NEW ZEALAND HEAD coach Steve Hansen dismissed concerns about losing their number one world ranking as he concentrated on a World Cup selection conundrum after demolishing Australia.
Despite scoring five unanswered tries to retain the Bledisloe Cup with a 36-0 romp in Auckland on Saturday, the All Blacks lost the top ranking for the first time in 10 years, replaced by Wales courtesy of their 13-6 win against England in Cardiff.
But Hansen said it was the World Cup and not world rankings that mattered and the way his reshaped side bounced back from losing to Australia the previous week raised several questions to be answered before finalising a 31-man squad in 10 days.
“I’ve never understood their (ranking) system. You win a game and you lose the top ranking,” Hansen said while spelling out the All Blacks’ priority.
“We just need to get ourselves in the right frame of mind to go to the World Cup and win that.”
After the 47-26 hiding by the Wallabies in Perth last week, Hansen’s decision to axe three established players — Ben Smith, Rieko Ioane and Owen Franks — produced eye-catching performances from their raw replacements Sevu Reece, George Bridge and Nepo Laulala.
As the All Blacks pummelled the Wallabies across the park, Hansen said several players put their hand up for a ticket to Tokyo.
“Where we had question marks we no longer have questions marks, but in other ways it makes it tougher too,” Hansen said listing tighthead prop, the midfield and outside backs and whether to take an extra six or an extra lock as key issues.
Bridge and Reece were particularly prominent with Hansen saying that put pressure on the other wing contenders.
“There’s an old saying ‘never give a sucker an even break because he’ll take it’. Now we’ve got some genuine competition and it will be good to see how it unfolds.”
Hansen confirmed the shoulder injury that saw Richie Mo’unga leave the field was not serious, and injured lock Brodie Retallick remained in the frame to make the Cup squad.
However, he had no word on whether strongman Liam Squire would change his mind after the blindside flanker asked not to be considered for the World Cup for undisclosed reasons.
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
He’s not as disappointed as some on relation to how far off they are? They are miles off. No offence to Munster but they are an average,though very gutsy and committed side,and they have hammers Leinster twice in a row now. I do agree that they haven’t had any continuity with combinations,especially from 9-13,and hopefully when the likes of OBrien, Healy, Moore, Teo, McFadden etc come back then there will be a big improvement.
I must take the opportunity to praise Matt O’Connor for the huge improvement in Guinness Pro12 teams. Ever since he arrived at Leinster, every other team has greatly improved. Teams, that two years ago were almost brushed aside by Leinster, have now reached the heights that Leinster once inhabited alone.
Treviso have improved, Munster have improved, Edinburgh have improved, Scarlets have improved, Dragons have improved, Zebra have improved, Connacht (brilliant tonight, by the way) have improved..
In fact, they have all improved so much that Leinster has great difficulty taking on any of them.
By extension, Wasps and Harlequins have shown just how brilliant they are too due to you Matt.
I can hardly wait to see how much Castres get better when they arrive at the RDS soon. They will build statues in your image all over the town.
Matt, you have done European rugby a great service. They have all reached and surpassed Leinster this season thanks to your input at Leinster and everywhere else.
Thank you Matt and Happy New year!.
(and also to Mr Caputo, the news paper seller. Your influence on all other teams has been exceptional)