Hansen warns all Blacks still work in progress

AUCKLAND: The All Blacks have lost four tests in four years.

By comparison, the Wallabies have lost three tests this year alone, while this weekend’s opponent, South Africa, lost eight tests from 12 in 2016.

So why have Kiwi rugby fans been so angsty this week, before tonight’s Rugby Championship clash against the old enemy in Albany?

For coach Steve Hansen, the All Blacks are victims of their own success.

Shorn of 800 test caps after their 2015 Rugby World Cup triumph, a Kieran Readled side blitzed its opponents in 2016 — including the Springboks, twice.

But their dominance against struggling opponents masked, Hansen believed, the side’s relative youth and inexperience at the highest level.

That underbelly has been exposed at times in 2017. The British and Irish Lions, Australia and Argentina have flummoxed Hansen’s troops with rush defence.

Efforts to overcome such line speed — generating faster and faster ruck play, eschewing tactical or box kicking for chipkicks and grubbers, playing less flat in attack — have not yet reaped full rewards.

And with the Springboks set to deploy similar tactics, Hansen called for a slice of patience.

This All Blacks side would

eventually crack the linespeed nut.

‘‘The game’s changed suddenly, so we’re learning to deal with that. You’re always going to have a tough time with the squad at some point,’’ Hansen said.

‘‘It would appear this is the year we’re having to find out

about ourselves.

‘‘It’s been what I’d call an awkward season. We’ve lost one game and drawn one, but the rest of the time we’ve managed to get out of some tight spots.

‘‘All those things are feeding into the big experience pot.’’

Thoroughly mediocre through

out 2016, an overhauled Boks squad has sprung into life this year, winning five tests and drawing one to date.

To grapple with the South African rearguard, Hansen has reinstated his heavy artillery to the starting XV — particularly passmaster Aaron Smith.

The Kiwi halfback, along with playmaker Beauden Barrett, would guide the side’s attack past an onrushing Springboks defence.

But it wouldn’t be perfect from first minute to last, yet.

‘‘As long as you think you’ve never arrived, then you’ll keep

working hard — and this group doesn’t think it’s arrived,’’ Hansen said.

‘‘We’re definitely facing a different Springboks team, on song, got a lot more confidence and . . . that comes from winning.

‘‘It’s something you can’t buy. You can’t bottle it.’’ — NZN