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Schmidt dismisses Hansen's Ireland World Cup favourites claim as 'banter'

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Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt and New Zealand's Steve Hansen. Photo / Getty Images

Joe Schmidt dismissed Steve Hansen’s claim that Ireland are World Cup favourites following their historic victory over New Zealand as “a little bit of banter”.

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All Blacks head coach Hansen this week declared that the winner of Saturday’s showdown at the Aviva Stadium would be the number one team in the world.

New Zealand remain at the top of the rankings despite suffering a 16-9 defeat, Jacob Stockdale scoring a superb only try of pulsating Test in Dublin.

Yet Hansen stated after the world champions’ first defeat on Irish soil: “As I said earlier in the week this was number one versus number two in the world.

Continue reading below…
Watch: Steve Hansen hails Ireland after All Blacks lose 16-9 in Dublin.

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“So as of now they are the number one team in the world.

“So if you want to make them World Cup favourites, go ahead. I guess they are favourites.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/BqTDtXJlRuh

Ireland head coach Schmidt said the rankings speak for themselves.

“I think he probably enjoyed a little bit of banter,” said the New Zealander.

“I’ve huge respect for Steve, Fozzy [Ian Foster] and Scott MacLeod, their coaching staff.

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“So for us to be favourites when they have been the world number one team for nine years, and continue to be the world number one team…

“We were at home, and they were coming off a long series of games where they have travelled around the world a number of times. I thought the crowd were phenomenal tonight. And that’s a lot of things stacked in our favour.

“So we’ll take tonight, and leave 11 months’ time for 11 months’ time.”

Watch: Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt on World Cup favourites tag

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SK 11 minutes ago
Why England's defence of the realm has crumbled without Felix Jones

The way they are defending is sometime pathetic to be honest. Itoje is usually on the inside of the rush and he is paired with a slower tight forward. Unable to keep up with the rush we have seen the line become disconnected on the inside where the big boys are. How many times have we seen Earl rush past the first receiver almost into no mans land covering no attacker. It looks like a system without any guidance. Tome Wright, Ikitau and a number of Wallabies went back to this soft centre as did Williams, Jordan and several others. Also when the line is broken the multiple lines of defence seems to be missing. The rush is predicated on a cover and recovery system with multiple lines of defence but with England you dont see it any more. Fitness and conditioning seems to be off as well as players are struggling to keep up with the intensity of the rush. Felix Jones has left a huge hole. The whole situation was and is a mess. Why they insist on not letting him go and having him work remotely is beyond me. Its leading to massive negative press and is a hot button issue thats distracting from the squad. Also the communication around Jones and his role has been absolute rubbish and is totally disjointed. While some say he is working remotely and playing a role others are saying theres been no contact. His role has not been defined and so people keep asking and keep getting different answers. England need a clean break from him and need to start over. Whatever reason for his leaving its time to cut the rope before the saga drags the whole Borthwick regime down. As for Joe El Abd well good luck to him. He is being made to look like an amateur by the whole saga and he is being asked to coach a system thats not his and which has been perfected and honed since 2017 by Nienaber, Jones, Erasmus and Co and which was first started by White in 2004. He is literally trying to figure out a system pioneered by double world cup winning coaches at the highest level and coach it at the same time. Talk about being on a hiding to nothing.

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