There’s No Escaping The Long Arm Of The Law

Former policeman Steve Hansen will come up against one of his former cadets when France arrive in town later this week – Kiwi born centre Tony Marsh.
Marsh will win his fifth cap – his first away from home – when Les Bleus come in search of a second successive Six Nations Championship victory on Saturday. But the 29-year-old Montferrand centre knows only too well what lies ahead for him and his French team-mates – one of the best coaches in world rugby. Marsh said, “Steve and myself were policemen back in New Zealand in the early nineties and when I came out of police school he coached me in the New Zealand police team.
“He coached the side for a couple of years and in both years we won the New Zealand Combined Services competition.
“We met up again after that when I played for Canterbury although by the time Steve took over as coach there, I had left the province to go and play in France.
“It is strange that Steve was a back but now coaches the forwards. Having said that, he must be pretty good at his job because after those successes with the police team he went on to lead Canterbury to the Super 12 title in 1999.
“It will be good to see him and say ‘G’Day’ on the Test match stage. “Marsh also played under Graham Henry, albeit briefly, when he flirted with the Auckland side in the mid nineties.” He said, “He was a well respected coach in New Zealand and Wales will miss him. His strength is that he is always very well prepared and meticulous in his preparation. However, Steve is too, so there might not be too much change.
“It’s sad how things have turned out for Graham – he started his reign in Wales with 10 wins in a row and then it went wrong.”