Steve Hansen has won almost everything as head coach of New Zealand. Since replacing Graham Henry after the 2011 Rugby World Cup, Hansen has brought the All Blacks onto another level.
From retaining the World Cup in 2015, to winning four Rugby Championships, only one thing is missing from Hansen's coaching CV - a series win over the British and Irish Lions.
While the 58-year-old's coaching legacy may be defined either positively or negatively in the coming days in the deciding Third Test, he is envious of what the Lions bring to World rugby.
Speaking to The Telegraph, the former Wales head coach said he would love to see a southern hemisphere version of the Lions.
I don’t think the tour is about results. The tour is about people. The players have got an opportunity to do something special that no other teams do. You’ve got the four home nations coming together to be one.
I’ve often thought it’d be great to get the southern hemisphere – ourselves, the South Africans and the Aussies – together and do something. Because of the programme, that’ll never get introduced, but this concept’s been there for years and years and years.
The Lions have not won a Test series in New Zealand since 1971 and have only won two of their last 14 Test matches against the All Blacks. New Zealand has historically been the Lions' toughest opponents, having only one a solitary Test series in the country.
Despite the historic lack of competitiveness between the sides (New Zealand have only lost seven of the 40 Test matches between the sides), Hansen would not change the ethos of the invitational side.
You’ve also got the opportunity to put a diverse coaching group together, and you’ve got the fans. The fans are something special. Everywhere you go, they’re in your face in the nicest way. Every Lions tour been a success - if you stop thinking about the rugby on the field.
The Lions could sully Hansen's legacy with New Zealand if they win in Eden Park on Saturday. Despite that, and the pressure of the Third Test, the former police officer wants to see the Lions continue for years to come.
