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Hansen expecting tight finish

Monday 18th August 2008

All smiles: New Zealand are still in the running for this season's Tri-Nations

On the back of New Zealand's dominating 19-0 victory over South Africa on Saturday All Blacks Assistant Coach Steve Hansen has predicted a tight finish to this season's Tri-Nations.

As it stands the All Blacks are five points clear at the top of the table, but have played more games than both South Africa and Australia.

The Wallabies, who are preparing for Saturday's Test at sea level in Cape Town before flying up to Durban on Friday, will be looking for their first win on South African soil since 2000.

Robbie Deans knows his side hold their own fate, with three remaining games, compared to two for the Springboks - meaning they can ill afford a defeat - and just one for the All Blacks.

New Zealand now face a three-week break from the Tri-Nations, although they will play Manu Samoa on September 3 as a warm-up for the final game of the Tri-Nations in Brisbane.

And Hansen said the competition points table could be very different by the time the All Blacks return to the fold.

"There's no doubt that the Springboks will very disappointed," Hansen told YahooExtra.

"They will be reminded throughout this week, it will be in the news, about this defeat. Their critics will be onto them relentlessly.

"But I have no doubt they will be up for it next week in Durban. After Durban it will be Johannesburg and that's been a happy hunting ground for them."

Hansen went on to say that he can see the game in Durban being a cracker, with both sides going into the game on back of defeats against the All Blacks.

"You must not forget that Australia also have great pressure of their own," Hansen said.

"They have not won in South Africa for some time so they also want to get that monkey off their back. I have no doubt that the Boks will be up and ready next week when they come up against Australia."

Deans' men face back-to-back Tests, in Durban and then Johannesburg, and he knows what to expect having spent Saturday at Newlands watching the All Blacks reign supreme.

Wallaby captain Stirling Mortlock also saw the game and feels the nature of their defeat will spur South Africa on in the coming two Tests.

"It was hard for us watching, knowing that there is no way that's going to happen again next week," Mortlock said.

"South Africa are world champions and they're an extremely proud rugby nation and to not score a point will just reinforce their resolve in Durban this Saturday.

"South Africa get tremendous support and usually grow an extra leg at home and more often than not rise to the occasion. I've been involved in some narrow losses here, which has been very frustrating.

"I don't think the Boks performed that badly against the All Blacks. There were a number of times when they were unlucky not to score and if they had scored on those occasions, the game could have turned.

"They will take some positives and the loss will spur them on next week."