New Zealand head coach Steve Hansen was furious with a journalist’s question after the England defeat, even offering to ‘take them outside’.
The 60-year-old was unhappy about being questioned if the All Blacks turned up with the right attitude for Saturday’s Rugby World Cup semi-final.
He said: “I think it’s quite a disrespectful question, to suggest that the All Blacks turned up not being hungry.
Last week, he started by praising Best and Schmidt.
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) October 26, 2019
This week, he praises England and makes no bones about it.
His last big game over the All Blacks, and Steve Hansen doesn't want any of the attention.
Sportsmanship. Humbleness. He's a class actpic.twitter.com/nIeL8s5LzV
“They’re desperate to try and win the game. Because I asked them at half-time to get hungrier doesn’t mean to say they didn’t up for the game.
“There’s a big difference and if you want to spend some time outside I’ll give you a rugby education on that one.
“But to turn up and say an All Blacks team comes to a semi-final of the Rugby World Cup with the amount of ability and the history that it’s had behind it, that’s not hunger.
“That’s a pretty average question I reckon.
Highlights of @englandrugby v @allblacks in the first semi-final at Rugby World Cup 2019#RWC2019 #ENGvNZL pic.twitter.com/QIS9GfV3eV
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) October 26, 2019
“You’ve seen how hard we’ve worked out there. Definitely the boys really wanted it.
“I think that the detail of the match didn’t go our way but our work-rate and how much we really wanted it was there.
“You could see it even in that first-half when we conceded; we came back and hung in there.
“Tonight is pretty gutting. When it doesn’t go your way it’s a hard thing to take.”