Interesting perspective from Hansen. The Wallabies haven't won back to back tests against New Zealand since 2001. They lost a test series to Ireland, were beaten by England and Scotland on tour last November. I think it's safe to say that New Zealand will win. Certainly, Australia's preparation for this test has been proactive and unique to past campaigns; I still cannot see past an All Black victory.
I guess he couldn't persuade the ref Beeno
Hansen has a rye sense of humor and also likes to play games so who knows what he really thinks. My bet is he think s ABs will win but he wants to put pressure on them and he may experiment more then normal
Whiskey makes me more hilarious too JW....
Some interesting stats head-to-head:
In the past 10 tests, New Zealand have won 8 and lost 2. Scoring an average of 34 points to Australia's 20. New Zealand average 4.5 tries per test to Australia's 2.3. New Zealand lead Australia 45 tries to 23.
They've drawn twice in their last 50 tests, which goes all the way to 2000. In that time New Zealand have won 36 and lost 12. Scoring an average of 27.4 points per test to Australia's 18.4. New Zealand lead Australia 142 tries to 86. New Zealand averaging 3 to Australia's 1.7.
New Zealand's longest win streak being 10 over those 50 tests, spanning the 2nd August 2008 to 11th September 2010.
Their second longest win streak is 7, spanning 15th August 2015 to 26th August 2017.
Australia's longest win streak is 3, spanning 5th August 2000 to 1st September 2001. This is the only period in which Australia won back-to-back tests.
Australia have conceded 40 points or more 8 times in their last 50 tests. Alarmingly, 6 of them have been in their last 15 tests! This goes back their opening loss of their first test against New Zealand in 2013. Defence has clearly been an issue, and that hasn't improved with changing of coaches.
Even more alarmingly, they've conceded 40 points or more in all their first All Black tests of the season in 3 of the past 5 years. The exceptions being 2014 and 20 15, where they conceded 51 and 41 points respectively in the second encounter.
When all is said and done, Australia have a mountain to climb.
A way of Hansen to inspire the AB player suddenly makes headlines. We have read that type of thing many times and I really think it is cheap psychology. I would be extremely surprised it the Wallabies win any tests against NZ and think the chances are about 5% if it does happen.
I'm sure the entire All Black squad know full well that the Ozzies are in for a hiding.
It's a stupid comment to make.
Maybe the kbbs have got the ref sorted?
CC
The problem is exactly what you wrote - over-confidence by the AB players is one way that could lead to disaster and I think that is what Hansen is trying to combat/
Many teams and individual players have lost tests and games because of over-confidence and it often happen that players and teams deny being the favourites,
Thing is Mike ... they're not so gullible as to believe his stupid comment.
These are adult men he's talking to ... not foolish children.
He could have gone about it in a different manner.
Can they shore up that defence? As we saw in the Super rugby final, against a team that had all the tools, the New Zealanders really can pile those points up. Australia don't have much grunt up front than the Lions. We haven't seen anything close to the traditional Aussie attack power either. I think this team has too many holes. If Australia win, it's most likely to be a result of New Zealand not showing up, or experiments. Experiments like 2011, which effectively handed them the Tri Nations title in what was a hollow victory. Only to be put back in their place in the World Cup when New Zealand were not messing around with fanciful but impractical ideas.
I think it's just lip service from Hanson for Aussie media in the build up.
Behind closed doors the All Blacks already know when,where and how they'll pull the trigger on the Aussies, the Jags and us for that matter.
Oh really ... ?
Lip service, huh?
Wow ... did you come up with that all by yourself?
He didn't claim to make a profound statement, just a mere comment on what was considered an eyebrow raising statement by Hansen himself. A bit jumpy today, aren't we?
