At a glance

‘‘He’s got all the respect in the world from the team. He knocked a ball on on Saturday; that was pretty costly, he knows that and he’s bitterly disappointed but that’s rugby. Sometimes that happens.’’

Sometimes, people see fit to be critical of players such as Read when they don’t meet the high standards they’ve set for themselves. Surely there’s nothing fundamentally wrong with that.

‘‘You’ve just got to be strong enough to believe in who you are but, as I say, he’s well supported so his position’s not under threat,’’ Hansen said of Read.

The coach was then asked to comment on the scrutiny faced by the All Blacks and the critical comments that have increasingly emerged as the season’s gone on.

‘‘The one constant thing about the All Blacks is pressure and you wouldn’t want it any other way because it’s what’s made us over the years the team we are. That external expectation is really, really high so what do we have to do internally? Well, we have to All Blacks team to play Italy: Damian McKenzie, Jordie Barrett, Anton Lienert-Brown, Ngani Laumape, Waisake Naholo, Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara, Kieran Read (c), Ardie Savea, Vaea Fifita, Scott Barrett, Patrick Tuipulotu, Nepo Laulala, Dane Coles, Ofa Tuungafasi. Reserves: Nathan Harris, Karl Tu’inukuafe, Angua Ta’avao, Brodie Retallick, Dalton Papalii, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Richie Mo’unga, Rieko Ioane.