Hansen in privileged position

If the unthinkable happens on Sunday morning, the mops reserved for clearing the blood from the New Zealand Rugby office floors may remain shrouded with cobwebs.

Defeat against France in Cardiff on Sunday morning isn’t impossible. Certainly most Kiwis know what can happen against the horde from across the English Channel – even if they are reported to be at odds with their coach.

History demands that the mysterious French be treated with a combination of respect and fear – especially in World Cup suddendeath fixtures.

Not that Steve Hansen should have to worry if the All Blacks repeat the disaster of 2007 and suffer the humiliation of getting kicked out of the quarterfinals.

Hansen is contracted until 2017. That isn’t to say the deal is unbreakable – there may be clauses which state his position is subject to review at the end of each season – but he is cocooned in a comfort blanket that has never been offered to any of his predecessors.

None of them were granted contract extensions beyond a global tournament.

NZ Rugby has proved to be unforgiving master to those who don’t deliver in the biggest show of all.

Several of Hansen’s predecessors either walked into the wilderness (in the case of John Hart after the semifinal defeat to the French in London in 1999), or were sacked (think John Mitchell when they Australia bundled the All Blacks out in the 2003 semi) when their teams misfired.

Graham Henry survived a vigorous campaign for his melon when France zapped the All Blacks in 2007.

Henry, who everyone thought was hanging on by the tips of his fingernails when he entered the interview at HQ in Wellington, convinced the NZ Rugby board he and his assistants Steve Hansen and Wayne Smith deserved a contract extension after he provided a detailed analysis of how referee Wayne Barnes fell apart in Cardiff.

It proved to be one of the most memorable victories in Henry’s career. Along with the 2011 World Cup final win over France.

So what happens if the All Blacks lose to France in Cardiff on Sunday morning?

Hansen should be safe. He probably feels he deserves to be persevered with, given he has kept the All Blacks on top of the world for the last four years and has collected a bundle of trophies – most notably the retention of the Bledisloe Cup.

There will be a robust review, undoubtedly, and you can always find ways to poke holes in the best laid plans. Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

Hansen has taken some risks ahead of this tournament.

The selection of wing Waisake Naholo was a gamble, he just hasn’t had enough to prove himself since coming back from a fracture of his fibula bone.

The decision to play just five tests before the World Cup has reduced the exposure to hard-core footy in a very important year. The All Blacks have been simulating games and been put through the wringer in the training bases in London, Cardiff, Darlington and Swansea but many of the old pros always say nothing beats the real thing.

Changing the game plan – kicking less and playing with a flatter attacking alignment – in the easier pool matches against Namibia, Georgia and Tonga has not installed confidence among supporters.

The high number of turnovers, many of them unforced, have added to the anxiety.

Hansen, though, has remained calm.

He has presented himself as being laidback in front of the media, saying it is all under control – that there is no point showing the opposition what they are going to do too early.

So, he has some tricks up his sleeve. We want to see them against the French. And minus the mistakes.

That would save everyone a lot of heartburn at Millennium Stadium. And in the days – no, make that weeks – that follow.