'I think we may have switched off a bit' - Easy win over Ireland catalyst for semi-final defeat says Hansen
Departing All Black coach Steve Hansen has opened up about that semi-final loss to England, speaking to All Blacks TV.
Hansen concedes that the match still hurts and he has had a lot of time to reflect on it.
“It’s still one of those things that bugs you, it still hurts and will do for the rest of time,” he said.
“Why did we lose the World Cup? Well, we lost to England, and why did we lose to England? I’ve reflected on that quite a lot.
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Hansen went on to explain that the massive win over Ireland did them no favours, as they may have relaxed a little bit ahead of task that no side has achieved, winning three World Cups in a row.
“What we were trying to do has never been done before, and with success comes a little less desperation.
“It was a perfect storm really, we played South Africa first up, got that job done, had lesser opponents after that so that mental side of the game didn’t come into it.
“We had a massive week into [the quarterfinal with] Ireland, and that was a game that had everyone on the end of their seat. When we won that and won it so comfortably, subconsciously I think all of us may have relaxed a little bit. Let go of two percent of that desperation we had. It’s not something that you do deliberately, it just happens.
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Hansen’s side pummeled a hapless Ireland side 46-14 in a match where the Irish self-imploded to gift the All Blacks countless opportunities from turnover ball along with a horror error rate. It would be a stark contrast to how clinical the English would be a week later.
“Then we played England who have been waiting for two and a half years to play this one game. Very, very desperate, right up at 100 percent, and if we are at 92 percent, that’s a big shift. They came at us and played well and deserved to win.
In hindsight, Hansen believes the messages during the week may have been off given the preceding win in the quarterfinal.
“I looked at myself, and the messages during the week and maybe they weren’t on the money the way they could have been from a mental point of view, knowing that we have just come off a big win against Ireland.
He also pinpointed the selection of a pack that included lock Scott Barrett at 6 to provide another jumping option as a strategic ploy that backfired, as England’s lineout consistently won clean looks.
“We selected a team that wanted to attack and dominate the lineouts, and unfortunately that didn’t happen. England’s lineout on the day was outstanding. So then we were asked to defend a lot.
The All Blacks kicked for touch 75% of the time while failing to contest a single kick kept in play over the 80-minutes. Despite the lack of possession, the side did managed to stay in the game until late in the contest when a try to Ardie Savea narrowed the gap to 13-7.
“While we did do well, both teams score one try each, they were going forward for most of the game. It made it tough, and then on top of that we gave away some silly penalties and we couldn’t get the momentum back to get it done.
A pivotal moment came when Sam Whitelock shoved Owen Farrell in what led to a penalty reversal in England’s favour.
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Hansen says he is proud of the way his team took the defeat and believes the result will shape the future of the All Blacks for the players who will be around in four years time.
“At the end of the day, we lost one game. It won’t define us. But it certainly will shape us.
“It’s important they bottle that pain and make sure it’s used in a way that makes them even more successful than they have been.”
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Comments on RugbyPass
Aha. An Irishman with logic! Follow the flow: - Ireland peaks with a >80% win record between 2020 and 2023. And then… - crashes out of another QF at the WC; - Beat a poor French Team; - Beat 6N wooden spoonists Italy; - Play shite against eventual wooden spoonists Wales; - Lose against the most boring, “the worst English team ever” , a team widely regarded as unable to attack; - scrape through against Scotland. This article, No - Trimble, is on the money! Except for one glaring statement: _The Springboks have a few aces in the hole in this debate being the reigning world champions and official world number ones_ There is no debate, boys and girls. There it is. In black and white. “Reigning World Champions and OFFICIAL world number ones”. Come July, the overrated Andy Farrell and this overhyped team are going to enter into a world of hurt.
85 Go to commentsI’d like to know what homoerotic events Daniel enjoyed at 8th man. I clearly missed out!
19 Go to commentsThis article is missing some detail, like some actual context or info about what led to him abusing the ref.
2 Go to comments*They used to say that football is a gentleman sport watched by hooligans and rugby is a hooligan sport watched by gentlemen. How times have changed.*
3 Go to commentsexcept ot wasnt late wasnt late at all so dont know why you all saying its late he commits early and its your fault fir not paying attention
29 Go to commentsNot sure the Bulls need another average utility back in their ranks. Chamberlain has been ok for the Sharks but is by no means an X-Factor player. Bulls bought several utility backs which they barely use. A typical example would be Henry Immelman who plays mostly Fullback. The Bulls however have rarely played him this year and he has played wing or centre. Bulls want to build depth but seems like they have too many surplus players
1 Go to commentsABs lost against a side playing without a hooker - The guy playing, had one shoulder. Line outs were a gimme for the ABs, and the last 8 minutes 14 played 14 against a team that had been smashed 3 weeks in a row… Yet with all that possession, with all that territory, with all the advantages they actually had, especially in the last 8 minutes, they couldn’t buy a point. Those last 8 minutes determined if they outplayed the Boks or not. History will show that the Boks completely outplayed the ABs, especially in those last 8 minutes, the business end of any rugby match
226 Go to commentsWould’ve, could’ve, should’ve, didn’t.
226 Go to commentsKok will become a fan favourite
1 Go to commentsI am really looking forward to Leigh Halfpenny playing his first Super rugby game for the Crusaders Playing a long side his former Welsh and Scarlets team mate Johnny McNicoll.Johnny has been playing great, back in a Crusaders jersey.The attack has strengthened big time. Also looking forward to David Havili at 10. David is a class act, it also allows Dallas McLeod to remain at 12. A good thing.
1 Go to commentsIf he had stopped insisting on playing in the backrow, instead of wing, where everyone told him he should, he would have been a Bok years ago….
11 Go to comments‘Salads don’t win scrums’ 😂 I love that.
19 Go to commentsCan’t wait for the article that talks about misogyny in Ireland. Somehow.
19 Go to commentsI would like to see a rule change, when the attacking team is held up over the try line, by allowing the defensive team to restart a goal line drop out releases the pressure for the defensive team, but what if the attacking team had to restart a tap 5m out from the defensive team it gives the attacking team to apply more pressure, there are endless options for the attacking side and it will keep the fans in suspence.
2 Go to commentsLess modern South African males predictably triggered.
19 Go to commentsMy heart is with Quins, but the head is convinced Toulouse have too much. Ntamack is back, his timing and wisdom has been missed.
1 Go to commentsWow, what a starting line up for the Sharks) Tasty up front,kremer vs Tshituka or venter …fiery ,,Lavannini ,,will he knobble etzebeth? Biggest game for belleau?
1 Go to commentsIt was rubbish to watch, Blues weren’t even present. Did what they had to do, nothing more. Should be better next week against canes.
1 Go to commentsI’ve just noticed that this match has an all-French refereeing team. Surely a game like this ought to have a neutral ref? Although looking at the BBC preview of the Saints game, Raynal is also down as reffing that - so there may be some confusion about who is reffing what.
1 Go to commentsIf Havili can play anywhere in the back line, why not first 5. #10.
11 Go to comments