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.
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.
“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.
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
Ben Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
19 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
7 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
19 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
7 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
7 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
26 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
19 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
26 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
19 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
84 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
7 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
19 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
14 Go to comments