such a competitor on it, so I’ve got a lot of time for him. A good man.”