Pressure inescapable at World Cup - Hansen

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While the All Blacks lived with the constant pressure of expectation, Jones had the more worrying need to vindicate all the effort England had put in since they were tipped out of their own World Cup four years ago when failing to make the playoffs.

 

That created its own pressure.

 

Hansen said: "I've talked about pressure ever since I've been an All Blacks coach because we're under pressure all the time.

 

"Early in our history we ran away from it so it was chasing us down the street, but these days we've had to acknowledge it's there. We're expected to win every game.

 

"So, yep, there is pressure. But it would be very naïve to think that there's not pressure on both sides.

 

"When you can publicly acknowledge that it's on you then there's awareness. That same pressure is running down the same street he is on. He's trying to take pressure off his own side by trying to get everyone to talk to us about it. Again, smart move, but we're not buying into it," Hansen said.

 

The All Blacks knew they were under pressure and didn't need Eddie Jones to tell them that, he said.

 

"He needs to work out what England is going to do with the pressure they're under. They'll have memories about a tournament four years ago that didn't go that good so they'll be under immense pressure themselves."

 

Hansen refuted Jones' claim that England had nothing to lose and he felt Jones didn't believe that.

 

England had put in four years work aimed at one outcome – getting the opportunity to play one more game in Japan.

 

"They've built themselves up for four years to do this job. How you deal with it in the moment will be crucial," Hansen said.

 

New Zealand had opted to use Scott Barrett on the blindside flank for the game, resulting in Sam Cane coming off the bench for his first appearance against England. The move in hindsight could be seen in the decision to play Barrett for half of the Ireland game in the position.

 

"We have made some decisions around what we want to do and how we want to play," Hansen said.

 

"I am not going to go too much into that because otherwise we are giving Eddie some information he is able to work out pretty quickly himself.

 

"I would rather he would have to work it out. It's not form, Sam Cane is playing lovely rugby," he said.

 

"However, we've made some decisions around what we want to do and how we want to play and we've made that change because of it," he said.

 

Hansen said Jones' claims about a spy at England's training were just clickbait for the media. He said it was probably the same person who video-taped the All Blacks when they trained there.

 

Hansen said it had all been a good laugh and helped their relaxation.

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