Hansen gets his message across

All Blacks coach shows his respect

Gotcha.

It’s the game the assembled Australian media tried to play with Steve Hansen on Thursday, with their leading questions about the Wallabies, coach Michael Cheika and the psyche of Australians generally.

Cue stories about the All Blacks coach’s impassioned defence of Cheika here or endorsement of the Wallabies there.

If Hansen wants to make remarks about a team or a person, he comes right out and does it. He knew people were fishing for a headline ahead of today’s Bledisloe Cup test in Yokohama, and did his best to avoid anything that suggested the All Blacks think the Wallabies and their coach are dog tucker.

Of course Hansen endorsed Cheika. So you would you, if you enjoyed the kind of winning record Hansen has in their head-to-head battles. Seven-from-nine is not the kind of run anyone would want to halt in a hurry.

They might not have been sensational, but there were some things Hansen said that were newsworthy.

‘‘Didn’t we lose this game last year? You don’t forget that,’’ Hansen said, in an effort to try and bring some sense to the discussion.

By their own standards, New Zealand were dreadful in that game and flattered by the final score of 23-18. As Hansen rightly noted, you don’t forget that or start thinking you’re infallible just because you win the next couple of clashes.

‘‘They can lose five, six, seven games in a row and come out and beat the best team in the world because they believe they can,’’ said Hansen.

‘‘There is definitely a mark of respect from our guys. We know we love playing them and I think they love playing us. We love beating them and they love beating us.

‘‘It is a one-off game and winner takes all so, whoever does win it, gets to have an easier summer than the blokes who don’t.

‘‘If you go through our history Australia are the team who have damaged us the most. They have beaten us more than most other teams, so there’s got to be respect.

‘‘You become arrogant if you stop respecting your opposition.’’

Defeats burn Hansen badly and the result in Brisbane last year is what he will have reminded the

team of this week.

Not that he would’ve needed to. Between that game, and the recent home-and-away matches against South Africa, there should have been a real edge to proceedings in Japan.

Yes, it’s nice that the All Blacks got up and beat the Springboks 32-30 a couple of weeks back. But it doesn’t diminish the fact that, in back-to-back meetings, South Africa caused New Zealand untold problems.

As Hansen rightly alluded to, this isn’t the time for the All Blacks to fall in love with themselves or adopt an arrogant approach.

The team has been a bit flat and error-ridden, so in come fullback Damian McKenzie and halfback TJ Perenara. The pair have tended to be cast in finishing roles, but the All Blacks need their impact from the start right now.

Flanker Liam Squire’s return to fitness is timely in that regard too. Prop Joe Moody will stiffen things up as well and, when you throw in Brodie Retallick, the All Blacks are immediately more formidable than they were against the Springboks.

It’s Australia who have to be beaten this week, though, and Hansen will have delivered that message loud and clear.

Of course Hansen endorsed Cheika. So you would you, if you enjoyed the kind of winning record Hansen has in their head-to-head battles. Steve Hansen, right, has backed Wallabies opposite Michael Cheika, left.