All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has issued a warning to Wales by saying they are the team New Zealand want to beat the most on their end-of-year tour.
New Zealand face Scotland, Italy, Wales and England but Hansen, who was Wales' coach between 2002 and 2004, admitted that a win over the Dragons in Cardiff on 24 November would give him the most satisfaction.
"It is a rare thing and it is always nice going back to Wales," he told Walesonline
"It is a special place for me and I felt as if I had 25 years of experience in three seasons.
"It was a good time because I learned a lot and met some great people.
"But it is like anything and they (Wales) are the ones you want to beat the most.
"So let's hope we go over there and put in a performance that we can be proud of."
The All Blacks won the inaugural Rugby Championship and notched 16 consecutive victories before drawing their most recent match with Australia last month.
Their last defeat in the northern hemisphere was in their World Cup quarter-final against France at the Millennium Stadium in 2007 and Hansen insists his players are still highly motivated to finish another European tour unbeaten..
"I think people should look to enjoy these occasions playing Wales and England because they are going to be rippers," he added.
"Wales will be really backing themselves to put one over on us.
"Those are the types of challenges you need at this time of year because it has been a long 12 months and you need something to get you motivated.
"Our fans have huge expectations but you would not want that to change anyway.
"It is those expectations which have set the scene for every All Black team in our history.
"If the fans' expectation is high, the players and coaches have to set that level of expectation even higher. That has helped created the legacy we have today."
Comments
Kiwidiver says...
While a few of my countrymen could try a little humility (gracious in victory and all that), arrogance is hardly a trait that kiwi's are known for (pig-headedness with a minor in ignorance possibly).
If arrogance were a stock to be traded, France would surely be the majority shareholder - bet that just rankles you doesn't it Toulouse (never really understood why you have such a hate on for NZ - guilt)?!?. The lucky country, and "merry old blighty" could be accused of making a run on this stock from time to time also.
Anyway, Welsh, Bok, Kiwi, Aussie, and begrudgingly French rugby are all my favorites to watch, and Cardiff possibly my favorite venue. Looking forward to this match up. Wish I could be there!! Go AB's!! Go Wales!
Posted 23:32 15th November 2012
kitch says...
toulousain
yet another fantastic comment! .. obama and romney??? wtf!!.. you obviously know nothing of politics esp the usa elections. Theyve been bagging each other from the start, so much so its been labelled one of the most fierce war of words ever!.. but thats politics.. you bag the opposition.. tell me one campaign where this doesnt happen.
just bc an article prints a whole bunch of quotes from hansen, all of a sudden he talks too much!!.. in a media conference, questions get asked and you answer them!!...and when you recieve questions from welsh media you answer appropriately!!.. and as the no1 ranked team on the planet(yet again!!,) rwc champs, rugby championship winners, bledisloe cup holders, and numerous undefeated NH tours, i think hansen has every right to be positive and if some see it as arrogance, is that his problem!!
Posted 06:34 10th November 2012
KiwiJoe says...
Save the Wakes, 60 more years...
Posted 01:39 09th November 2012
Ferdie says...
ArmchairGeneral says...Completely ignoring their next opponent Scotland
but what about those arrogant Scots - their news media have ignored the All Blacks - a 'postage-stamp sized pic' in the Daily Mail the best they could do. The Edinburgh Evening News managed two full pages of local rugby coverage without a mention of the men in black.Take that!
On the positive side, Murrayfield is expected to sell out, and ease of access to touring NZ squad my Ed-born nephew was welcomed at their hotel and got 30 signatures on his AB jersey to add to his collection.
Posted 13:45 07th November 2012
PREEST says...
@Armchairgeneral. Really? If the Scots and Italy really had a chance against the ABs then yes, it would be arrogant. The fact is, they don't. The Scots, and no disrespect, will not beat the Abs. There is more chance of the ABs giving the Scots a 60-0 drubbing like they did to Ireland than the Scots winning. It is what it is. So if SH can't say what he thinks, or state the obvious, what would you prefer? Some superficial pre-game hype about how the Scots and the Italians are going to push the ABs? Sorry mate, but it is true that the Welsh and the English have the best chance of beating the ABs, not the Scots and not the Italians. The day will come however.
Posted 13:09 07th November 2012
Melkiwi says...
So SH shouldn't be answer question when asked? He's weak, he's arrogant, he talks to much. Remember guys he's at a press conference which means he's talking to journos.
Posted 07:08 07th November 2012
nzmaoriboy says...
@rugby_rockstar! Valid point there bro! however at the least we know we support a team capable of attempting to attain these sorts of records...And we are still in the running for the most consecutive test matches without a loss.
Their are far to many people willing to take offence at most articles where the all blacks are involved! stop being so precious. This is an All Blacks coach giving a good welsh team a great compliment, & that is all...anyone else reading something different into this article are pretty much just revealing their own insecurities!! All im hoping for is some great hard competitive rugby! from all teams. Cheers
Posted 22:56 06th November 2012
rugby_rockstar says...
I just want to point out that NZ also REALLY wanted the world record for consecutive wins a couple of weeks back. When the All Blacks really want something they usually choke on that desire.
Mind you, its only Wales so... ;)
Posted 16:42 06th November 2012
kenttaff says...
if you ask me the AB's are not arrogant enough. they are teh only team on the planet who have a right to be. consistently number 1 in every era and record setters in every way.
Posted 16:05 06th November 2012
Toulousain says...
i don't remember him speaking so much when he was in the wales coaching set-up.
was it because GH as no.1 and did all the talking?
was it because wales didn't win every game?
is it because the rugby press is just obsessed with any comment coming from the AB camp?
whatever the answers, the guy should be a little more aware that his every utterance is micro-analysed.
i don't hear obama or romney mouthing off before the results are in.
(then again, SH has a much more important job than either of those guys hehehe)
Posted 11:38 06th November 2012
kiwilad says...
ArmchairGeneral, arrogant, or confident???
But then again, perhaps they can afford to be a little of both..
Posted 03:39 06th November 2012
bigb6969 says...
ArmchairGeneral says... ignoring Scotland "More arrogance from the men in black". Lol the are playiing a team that have never beaten them in 107 years, that's like America's cup territory. If they did "ignore" Scotland how could that be counted as arrogance. Incidentally NZ have not dropped a game to Scotland or anyone in the last 10 years on tour in Europe, but Australia and South Africa have both !! So is this a sign of Australia and South Africa's arrogance ? If Scotland win are you not guilty of giving no credit to Scotland at all.? It will be all NZ arrogance, we are so good we are only beaten by our arrogance, that must be the point you are making, Scotland can't do anything they have to wait for NZ to slacken off.
Posted 00:56 06th November 2012
Ferdie says...
ArmchairGeneral -arrogance! Look at yourself . . .
This article is about the Wales test. It doesn't mention Italy, England either.
Or you could search for the NZ article : 'McCaw - Focus on Scotland Test', mentioning he will play in this game considering its importance due to "The rich history between the two sides"
Posted 00:25 06th November 2012
three6three6 says...
The ABs have a point to prove against every team, every time they play.... will Scotland come close to this AB team? Well over recent years Scotland have struggled against the ABs. Two tries in two minutes in 2010 was sufficient to silence the crowd. I am not suggesting for a moment that Scotland are not a bad team. On the contrary they are a very good team and capable of upsetting the form book on occasions - look at recent history with wins against the Wallabies (two) & the BOKKE. But realistically in the first match of the Autumn series they are likely to pull up short.
The reason that the Wales game is so poignant is because of the history - the close matches in 1972, 1978, 2003, 2004 - and the fact that Wales have been coached by New Zealanders over recent years. There is also 9-3 when Llanelli beat the ABs in 1972. Wales are also the most passionate rugby playing nation on earth - evidence of this was that the WRU was able to host more than 50,000 supporters watching the action on big screens at the Millennium Stadium during the crucial RWC matches.
England on the other hand is much more successful against the ABs having beaten the ABs consistently over the years at 10 yearly intervals (1973,83,93, 2003) so we will probably need to wait until next year for the next instalment of this winning series.
Will the ABs underestimate Scotland on Saturday? I do not think so.... Scotland are a good side.... after all they tend to beat England every other year (when matches are played at Murrayfield)..... but are likely to pull up short on Saturday.
Posted 23:41 05th November 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
ABs should definitely take it easy for the England game.
Posted 20:56 05th November 2012
carpelone says...
This guy talks too much. A clear sign of weakness.
Posted 20:52 05th November 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
@Melkiwi. Fair enough, I take it back. I think AB v Scotland will be like the Exeter vs Clarmont HC game. ABs being the later ofcourse.
Posted 20:43 05th November 2012
ruckinrugby says...
Hey 'jenksbaj' - "The reason why England are No.1 usually is because of the way the press and media hype the team up to be world beaters and untouchable." ..... or maybe the IRB Ranking sytem?
Posted 19:08 05th November 2012
NHsaints says...
Scotland aren't going to lie down like they did in 2010, they're a tough bunch now and I would never ever underestimate them on their home turf (being an England supporter we know all about that), England and SA are really looking like potentially the most dangerous teams coming into this as SA ran the All Blacks close in recent tests and gave the wobblies a good drubbing, England drew a test in SA (a real rarity) and ran them close for the other 2 games and that's with the team back then being very much in a stage of development. The All blacks are obviously favourites but Wales are going to have a good go.
Posted 17:32 05th November 2012
melkdave says...
@Jenksbaj
LOL well SORRY if you cant recognise a tonuge in cheek post ,thats not my fault .But if you imgine the lovey dovey stuff above is the reason NZ want to beat Wales the most .Your not living in the real world ,with us mortals im afraid.Wales are the current 6Ns champions ,and by a grand slam to boot,they are also RWC SFs ,and the vast majority of us fans thought ,they where a trifle unlucky not to be in the final .If you dont understand that given those facts ,and certain mouthings ,dont mean or give the ABs a point to prove ,then you arnt here at all with us mortals
Posted 17:13 05th November 2012