'All systems are go': Steve Hansen says All Blacks are 'stronger' than 2019 squad
World Cup-winning head coach Steve Hansen has endorsed the current All Blacks squad after they completed their fourth win of the year over the Wallabies in Dunedin by 23-20.
The former All Blacks coach said the current side is looking ‘stronger’ than the team that he took to Japan four years ago at the last Rugby World Cup.
Hansen’s last All Black team claimed bronze over Wales after falling short to England in the semi-final as they attempted to become the first nation to win three consecutive William Webb Ellis trophies.
“They’re playing well. They’ve got a lot of self-belief and you saw that on Saturday when they come from behind, with what was a very young team on the park, and they found a way to win it. I think all systems are go,” Hansen told Newstalk ZB.
“They’ve set out a plan that they wanted to win the Rugby Championship and to get some confidence in the team after last year. So they went about that and won every test match.
“They secured the Bledisoe Cup and that allowed them to experiment. So you can’t knock their plan. I think it’s been outstanding.”
Under Hansen’s former assistant Ian Foster and new assistants Joe Schmidt and Jason Ryan, the 2023 side became the first All Black team to win the Rugby Championship in a World Cup year with previous attempts in 2015 and 2019 failing.
Foster has talked about taking ‘strong steps’ forward as the side ‘ticks off’ each goal towards their campaign in France.
Hansen shared some of the thinking when it comes to selecting a squad for the World Cup with versatility high on the priority list due to restrictions around squad sizes and replacing injured players.
“I think they played well. So this comes down now as selectors. How can they get the 33 people that suit tournament rugby?” Hansen said.
“The World Cup is not like a normal tour. There’s certain restrictions that you can and can’t do and you can’t just up and replace people. So you’ve got to have a bit of utility in your squad.
“Everybody’s put their hand up and now it’s just a matter of the selectors sorting out what they want and there will be some really good players miss out, which is tough but bodes well for the team itself.
“I think they’ll end up selecting a side that’s stronger than 2019 that we took to the last World Cup.
“They’re going to go there with a lot of confidence and with a lot of players in form, whoever is the 34th guy is gonna be pretty unlucky.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Tamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
1 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
33 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
33 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to comments