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By Nick Cain
Steve Hansen should be a happy man. Normal business seems to have resumed with New Zealand giving France a collage, predictably predicting the 3-0 summer series against Jacques Brunel's unfortunate crew, while the Crusaders, the champions Super Rugby title, sit at the top of the table with a The semifinal at home is already assured
However, coach All Black still seems to be suffering from withdrawal symptoms of the Lions tour a year after the tumultuous tour that overflowed the coffers of the NZRU.
The problem is that its benefits the series drawn against the Lions also left Hansen with the uncomfortable feeling that his side might not be as unassailable as the results against the French, suggests New Zealand's continued domination of Super Rugby, suggests the triumphant New Zealander. March interrupted by the Lions, there was also a reminder this summer that the Irish – who provided key players to the Lions cause – are able to stick a key in the southern hemisphere
The Six Champions Nations who defeated Australia on the other side of the Tasman Sea at the same time as the French were driven back to New Zealand, reminded Hansen that no matter how good his side, it is not the only way to get the best of it. there is no guarantee. Hansen seems upset despite three victories over the French – including two overwhelming – in which New Zealand has clearly benefited from controversial arbitration decisions.
The first of them during the Opening Test in Auckland saw the blocker Paul Gabrillagues the referee of RFU Luke Pearce for a seatbelt on Ryan Crotty in which he was not able to do anything. No contact with the head or neck of the New Zealand center
When the Frenchman was eliminated at 50 minutes, the score was 11-11. Having things their way – however, the psychological shock for the French seemed overwhelming, and they conceded three tries in the next 10 minutes to score 30-11 on Gabrillagues' return. They never recovered, failing to score again in a 52-11 loss
Eden Park: The All Blacks force the French scrum to close at the first test in Auckland (photo: Anthony Au-Yeung / Getty Images)
At the second test in Wellington, another questionable decision influenced the outcome with just 11 minutes of play. Australian referee Angus Gardner said that he had not had any problems. Other choice than to eject the French sideback Benjamin Fall when his collision with Beauden Barrett, after catching a high ball, had overturned the half volley New Zealand. Barrett was replaced by Damian McKenzie after failing an HIA
Hansen was unhappy when a panel of world rugby judges swept the red card because Fall's attempt was compromised by a collision with the New Zealand center Anton Lienart-Brown. that there was nothing deliberately dangerous or carefree about his collision with Barrett.
Despite the handicap of 14 players for 69 minutes, the French played their best rugby in the series before losing 26-13 – but the incident in the fall refused to leave with the l? All Black coach who immediately blames World Rugby for setting a precedent by replacing the referee, "when Angus did everything by the book … and then they dropped it."
By cons, Hansen was a lot less vocal when a double tackle on the French wing Remy Grosso, including a swing arm by All Black openside Sam Cane and a head clash with prop Ofa Tu 'ungafasi, left him with a facial fracture that excluded him from the rest of the series
The only sanction for this was a penalty, and it was not long before New Zealand was even more credible on the front of the officials. With a score of 14-14 and half an hour of play at Dunedin in the final test, Irish referee John Lacy blocked French scrum half Baptiste Serin from attempting to rescue McKenzie.
Once again, a match that was in the balance was tipped towards New Zealand, and with the French back at the front desk, they were finally overwhelmed 49-14.
Shortly after, Hansen released a weirdly timed homily. to be on the wrong side of arbitration decisions, saying, "I can not speak for the French, but we have had decisions of this kind against us. Just go back to the second Test of the Lions series last year.
Hansen then reviewed the penalty decisions of French referees Jerome Garces and Romain Poite in the Lions 24-21 win over the All Blacks in the second test. The 15-15 draws in the final test of the series, which he claimed to have gone against his side.
Hansen also moaned about the penises conceded by prop Charlie Faumuina for a tackle on Kyle Sinckler when he was on his feet, and what had ever been a blatant offside seal by Wyatt Crockett at a ruck. He will also dust off Poite's decision not to penalize Lions Ken Owens' accidental offside after NZ No.8 Kieran Read's illegal aerial challenge on Liam Williams at the end of the last Test.
While Hansen re-hash strangely appears as an attempt to pressure the referees for them to recognize that the All Blacks do not get all their own way – after a run against the French in which they have played – this is also likely to mask concerns over a series in which his team has not been tested by Lions.
McKenzie was able to lead a riot, with Barrett's replacement dazzling against the exhausted French – while a year ago against the Lions it was another story. When McKenzie played for the Maori on a wet field in Rotorua, he was overwhelmed by tourists, whose attackers dominated the game.
Winging it: Manasa Mataele, the cross-striker of Fiji, is attacked by Ben Smith (Photo by Dianne Manson / Getty Images)
Conversely, Hansen will be delighted with the way the top five Crusaders – Joe Moody, Cody Taylor, Owen Franks, Sam Whitelock and Scott Barrett – who were transplanted into the All Blacks for The three tries against the French dominate Super Rugby.
The Crusaders' 45-22 victory over the Highlanders in Christchurch on Friday showed the lasting importance of having a tight five dominant, in a match in which veteran Crockett – who came early to head of Moody – became the first player to reach 200 Super Rugby matches.
However, one of the few times Crusaders and All Blacks five faced a fierce exam in recent seas last year, Lions not only beat the Crusaders on their own. field, but they left plenty of time for New Zealand to reflect after the series.
Hansen clearly wonders if a series like the one against the French is a false record compared to Lions, and that their match officials' hand just amplifies it.
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Tagged All Blacks, New Zealand, Steve Hansen
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