Hansen's comments on Deans a step too far

If you haven't seen Sky Sport's documentary 'Weight of a Nation' yet, then make plans to see it as soon as you can.

The absorbing story of the All Blacks' World Cup victory of 2011 is told through the eyes, largely, of the three wise men who led the team to victory.

It's an emotional journey which, although not comparable to truly great sporting documentaries such as 'TT3D: Closer to the Edge' or 'Senna', gives a new level to the understanding of what the team went through to win the World Cup.

In the cold light of day it seems astonishing that the All Blacks were able to burn through so many first five-eighths and still claim victory at Eden Park.

It's also a chance to see that, despite the vitriol directed towards them from some in the media and others in New Zealand, that no-one hurt more in 2007 than Graham Henry, Steve Hansen and Wayne Smith.

However the most remarkable part of the film, in my opinion, isn't the interviews regarding the victory last year.

It's Steve Hansen's comments regarding Robbie Deans - an opinion that I'm surprised the All Blacks coach was willing to put out there.

Yes, it's water under a bridge - Deans was interviewed for the All Blacks job knowing if he didn't get it he could coach Australia instead.

But Hansen's musings regarding just how much Deans wanted the job seem a step beyond what would normally be appropraite - especially given the pair are in charge of two of the biggest rivals in world rugby.

Deans' inability to name those who would form his coaching team at the All Blacks, Hansen suggests, may indicate that he didn't really want the job.

That meant when Henry and co were reappointed Deans could happily become a martyr while going off to coach Australia.

Perhaps I'm being a touch naive - Hansen has form for speaking his mind although has tamed down considerably since becoming All Blacks coach.

It just seems odd to poke a wound which undoubtedly still grates with some of the rugby-crazy public in Canterbury who were wounded when Deans moved across the Tasman and, possibly, with Deans himself.

Only one man truly knows whether he wanted the All Blacks job, and that's Deans himself.

But deliberately, in my opinion, provoking Deans with a jab about his willingness to coach the All Blacks seems like a personal grudge gone wrong.

While a jab like that would have seemed appropriate in either 'TT3d: Closer to the Edge' or 'Senna' because of the behind-the-scenes nature of those films, in a story of talking heads it seemed out of place.

We're not seeing a Ted team talk in the sheds - we're seeing the coaches months after the events reminisce.

Of course, I'm not the All Blacks coach with an oustanding record of victories since taking over from Graham Henry so what the hell would I know?

I just know Robbie Deans isn't going to have to go searching for extra motivation come the first Bledisloe Cup test next season.

So what do you think? Were Hansen's comments appropriate?