Steve Hansen will aim to use the coming RBS Six Nations championship to end his Wales career with a flourish. The Kiwi coach will end his association with Wales after the final match on 27 March against Italy in Cardiff.
Awaiting him, probably, is a job with new All Blacks coach Graham Henry - the man who brought him to Wales as his right-hand man in January 2002.
Hansen found himself as caretaker head coach of Wales just a month later after Henry's shock resignation.
The former policeman showed enough in the remainder of that season's Six Nations to cement his place as permanent Wales coach.
 | THE LOSING STREAK |
It has been an eventful two years in charge, to say the least, with Hansen overseeing one of the most turbulent periods in Welsh rugby history.
Most infamously was the 11-match losing streak that Wales suffered between November 2002 and August 2003, including a Six Nations whitewash and culminating in a 43-9 home drubbing against what was essentially an England second team.
There had been two other humiliations against New Zealand and Australia on the trip to the southern hemisphere, a tour that was nearly abandoned because of a pay dispute between the Wales squad and the Welsh Rugby Union.
During that awful run, Hansen and his methods were subjected to the level of criticism that had caused Henry to buckle and quit.
Hansen had said from the start that he should be judged on results in the World Cup.
But his mantra that Wales were targeting performances rather than results wore thin as defeat followed defeat.
The pieces of the puzzle were lurking beneath the surface - player fitness had improved markedly and there were odd flashes of brilliance in matches.
Fitness coach, New Zealander Andrew Hore, and backs coach, Australian Scott Johnson, were two Hansen appointments who have helped the Welsh players improve, while the home-grown Clive Griffiths handled the defensive department.
There were even positive noises emanating from the club coaches, so often ready to bridle at the dictats of the Wales management but now speaking of a new level of cooperation.
That situation improved even more with the shift to five top-flight regional teams - something Henry had long wanted but Hansen got.
Much of the credit must go to the new WRU chief executive, David Moffett, for having the will and vision to shove Wales in the regional direction, but Hansen played a significant part in the process.
As the Welsh regions evolve and find their feet, it is future Wales coaches who will reap the full benefit and Gareth Jenkins - or whoever is Hansen's successor - should be truly thankful.
| ON THE RISE |
Welsh confidence was rock-bottom after the World Cup warm-up defeat to England's reserves last August.
Despite ending the dismal run of losses by beating Romania at Wrexham, no one outside the Wales squad could see anything other than impending humiliation in the World Cup.
Before heading to Australia, there was one final warm-up match against Scotland that proved hugely significant.
Wales hadn't beaten their Celtic cousins for three years, but spurred on by a midfield axis of Iestyn Harris and Ceri Sweeney the Welsh showed huge character to win.
Suddenly there was confidence flowing through the squad and Canada were duly dispatched in the opening pool match of the World Cup.
Some of the young players given their chance under the Hansen regime were starting to flourish, notably back-rower Jon Thomas and prop Gethin Jenkins.
Luck also came Hansen's way as older hands suddenly came into form, Mark Taylor playing like the Lion he once was and Shane Williams - ignored by Hansen for most of his reign - sparking back into life.
There was a slight wobble against Tonga, but the vital win was again achieved to set up a clash with Italy that would surely end the loser's hopes of making the quarter-finals.
The Azzurri weren't helped by playing their fourth game in 14 days, but were outscored three tries to none as Wales avenged their Six Nations defeat earlier in the year.
That secured Wales a place in the quarter-finals with pool leaders New Zealand still to come.
 Wales stood up to everything the All Blacks threw at them |
With the pressure of qualification removed, Wales gave the All Blacks a huge fright before losing 53-37 in a thriller, setting up a quarter-final clash with England.
A major upset looked on the cards when Wales led 10-3 at half-time, but the England pack reasserted control and the boot of Jonny Wilkinson edged Clive Woodward's men into the semi-finals.
Those exciting, narrow defeats against two of the best sides in the world allowed Wales to hold its head up high once again.
The results hadn't been there this time, but the performances had been superb - now we understood what Hansen had been harping on about.
Not a bit of it.
While Hansen agreed that there was much to be proud of, he said the result against England was "gut-wrenching", as victory was the only thing that had mattered on this occasion.
Wales will certainly do better than last season's whitewash in the Six Nations.
But regardless of results or performances, Hansen will leave Wales in a better state than when he found it - and Wales' loss will definitely be New Zealand's gain.
MMIX
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
