Every once in a while, the focus can shift from a team sport toward the sidelines. Not always and more than likely only when the two have a history that intertwines, as the conversion swings off of the players or tactics, and it shifts; to a degree, onto coaching staffs and management. It can be just as riveting as the positional challenges on the pitch really, the battle behind the frontlines. This drawing of swords is now epitomized by the directors of the All Blacks and Wales teams who will battle it out on June 11 in Auckland.

Steve Hansen – All Blacks head coach: 2012-2017 (Assistant 2008-2011)

The man who had inherited the World Champion All Blacks of 2012, seemingly advanced their success rate during the next four years to include the first ever International ‘unbeaten season’ in 2014. He followed that by victory at the 2015 Rugby World Cup, in a spectacular reign that has seen the former coach of Wales [2002-2004] go from gruff and concentrated individual to now being seen as innovative, a leader of men and about to embark on a season without some of his most capped warriors; Richie McCaw, Dan Carter, Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock, Conrad Smith and Ma’a Nonu.

This could truly be his greatest undertaking. To re-establish the side after a loss of over 600 test caps, but he was sharp in naming exactly six new test caps–by no means a replacement number, but to underline that he still has 20 or more strong, talented and experienced men to achieve new goals in 2016. That goal setting opens with Wales and the Rugby Championship (which they did not achieve, won by Australia)

Warren Gatland – Wales head coach: 2007-2017

The three-time Six Nations winning coach, Gatland has had much success in Wales–two-time Grandslam winner, as much as he has had many failures and poor seasons. His goal of taking the Welsh team deep into a Rugby World Cup has been halted time, and time again. That aside, Gatland is more charismatic than Hansen, in his relaxed manner with players and his ability to bring a group together.

That skill was epitomized at best as head coach on the victorious 2013 British and Irish Lions tour. With such a large group, on a huge tour that brought many tens of thousands of traveling fans along with the large squad, Gatland brought the best out of his men. Their record of 1-2 in Australia included the 16-41 final test victory–the biggest Lions scoreline over Australia [his second time with the Lions team, where he had been assistant to Ian McGeechan]

The two men’s records for Wales are not too dissimilar but in 2016, they will ‘draw swords’ as adversaries and bring the fight for North v South supremacy once again under the spotlight.

NEW ZEALAND  v  WALES  2016

Over the next few weeks, the Welsh rugby team is to begin a three test series against the New Zealand (NZ) A century old competition between the home-country and the new frontier continues, and while the recent history has favoured NZ–not since 1953 have Wales managed to beat the All Blacks–it is reticent of anyone to say “they have no chance”. Their coach alone will argue the point, and he should know. He is a proud New Zealander coaching the opposition.

In this match-up in sport, you often see the arch-nemesis and alter-ego elements of sports, but in the coaching world, there are strong personalities involved. Men who have admired each other from afar, but would never admit that to the the other; or to the waiting media. And the media is something that Welsh rugby and the All Blacks have in tow, following on every word and insinuation. As soon as they landed, the press from Wales and the UK will be hanging on the words of the coaches, captains and in transmitting home the feeling and tone of the tour.

Drawing Swords as adversaries, it is an age old story

Think Arthur and Lancelot. Muhammed Ali v Joe Frasier, Graham Henry v Clive Woodward, and now Hansen v Gatland. This series will open of course with the coaching staff declaring their ‘admiration for the other’. Hansen has filled the role of Wales coach himself and even though he has been with NZ Rugby for a prolonged period, that era in his coaching career was difficult to best. In 2003 he lost an astonishing 11 consecutive test matches with Wales.

It might be that Hansen has less fond memories of Wales than Gatland has of NZ Rugby. Warren Gatland the ‘Mooloo Man’ played over 140 games for his province, represented his country but never played a full test match. He wisely took that fabulous provincial career, and then he went on to became a successful coach in Europe, with Connacht and then a term as the Ireland coach. That short tenure ended with a 47% winning record but he trumped that with success at London Wasps. A European Challenge Cup win was the peak of his term there, as he decided to return to NZ in 2006.

A great time abroad, he then became involved in coaching again in his home province Waikato. A move to be with his family, that short stint included working with Ian Foster, then Chiefs head coach in 2006. Foster is now an assistant to Steve Hansen, so the ‘small world’ of coaching brings former partners up against each other again. Near to ten years later, Foster will be looking dead in the eye of Gatland now, as an International coach and very different from the days of Thames Valley and Waikato University Club rugby.

The highly psychological challenge today has so many levels, none so as much as the external focus upon an International Test match. That pressure comes from a nations expectation–Hansen might understand this more, now as head coach more than assistant–to the personal test of how to bring the most talented individuals together as a team. For Gatland, they are men who he took to the RBS Six Nations in March but some are coming off extended seasons now that will not see them all at their physical peak. The New Zealanders however, have only had to suffer 14 intense rounds of Super Rugby. Relatively easy compared to a 35-40 week European competition you might say.

Gatland has spoken of the need to rest his men, so the two week build-up is ideal for his side, as well as for England and Ireland, both on separate tours but with players who have had the same long season. Surely no excuse, but the coaches will describe this element as crucial in the final results–either way.

“The thing about facing the All Blacks is that you know there’s a physicality, intensity and pace and level of the game that a lot of players haven’t faced, so you have to get up to speed quickly,” he said.

New Zealand has changed since Gatland was here last, in a way that only rugby folk can know. NZ Rugby has been successful lately, for a while now….OK, since the 1980’s then [with all due respect] and that is probably the difference. ‘Gatz’ has had the regions of Wales and European rugby to work away in. He has won ‘Triple Crown’ titles or the equivalent success in Six Nations rugby yes. Terrific achievements and they will take some work to better again [i.e. Joe Schmidt or Vern Cotter could learn by this]

Gatland is not an ‘A typical’ coach too. A more embracing man than what is seen publicly, Gatland will have goals that are team based–including winning the first test–and will likely employ some calculated coaching decisions and statements via the media to achieve that. To promote an outwardly public appearance of confidence. He will want an external front of solidarity, and will implore his men to convey this message. He will want no controversy, no incidents that take the focus off winning.

The host side too have pressures, but the local media do not dig for stories in the way that papers in Cardiff may do. No late nights for Hansen’s boys you can bet, and certainly on best behavior if Gatland’s fine management of the 2013 Lions is an example to follow.

But the conflict between the coaches will be enticing nonetheless. Hansen against Gatland, Foster too and then there is Shaun Edwards, Neil Jenkins and the whole coaching group that will design ways to ‘work on’ the All Blacks machine. A public relations strategy will see them try to win the hearts of the public, but in rugby parlance, they will breath fire like a Welsh Dragon. Any small technicality or infringement will be identified and over the three tests, any weakness (on either side) will be tested like in a classic ‘swordfight’.

This subject might seem reminiscent of a Lord of the Rings theme but that is where the sword fighting metaphor ends. The battle between the coaches is on a professional level. Hansen will be ultra-confident that his All Blacks can yet again see off the Welsh challenge, but for how long? Since 1953, there have been many close calls. 2014 was the last occasion where the Welsh team bravely led the visitors before a three-try All Blacks ‘blitz’ pulled a historic win from under Gatland’s feet. He will remember that, as will his senior players.

The 2016 series will be fascinating. On a skill level and in a tactical way where the words and actions of the coaches involved will play an integral part of the entire story. Fans in the valleys of Wales and in places like Thames Valley in NZ, will each be fixed directly on this series. And the two veteran coaches will make for some ‘interesting soundbites’. All politeness, but with a steeled desire to ‘best their arch foe’.

Last Word On Sports will be both delighted and transfixed by the rugby naturally, the passion on show but especially on the mind-games and on the psychological nature of this match-up that begins at Eden Park on June 11. A true test of characters.

“Main photo credit”