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Hansen's withering message for European teams about discarded Nations Championship

Steve Hansen speaks to the media during a New Zealand All Blacks press conference on Tuesday (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

New Zealand head coach Steve Hansen has accused the Six Nations teams of acting selfishly in their refusal to back the Nations Championship.

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Attempts to establish an annual global competition culminating in an end-of-year final hit the buffers in June due to a lack of support from Europe’s elite, frustrating the cash-strapped southern hemisphere unions.

New Zealand clash with England in Saturday’s World Cup semi-final and Hansen insists the rarity of the fixture will not improve if the Six Nations continue to serve their own interests.

“South Africa are always going to be our biggest rival because of all the history that comes with it and because we play each other so regularly,” Hansen said.

“We’ve played England once in the last five years and so it’s hard to build a rivalry when you don’t play each other.

(Continue reading below…)

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“If we could get the Six Nations to come on board for a global season, we’d be able to do that. Once they do that, then they’re starting to think about the game rather than themselves. There’s a headline for you…”

With host Japan having shrugged off their tier two status to reach a first quarter-final at this World Cup, Hanszen added: “Japan have been outstanding. After the game (against South Africa), you could see visibly how much it meant to them.

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“Emotionally, they were spent and that’s a great sign for rugby in Japan. People in Japan respect that they gave everything they had. South Africa on the night were a little better but I don’t think the scoreline was a true reflection.

“For me, success is not always about winning. Success is about giving your best and they gave their best. What more could you ask from them? They’ve given everything they could and they’re a huge success story of the tournament.”

WATCH: Sunwolves set for Super Rugby return, Japan primed for Rugby Championship inclusion

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Comments on RugbyPass

T
Tom 4 minutes ago
Picking an in-form British & Irish Lions XV 1 month out from squad reveal

Seems like this whole article was an excuse to put Pollock and Willis in a Lions backrow together. I don't think Pollock will even go on tour. He's already a great player and he's only going to get better but who are you leaving out to take him?


If Pollock and Willis are 2 of the 4 specialist flankers, for arguments sake let's say JVDF and Tom Curry are the others… so you're leaving potentially Ben Curry, Ben Earl and Jac Morgan at home but taking a kid with 1 cap off the bench? I really don't see it. Even if they find room for 5 flankers with Earl going as a hybrid you're leaving Jac Morgan and Ben Curry… and the fact that Jac Morgan is very likely to be picked so Wales have 1 or 2 players on the tour makes this even less likely. Pollock is the kind of kid who you'd take a punt on to be a Lions bolter in another cycle where there wasn't already a raft of world class, test hardened flankers to choose from. This time round his only realistic chance is an injury call up.

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Jacque 23 minutes ago
How the Gallagher Premiership has become rugby's go-to league for thrill seekers

Quins lost 64-0. Sarries got a 70 on the weekend???


Everyone “looks good” when EVERYONE else has an average defence system.

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JD Kiwi 52 minutes ago
Geoff Parling: An Englishman roasting the Lions?

Great to see a true expert who knows that elapsed time is just as important as ball in play time 😂 Less opportunity to rest.

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J
JD Kiwi 55 minutes ago
Geoff Parling: An Englishman roasting the Lions?

He's gone from geography teacher to professor hasn't he?


Good interviewer too!

9 Go to comments
T
Timmyboy 1 hour ago
Glasgow's Henco Venter facing big ban after clip of incident goes viral

I’m surprised Cole doesn’t get filled in more often with all his antics!

2 Go to comments
E
Ed the Duck 2 hours ago
Geoff Parling: An Englishman roasting the Lions?

One of the best interviews I’ve read in some time, GP comes across as a real thinking man’s coach. Already had the view that the Lions tour wasn’t going to be the walkover many expect but with coaches like that and, by the sound of it, SL to come, it might just prove to be a proper contest after all!

9 Go to comments
J
JD 2 hours ago
Glasgow's Henco Venter facing big ban after clip of incident goes viral

What is Venter supposed to do……he’s lying on the ground being choked by someone he can’t see. Obviously he’s going to try to fend off the choker - hardly a unique reaction. If he’s sanctioned it will be grossly unjust, but that’s what rugby has come to these days. And why is nothing said about Cole choking him around the neck, or is that OK because he’s English and Venter is South African?

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NB 2 hours ago
Geoff Parling: An Englishman roasting the Lions?

I didn’t ask about his contract, but I’m assuming he’d be done until the RWC in 2027, like Eoin Toolan. I hope the WBs keep him.


The great thing with Williams is that they can move him to 6 if Skelton plays 4, and that gives he WB a very imposing back five forwards.

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NB 2 hours ago
Geoff Parling: An Englishman roasting the Lions?

I think the WB set piece is fast emerging as one of the strengths of their game DM. Esp if they can include Will Skelton ofc. And get Taniela humming again!

9 Go to comments
f
fl 3 hours ago
Picking an in-form British & Irish Lions XV 1 month out from squad reveal

Will Greenwood didn’t receive a single Lions test cap until 2005. Richard Webster never received a Lions test cap.


Dai Young got capped much sooner, but that actually has no bearing on whether Pollock will start or not. They are different players!

4 Go to comments
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Aric Boyer 3 hours ago
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JW 4 hours ago
'Competitive culture': Tana Umaga on what makes Moana Pasifika succeed

Required consistency for what? Isn’t this topic about being able to put in the effort to back up a win with another one? Do you think they’re playing well enough to go all the way if they can just be consistent or something?

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Koro Teeps 4 hours ago
'He isn't playing well': Former All Blacks question Scott Barrett's form

McMillan has consistency used 2-4 All Blacks as second half impact players in every game this season as well. I think Simon Parker is a very good player as well. Big, abrasive and a worker. Reminds me of Liam Squire.

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Koro Teeps 4 hours ago
Four of the best Super Rugby Pacific performers from round eight

Canes wider squad last year. I’d expect two or three Chiefs props to leave at end of season, hopefully he will replace one on a FT contract. Last years NZU20 prop Will Martin should be another.

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JW 4 hours ago
Rugby down under could have hit high gear with Anzac Tests

Yeah would have to be a Lunch game for NZR to accept Perth as a destination. Would be best for Perth’s Dawn brigade though anyway so thats fine.

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Andrew Nichols 4 hours ago
Four of the best Super Rugby Pacific performers from round eight

Thought he was a Canes signing

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Martial Frías Orellana 4 hours ago
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As a financial strategist, I usually make smart decisions with my money. I was excited to upgrade my tech and ordered $8,000 worth of Apple products from what seemed to be a legitimate online store, paying with Bitcoin. After weeks of no updates, I became suspicious and clicked a link to file a complaint, which wiped out all my Bitcoin. I realized the store was a scam and felt helpless. I then found Ruder Cyber Tech Sleuths and contacted them. Their professionalism and empathy impressed me from our first conversation. They diligently worked to identify the scammer's wallet and kept me updated through the process. Thanks to their expertise, they successfully recovered all my lost Bitcoin. Their commitment to helping me not only brought back my funds but also my peace of mind. I highly recommend Ruder Cyber Tech Sleuths for their outstanding service and dedication to clients.

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JW 4 hours ago
Rugby down under could have hit high gear with Anzac Tests

Oh, OK. Nice, some pretty detailed numbers. 3 mil to put on a test aye.


Yeah I wasn’t saying NZR threw away that much for themselves, just meant in general, for the game. So two million, 1 to NZR and 1 to it’s clubs (sure private business/companies), yeah, I can see where Horan’s coming from now, that’s about 50/50. I can also understand how 1mil might not be enough to make all the other bits worth it, and the clubs might have flat out rejected it (didn’t want 200k).


Thanks for enlightening me.

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Cantab 4 hours ago
'Competitive culture': Tana Umaga on what makes Moana Pasifika succeed

I was actually querying if they had the required consistency despite recent better form. They may have but still need to continue. At the crossroads really.

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JW 4 hours ago
Rugby down under could have hit high gear with Anzac Tests

Yeah but if the 12million is not actually money, but say Perth saying they’ll put the money into facilities for the Force, and youth programs and fields around the State, along with plenty of other ways they can help RA, and in actually fact were saying the offer to NZR is a very equal one, for a few years, what then would be flawed about the concept?


Spew has given some very straight forward solutions to possible sticking points (raised by posters anyway), those aren’t changing your mind? A fun break to SR where players can express themselves after a few months of preseason and all the anxiety of the first month of competitive games, in say a match similar to NBA’s All Star games, would be a great idea imo.

80 Go to comments
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