I was quite surprised when All Blacks coach Steve Hansen got all "loved up" while we were one-on-one.
Hansen was all "love" this, "love" that - in fact, he used the word 13 times during our interview for The Nation.
Hansen's mantra is that he loves the All Blacks players, they are a family.
He clearly believes the power of love can bring home the Rugby World Cup.
Hansen had no time for being called "namby pamby" about the love thing - he says it's not namby pamby to love your kids, so why is it namby pamby to love Richie McCaw?
Given Hansen's extraordinary record with the All Blacks, it is no surprise he has a unique leadership style.
I found Hansen open, direct, humble and authentic.
We didn't really talk about rugby at all in the interview. Hansen didn't even mention any players by name and really seemed to enjoy yarning about how he runs the team.
Hansen is clearly a gifted reader of people and obviously has a high emotional intelligence.
Hansen told me he believes one of his strengths has been "self-awareness" - in understanding himself he can understand others.
It has been rare to hear an All Blacks coach use words like "love" and "family" and the old, gruff version of Hansen probably wouldn't have used them either.
But it seems he has become comfortable in his own skin, has become more open, and sees the power of this instinct in motivating the All Blacks.
As he explained, he runs a devolved leadership structure where the players have a lot of control.
If you looked at what Hansen said to me on a plain piece of paper it could seem like waffle, but the way Hansen delivered it with so much conviction and drive made it anything but.
As All Blacks coaches go, Hansen is not autocratic like Grizz Wyllie or Laurie Mains. He is certainly not uncommunicative like John Mitchell. Graham Henry had that headmaster thing going on although he softened a bit. And while John Hart was a new age guy, he seemed to go too far.
Hansen is simply the most open and direct coach the All Blacks have had.
And despite the inherent complexities in his job, motivating himself is simple. He says he loves winning - in fact, he says he absolutely loves winning.
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