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Steve Hansen quietens down the rumours: 'Thanks, Eddie. I'm not actually coming to Japan to coach that team'

New Zealand coach Steve Hansen

There weren’t too many surprises in the All Blacks‘ Wednesday press-conference.

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The New Zealand side named to play in the bronze final was fairly predictable with the likes of Ben Smith, Ryan Crotty and Rieko Ioane all returning to the starting lineup.

Steve Hansen raised a few eyebrows, however, when he refuted Eddie Jones’ claims about the All Blacks’ coach’s future.

On Saturday evening, post England’s win, Jones was asked about his New Zealand counterpart Hansen.

“He’s a great rugby man, he’ll go down as one of the great All Blacks coaches,” Jones said, before delving into Hansen’s future plans.

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“I know he’s coming back here and coaching at Toyota, so their cars will run a bit faster.”

Unconfirmed but highly substantiated rumours have indicated that Hansen would be taking up the director of rugby role at Toyota Verblitz.

Jones’ comments suggested that Hansen would in fact be taking on a more hands-on role, but Hansen had quelled that thought.

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“Thanks, Eddie,” Hansen said with his trademark dry tone.

“I’m not actually coming to Japan to coach that team. I’ve got another job with that team, which I’ll talk about another day unless Eddie mentions it in his press conference again.

“I am excited about Saturday and then I’ll talk to you about what happens after that. I’m a reasonably laid-back person so what happens next will be reasonably exciting too.”

This is the most information that Hansen has revealed on his future to date and all but confirms his speculated role.

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Hansen won’t be the only man the All Blacks will have to do without in 2020.

Captain Kieran Read will join Hansen at Toyota, whilst Ryan Crotty (Kubota Spears) and Matt Todd (Toshiba Brave Lupus) will all head to Japan.

Ben Smith, who will play on the right wing on Friday, is bucking the current trend and heading to Pau in France whilst Sonny Bill Williams is weighing up a range of offers, if the rumours are to be believed.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B4L8F6VA_rY/

One Kiwi who isn’t heading anywhere is hooker Dane Coles.

“I hope not,” Coles said when asked whether 2019 will be the end of his career in black.

“I still pinch myself because there were a couple of times that I didn’t think [playing in a World Cup] was likely. I’d love to be in the All Blacks next year. I love playing for this team.

“I still have a desire to pull on that black jersey and represent my country so there will be a strong desire to work hard next year and get back to this team because I love it and care about it.”

For those fans still in Japan, don’t be surprised if you see a few more All Blacks out on the town during the week of the bronze final:

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O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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TRENDING Marcus Smith on that substitution and his England plea Marcus Smith on that substitution and his England plea
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