Hansen hands it two ’em

from ALEX SPINK in Yokohama

MARO ITOJE and George Ford go into the biggest week of their rugby lives on the back of rave reviews from the world champions they dethroned.

Forward Itoje was man of the match in England’s epic win over New Zealand and the quick ball he helped secure gave fly-half Ford ammunition to fire the All Blacks to defeat.

Kiwi coach Steve Hansen said: “George played particularly well and put us in positions where we had to really work to try to get out of deep in our territory and try to force things.

“They chased his kicks well all across the park.”

Hansen branded Itoje a pain in the backside for his persistent brilliance and added: “He is maturing into a really good rugby player.

“I watched the game again this morning and he was a nuisance on many, many occasions.

“He’s athletic, he is a smart player and he has the ability to adapt and adjust to what he is seeing and feeling.

“He is one of those players that could go on and be a great.

“I think he is a better player now than he was in the Lions series. He’s more complete.

“England don’t play a sophisticated game. Win the ball, give it to a big bloke and run hard – win the collision and get over the gain line.

“That’s rugby in its simplistic form but it is beautiful as well.”

The day after an All Blacks defeat is never comfortable for those involved and the New Zealand Herald blacked out its front page, while both Hansen and captain Kieran Read, who retire after this tournament, were visibly emotional.

Read had returned to his hotel room to find birthday cards from his children and said: “It’s a rugby game and people care. We care.

“But that put things in perspective.”