All Blacks intend to keep their boots firmly lodged on Australian throats

AUSTRALIA has not held the Bledisloe Cup for 15 years, and won a World Cup since 1999 — and that suits All Blacks coach Steve Hansen just fine.

New Zealand's head coach Steve Hansen gives instructions during their captain's run in Sydney, Friday, Aug. 17, 2018, ahead of their rugby union test against Australia. New Zealand and Australia will play a test on Saturday. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)

AUSTRALIA’S continuing rugby decline will not harm New Zealand, All Blacks coach Steve Hansen says.

While the Kiwis have held the Bledisloe Cup for 15 years, and Australia has not won a World Cup since 1999 while also nosediving in the rankings to be fifth, Hansen believes the Wallabies remain strong.

“I read somewhere the other day which I thought was quite good, that it’s not our fault if Australia aren’t playing any good, and it’s not our fault that we want to be better every time we play,” Hansen said.

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New Zealand's head coach Steve Hansen. Picture: AP Photo

“It’s not our problem.

“But we want Australian rugby to be strong — I think it is strong.

“You’ve got to understand that when these two teams play, you can have scoreboards that blow out, they’re blowing because the margins have gone one way for a team as opposed to both teams making use of all the luck they’ve had.

“When that happens, you’re going to get hurt, because both teams are capable of scoring tries.

“Does it hurt New Zealand rugby? No. But we want them to be strong and I think they’re getting there.

“Obviously the patience in Australia is starting to wear thin, because we’ve managed to keep the Bledisloe — we don’t have it yet, and we’ve got to go out and earn it on Saturday night.

“If we don’t, it will be one each, and look out.”

Hansen, who was previously met with league coaches Craig Bellamy and Laurie Daley, said he learned much from the NRL.

“I see rugby every Saturday so it’s nice to look at something different and pinch their ideas, there’s a lot of things we can learn from each other,” Hansen said.

“I don’t say that disrespectfully to rugby but that’s what I do for a job, so to get some light relief or downtime, apart from my family, I look at sport and the NRL is good, I like it.”

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Originally published as All Blacks intend to keep their boots firmly lodged on Australian throats