Hansen talks up threat of Wallabies

AUCKLAND: Steve Hansen has pulled off arguably his best impersonation of a smiling crocodile, explaining why Australia is a major threat in the second Bledisloe Cup test.

All Black coach Hansen, anxious his team does not ease off at Eden Park tonight, showered the Wallabies with praise for their performance in the Sydney opener.

The world champion scored five tries in the second half of a 3813 win, leaving it on the verge of a 15th straight defence of the silverware.

Hansen, who had labelled Australia favourite for that test, does not buy into the consensus

it was a onesided affair. At least not publicly.

‘‘If you look back to the game with real honesty, they probably should have scored four to five

tries,’’ he said.

‘‘They just made wee mistakes, whether that’s from fatigue or pressure from us, I’m not sure.

‘‘Whilst it looks dominant on the scoreboard, I don’t think it was that dominant on the park.’’

Hansen spoke of the importance that Australian rugby is strong and insists that it still is, despite the regular lopsided transtasman results at Bledisloe Cup and Super Rugby level.

Hansen said he could not fathom the criticism directed at counterpart Michael Cheika this week.

Australia pushed world No 2 Ireland in a tight 21 series loss in June.

The scoreline blowout in Sydney was typical of a fastpaced match in which small differences could be be magnified, he said.

‘‘They’re playing the No 1 team in the world so because they lose to us, they’re a poor side? I think that’s probably naive.’’

Hansen’s men cannot realistically expect the same level of scrum and lineout dominance in Auckland.

However, he wants his team to attack with more precision and not just rely on the visiting side’s mistakes and turnovers.

Hansen is also demanding mental buyin from his players, who he fears will believe their own headlines and fail to lit again.

‘‘In sport it’s the hardest thing to do, especially playing the same opponent,’’ he said.

‘‘Whether we like it or not, subconsciously the scoreboard has an affect on us.’’

PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES Passing the baton . . . All Black halfback Aaron Smith hands a ball to a child during the captain’s run at Eden Park in Auckland yesterday.