Hansen urges All Blacks to stay focused against Wallabies

WELLINGTON: The All Blacks have been reminded that they must not switch off and strive to improve their finishing if they are to retain the Bledisloe Cup when they meet the Wallabies in Dunedin tomorrow.

The world champions thrashed Australia 54-34 in Sydney last week and stand to retain the symbol of trans-Tasman supremacy for a 15th successive season.

Despite the margin of victory last week, All Blacks coach Steve Hansen was disappointed his side let their standards slip once they had established a 54-6 lead after 48 minutes.

“We threw poor passes, our skill execution was poor, our defence was poor,” Hansen said. “There wasn’t too much that was good really. So that has been quite handy – it has brought people down to earth.”

Due to a poor Super Rugby campaign, the Wallabies had spent a month together prepar- ing for the southern hemisphere championship and Hansen said not playing competitively for so long probably had an effect on last week’s result.

“To be able to play with the intensity and pace thatTest level brings you’ve got... to play,” Hansen said. “They’ll be a lot sharper.

“They’ll be hurting and they know that if they don’t get it right this week the Bledisloe’s gone.”

Hansen has made two changes to his starting side with hooker Dane Coles returning from an injury-ravaged season to earn his 50th Test cap in place of Codie Taylor.

Nepo Laulala is the other change, coming in at tighthead prop after Owen Franks succumbed to a long-standing Achilles injury.

Wallabies coach Michael Cheika also resisted the urge to shake up his side, making just three changes to his starting lineup with arguably the most important being the elevation of centre Tevita Kuridrani from the bench.

The All Blacks exploited major cohesion issues in defence in the Wallabies’ backline last week, as Samu Kerevi still appeared to be struggling with injury. – Reuters