Pressure, what pressure asks Hansen as Cane dropped
SHOWS:
TOKYO, JAPAN (OCTOBER 24, 2019) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)
1. (SOUNDBITE) (English) NEW ZEALAND HEAD COACH, STEVE HANSEN, SAYING:
"Obviously it's strategic. It's not on form. Sam Cane's playing lovely rugby. However, we've made some decisions around what we want to do and how we want to play and that means we have made the change because of it."
2. MEDIA
3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) NEW ZEALAND HEAD COACH, STEVE HANSEN, SAYING:
"I have talked about pressure ever since I have been an All Blacks coach because we're under pressure all the time. And I think early, early in our history, we ran away from it. So it was chasing us down the street. But these days, we've had to acknowledge that it's there. You know, we are expected to win every game whether it's a semi-final, quarter final, or just ordinary test match. So yeah, it is. There is pressure. It is a big game. But it would be very naïve to think that there's not pressure on both sides. And when you can publicly acknowledge it, that it's on you then there's an awareness and that same pressure is running down the same street that he's on. And he's trying again to take that pressure, he's trying to take the pressure off his own side by saying getting everyone to talk to us about pressure. And again, smart move, but you know, I'm not buying into it, our players aren't buying into it. We know we're under pressure. We don't need Eddie (Jones) to tell us that. "
STORY: Scott Barrett has been surprisingly named to start at blindside flanker for New Zealand in their Rugby World Cup semi-final against England on Saturday (October 26), with Ardie Savea shifting to the openside of the scrum.
Sam Cane, who had operated in a twin-openside combination with Savea since the All Blacks match against Australia in Perth in August, has dropped to the bench for the clash at Yokohama Stadium.
Barrett, who normally plays at lock, spent about 15 minutes of the 46-14 quarter-final victory over Ireland last Saturday playing in the number six jersey in what coach Steve Hansen said on Thursday (October 24) had been a tactical decision.
A year ago he came on against England early in the second half at Twickenham to give the All Blacks extra options at the lineout, where they subsequently caused all sorts of disruption on England's throws. The 25-year-old's inclusion in an otherwise-unchanged starting side from that which beat Ireland adds an extra dimension to the All Blacks lineout and some additional size in the collision area.
Patrick Tuipulotu will come onto the bench as the specialist lock replacement. Cane's move to the bench has meant there was no place for Shannon Frizell, who had been tipped to replace the injured Matt Todd as loose forward cover.
Hansen also retained his young backline, which has an average age of 25, and will be anchored by Beauden Barrett at fullback and Richie Mo'unga at flyhalf in the dual-playmaker role the coach has preferred over the last 18 months. Sonny Bill Williams will again come off the bench to provide some punch in the midfield in the second half.
The New Zealander also dismissed suggestions in some quarters that the All Blacks are under more pressure than Jones's side, given they are two-times defending champions.
(Production: Jill Gralow, Yoko Kono)
