1
'It's usually the younger guys who are a bit less smarter with their ability to' - Hansen
By Ben Spratt
Steve Hansen has guarded against complacency and called on New Zealand to attack their Bledisloe Cup opener next week.
The All Blacks face Australia in Sydney on Saturday, looking to defend a trophy they have won every year since 2003.
But head coach Hansen has warned his side that they cannot expect a straightforward series, with even a win next weekend not enough to allow New Zealand to relax.
"We've just got to go and re-capture the Bledisloe Cup and the attitude has to be to take it rather than expect it to happen," he said.
"We've got a lot of pride about what's been done in the past but, at the same time, you've got to go and earn it, earn the right to put a hand on it.
"Even if we win this week, it doesn't mean we've won it [the trophy]."
The All Blacks have several members of the Crusaders' Super Rugby-winning side in their squad, but Hansen is pleased with the way they have focused on the task at hand since the celebrations subsided.
"It took a couple of days for them to get over their celebrations," Hansen said. "One or two guys were a bit slower than others.
"It's usually the younger guys who are a bit less smarter with their ability to [recuperate].
"They've been good. The leaders from the Crusaders have been outstanding really and the younger boys have picked up. By Saturday, everyone was on the same page."
Nehe Milner-Skudder and Sonny Bill Williams have not travelled to Australia for the first clash of the series.
Trending on RugbyPass
2
South Africa player ratings | 2024 Autumn Nations Series
3
Scotland's Sione Tuipulotu admits anger at Australian rugby
4
Fissler Confidential: Willie le Roux rumours ignite after Bok star spo
5
Latest Comments
There is this thing going around against Siya Kolisi where they don't want him to be known as the best national captain ever, so they strike him down in ratings permanently whenever they can. They want McCaw and reckons he is the best captain ever. I disagree.
Just like they refuse to see SA as the best team and some have even said that should the Boks win a third WC in a row, they will still not be the best team ever. Even if they win every game between now and the WC. That is some serious hate coming SA's way.
Everyone forget how the McCaw AB's intimidated refs, was always on the wrong side, played on the ground etc. Things they would never have gotten away with today. They may have a better win ratio, but SA build depth, not caring about rank inbetween WC's until this year.
They weren't as bad inbetween as people claim, because non e of their losses was big ones and they almost never faced the strongest Bok team outside of the WC, allowing countries like France and Ireland to rise to the top unopposed.
Rassie is still at it, building more depth, getting more young stars into the fold. By the time he leaves (I hope never) he will leave a very strong Bok side for the next 15- 20 years. Not everyone will play for 20 years, but each year Rassie acknowledge the young stars and get them involved and ready for international rugby.
Not everyone will make it to the WC, but those 51/52 players will compete for those spots for the WC. They will deliver their best. The future of the Boks is in very safe hands. The only thing that bothers me is Rassie's health. If he can overcome it, rugby looks dark for the rest of the rugby world. He is already the greatest coach in WR history. By the time he retires, he will be the biggest legend any sport has ever seen
Go to commentsWas it? I just brought it up in some of my posts to rub it in that the AB last year nearly put 100 on a top 6N side lol
I agree to be honest. The biggest key to me that they might be jadded was none of them had mom performances, or even as good as their last three games.
Go to comments