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The Joe Schmidt 'weakness' Hansen admits he is willing to exploit
Steve Hansen has ramped up the mind games ahead of New Zealand’s World Cup quarter-final with Ireland, pledging to lay false traps for master tactician Joe Schmidt.
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Schmidt’s famed analytical approach has yielded great success in his six years as Ireland head coach, notably the nation’s maiden two victories over the All Blacks.
The former Leinster and Clermont coach devises set strike plays for each specific match, and will doubtless roll out a new trench for Saturday’s battle in Tokyo.
Ireland stunned the back-to-back world champions 40-29 in Chicago in 2016 then 16-9 in Dublin in November, leaving Hansen well aware of Schmidt’s talents – but also vowing to use them against him.
“We’ve got weaknesses like everybody else, so you’ve got to look at your own weaknesses as much as anybody else’s,” said Hansen.
Sexton says the attitude towards his side is 'strange' given that almost everything has gone to plan so far for Ireland. https://t.co/ASVsAVTpyk #NZLvIRE #RWC2019 #RWC??
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 14, 2019
“You know that Joe does a lot of studies, so that can be a strength and a weakness. I might be able to set him up. The best part is we know who we’re playing; they’re a quality side, they’ve been number one this year.
“The last three results are ‘loss, win, loss’ so there won’t be any complacency in our camp. It’s pretty exciting; we’re right where we want to be.
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“It’s taken Ireland a long time to get there (beat New Zealand) and obviously they enjoyed it. So they decided to keep doing it.
“I think there’s a lot of respect from both sides. We played them in November and it was a titanic struggle and on the day they were the better side. Most teams we play get up to 10 per cent better than they normally do and they’re no different.
“The big difference here is it’s a do or die game for both teams. Both teams are in good nick; fresh, excited and, I can only speak on behalf of ourselves, we’re really looking forward to the challenge.”
New Zealand can break yet more World Cup ground with an unprecedented third consecutive triumph in Japan, while Ireland are still shaking off their 19-12 loss to the tournament hosts.
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Johnny Sexton was in formidable form as he steered @IrishRugby into the Quarter Finals ?? #RWC2019 #IREvSAM #RWCFukuoka pic.twitter.com/ZJHzzMDn0b
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) October 13, 2019
Stellar half-back pair Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton are inching back to top form for Ireland, and Hansen admitted they can elevate Schmidt’s team to different heights.
“They’re pretty set on how they play, just like we are; they play to their strengths,” said Hansen.
“Conor Murray does a lot of kicking and they use Johnny Sexton to drive them around the park and their big forwards to carry and why would they want to change? That’s been very successful for them.
“I think they’re better than a one-man team but the 10 is pretty important.”
New Zealand’s final Pool B clash against Italy was cancelled due to the impact of Typhoon Hagibis, handing Hansen’s men two weeks to prepare for their quarter-final.
But Hansen insisted his side will not be ring rusty due to their extended break.
“Having a week off is not a bad thing, we’re quite excited by that fact,” said Hansen.
“It’s allowed us to work really hard Friday. The GPS numbers were equivalent or just above what a normal Test match would be so we don’t feel like we’ve lost any opportunity to get ourselves where we need to be.
“The exciting part is we had Saturday locked up in the hotel and had a whole day’s rest when we couldn’t do anything because of the storm.
“We’d like to pass on our sympathies to the Japanese people who have lost family members and property and so forth.
“Having been through a natural disaster I know it can be pretty shaky so we’re very supportive of them.”
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Comments on RugbyPass
“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
3 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
2 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
3 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
3 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
3 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
2 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
4 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
3 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to commentsGregor I just can’t agree with you. You are trying to find something that just isn’t there. Jordie Barrett has signed until 2028. By the end of that he would have spent probably 11-12 years on Super Rugby and you say he can’t possibly have one season playing somewhere else. It is absurd. What about this scenario, the NZR play hard ball and he decides to leave and play overseas. How would that affect the competition. There seems to be an agenda by certain journalists to push certain agendas and don’t like it when it’s not to their liking. I fully support the NZR on this. Gregor needs to get a life.
3 Go to commentsHope he stays as believe he can do a great job.
1 Go to comments