Hansen Taking a Back Seat
Steve Hansen says he wants to coach Australian franchise, the Highlanders, but will take a back set and wait for them to approach him.
Hansen is one of the most experienced and respected coaches in rugby in Australia and he says it has been very frustrating that the club have not put a formal offer in front of him.
This could be due to a variety of reasons but the Australian league is very competitive and a decision like this is a big one, which the club must get right if they want to challenge in the new Super 15 season when it starts up again.
Hansen has many attributes, which would make him a fantastic coach to any side but others are saying that he needs to take a more active role in getting an offer or the opportunity could slip from under his nose, which could create hard feeling between the two parties.
Attributes
Hansen has plenty of experience and experience is the most important attribute that a coach can possess. It means there are no confused areas when talking to a player about his game and it means he will know how to deal with a variety of different club situations.
He is well-liked and approachable and these are very important qualities. It will make him popular if players in the team can turn to him for help and advice relating to matters that don't always connect to the rugby field.
He is clearly a very patient man and this will make him a very good coach throughout his career. It means that he has the ability to see out tough spells, contract negotiations, injuries and generally all of the things, which many fans don't always consider with the game.
A Few Worries
There are a few worries relating to this news, which Highlanders fans will have at the very front of their minds. There is only so long that a coach can hang on before he is forced into looking for another job or possibly before another offer comes along.
This means that Hansen could well go and join another club or miss the opportunity of coaching the Highlanders when the deal has seemed like a certainty for such a long time. Someone needs to take control and make things happen otherwise the benefits of having Hansen as a coach will disappear.
If Hansen misses out on a chance to coach the side then it is surely going to put a few more black marks next to the bureaucracy, which has always plagued rugby. This will mean that Hansen could become resentful towards all of the people who generally deal with contracts and negotiations over the course of the season and the close season.
There is no doubt that Hansen coaching the club would give them a much better chance of doing well in the Super 15. It looks as though he will sign for them very soon so if you can sniff out any odds then don't be afraid to snap them up.
If he does become the coach then it will ultimately give them a better chance next season. When he signs, have a look at the odds for the Highlanders winning the Super 15 and if you get some reasonable figures then take a punt.
There are much better sides in the league but having a good coach leading the side is often the way that clubs succeed. However, if Hansen does not sign, then focus on odds for other coaches linked to the clubs but by this point you may be better off just sticking to bets on the team.
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