Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

The Joe Schmidt 'weakness' Hansen admits he is willing to exploit

Hansen has lost two of his last three meetings with Schmidt.

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.

ADVERTISEMENT

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.

“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.

ADVERTISEMENT

“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.

ADVERTISEMENT

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.”

Watch: The RugbyPass guide to Toyota City

Video Spacer
ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

M
MA 3 hours ago
How the four-team format will help the Wallabies defeat the Lions

In regards to Mack Hansen, Tuipoloto and others who talent wasnt 'seen'..

If we look at acting, soccer and cricket as examples, Hugh Jackman, the Heminsworths in acting; Keith Urban in Nashville, Mike Hussey and various cricketers who played in UK and made the Australian team; and many soccer players playing overseas.


My opinion is that perhaps the ' 'potential' or latent talent is there, but it's just below the surface.


ANd that decision, as made by Tane Edmed, Noah, Will Skelton to go overseas is the catalyst to activate the latent and bring it to the surface.


Based on my personal experience of leaving Oz and spending 14 months o/s, I was fully away from home and all usual support systems and past memories that reminded me of the past.


Ooverseas, they weren't there. I had t o survive, I could invent myself as who I wanted, and there was no one to blame but me.


It bought me alive, focused my efforts towards what I wanted and people largely accepted me for who I was and how I turned up.


So my suggestion is to make overseas scholarships for younger players and older too so they can benefit from the value offered by overseas coaching acumen, established systems, higher intensity competition which like the pressure that turns coal into diamonds, can produce more Skeltons, Arnold's, Kellaways and the like.


After the Lion's tour say, create 20 x $10,000 scholarships for players to travel and play overseas.


Set up a HECS style arrangement if necessary to recycle these funds ongoingly.


Ooverseas travel, like parenthood or difficult life situations brings out people's physical and emotional strengths in my own experiences, let's use it in rugby.

68 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING 'My Grandma could squat more': Ex-England S&C coach names the most 'rugby strong' star Ex-England S&C coach on their 'rugby strong' player
Search