The former All Blacks coach has “rarely heard as much noise” as he did at the Stade de France

In an interview with Olympic middayFormer New Zealand coach Steve Hansen explained that he was impressed by the atmosphere that prevailed at the Stade de France during the opening match of the 2023 World Cup between the Blues and the All Blacks (27-13).

He ditched his coach's suit four years ago. But Steve Hansen is still very close to the New Zealand team. The 64-year-old coach, without a position since his departure in 2019, is currently with the All Blacks team for the 2023 World Cup, and has been in Lyon for several days to express his feelings to his successor, Ian Foster, after which he visited the Australians during their preparations.

Last Friday, Steve Hansen was in the stands of the Stade de France to watch France's 15th victory over the All Blacks (27-13). The two-time world champion (2011, 2015) was particularly impressed by the atmosphere of the Dionysian barn that evening, as he confided in an interview with Olympic midday.

Hansen astonished DuPont and Gilbert

“The atmosphere was… crazy, crazy! I've rarely heard such noise on the field, confirms the New Zealand technician. On the field, the French played a serious game. And unlike the All Blacks, they were down-to-earth, enthusiastic. To the points, all the chances that It opened the door to the quarter-finals for them.

As a keen observer, Steve Hansen scrutinized the play of Fabien Galthier's men. Many of them amazed him at Saint-Denis. “Despite the enormous pressure that the All Blacks put on Antoine Dupont, he performed very well. His kicking style is very valuable for the French XV, which allows him to systematically reverse pressure in weak times. He also applauds that I found Mathieu Jalibert has taken on the dimensions of the position after Romain Ntamack's injury: good facilitator, intelligent footwork…”