Six Nations sides ‘selfish’ over refusal, says Hansen

New Zealand head coach Steve Hansen has accused the Six Nations teams of acting selfishly in their refusal to back the Nations Championship.

Attempts to establish an annual global competition culminating in an end-of-year final hit the buffers in June due to a lack of support from Europe’s elite, frustrating the cash-strapped southern hemisphere unions.

New Zealand clash with England in Saturday’s World Cup semi-final and Hansen insists the rarity of the fixture will not improve if the Six Nations continue to serve their own interests.

“South Africa are always going to be our biggest rival because of all the history that comes with it and because we play each other so regularly,” Hansen said.

“We’ve played England once in the last five years and so it’s hard to build a rivalry when you don’t play each other.

“If we could get the Six

Nations to come on board for a global season, we’d be able to do that.

“Once they do that, then they’re starting to think about the game rather than themselves. There’s a headline for you...”

England boss Eddie Jones began the week by describing the All Blacks as the greatest team in the history of sport, but Hansen refuses to be seduced by the flattery.

“It’s a really nice statement and I wouldn’t doubt that Eddie believes that, but he’s also being quite kind to us,” Hansen said.

“History is history and it is about creating new history and both teams are going to go at each other on Saturday.

“The game won’t define either team but it will give one team the opportunity to go through to play a final.

“That’s where everyone’s concentration is.

“I just know that there is a lot of respect between the two teams and the two coaches.”

When asked about playing mind games in the build-up to the semi-final, Hansen said: “It’s a real thing, but sometimes you’re better not to bother going there and sometimes you are.”

“There’s a headline for you”: Steve Hansen has hit out at the Six Nations.