Kiwi coach: I call Eddie all the time

FaR from ruffling Eddie jones’ feathers, all Black boss Steve Hansen preened them and talked up his friendship with the australian.

Hansen and jones are two of the game’s super-coaches — and Hansen revealed that the pair often use each other as a sounding board.

‘We usually talk either by text or by phone, probably every second week,’ he said.

‘We don’t just talk about rugby. it’s always good to have other people who are doing a similar role to yourself to be able to talk to.

‘First and foremost you’ve got to have some form of relationship that allows you to get on with each other. You don’t ring people up you don’t like, just because they are doing the same job as you. So it probably indicates i like him and he might like me. We talk, our wives talk, and that’s not surprising.

‘i think he’s a good bloke. He’s a passionate man Eddie, i have a lot of time and respect for him.

‘He’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but i think he’s a good man. i’m not surprised that he’s bullish, he wants his team to believe they can beat us, just like i want mine to believe they can beat England.’

There is great anticipation over Saturday’s Test as England and New Zealand have not met for four years. Hansen confirmed Sportsmail’s story from last year that England tried to hastily arrange a game with the all Blacks last November.

‘There have been opportunities for us to play England in the past, money games that we have chosen not to play because we were looking after the welfare of the players,’ said Hansen.

Top tickets for Saturday’s game were on sale for up to £ 195, and with the RFU set to make ‘ double- digit millions’ from it, Hansen suggested England might split the gate.

‘it would be good if you guys shared a bit,’ he said with tongue in cheek.

‘Fill that stadium up with 80,000 people, give us half the day’s takings would be good.’

While rubbishing talk of jones being under pressure, Hansen said he had been impressed with England.

‘ it won’t matter what they’ve done in this calendar year if they win on Saturday, will it?’ said Hansen.

‘The expectations when you coach a top side like England are, you’re expected to win, and play well. Looking from afar, i think Eddie is doing a pretty good job.

‘ They won 18 in a row (between 2015-17), only one other side in the world has ever done that. So it makes them a good side.’