Former All Blacks coach Sir Steve Hansen surprised by Eddie Jones' axing

Former All Blacks coach Sir Steve Hansen can’t help but be surprised the man who ended his team’s bid to win the 2019 World Cup was sacked as England coach.

Eddie Jones was given the boot this month on the back of England’s worst year since 2008 – they won six, lost five and drew one with the All Blacks.

Hansen, who will coach a World XV against a Jones-coached Barbarians outfit in Twickenham in May, is amongst those taken back by the decision to sack a coach with a 73% win percentage the past seven years less than a year out from the 2023 World Cup in France.

He says it was pretty surprising that they would replace him now, when all along Eddie’s been saying ‘look, this is what we’re building for.

Hansen and Jones will clash on May 28 for the first time since England knocked the All Blacks out of the 2019 World Cup.

[Source: Stuff.co]