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Hansen optimistic despite Bledisloe loss

21st October, 2017
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All Blacks coach Steve Hansen. (AAP Image/Paul Miller)
21st October, 2017
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Losing is a rare experience for the All Blacks and coach Steve Hansen has challenged his team to make the most of it after their Bledisloe Cup streak of dominance came to an end.

New Zealand fell 23-18 in Saturday’s dead rubber third Test at Suncorp Stadium, ending a run of seven straight wins over Australia.

It marks the first time since 2011 that New Zealand have lost two Tests in a calendar year.

It played out like the sequel to the second trans-Tasman clash in Dunedin, but this time the Wallabies were able to hold onto their lead and repelled an intense late rally from the world champions to score the breakthrough victory.

Hansen was philosophical about the result, noting the absence of key players like Beauden Barrett and Brodie Retallick and acknowledging there was no absence of effort from the team he rolled out.

“We’ll go back and review our game and look at the things we need to work on and we’ll fix them. The sun will come up tomorrow,” Hansen said.

“When you look at the people that aren’t here and the people that are, what a great opportunity for this team to grow and learn.

“The wheels on the bus keep going around, in two weeks’ time we have to play another game and we’ll take those learnings and we’ll use the hurt that’s here to grow.

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“For a lot of guys, that’s probably the first loss they’ve had in the All Black jersey. It’s a feeling you don’t just wash away, it’ll take time to absorb it and you learn a lesson from it.

“There’ll be some real good lessons to be learned.”

Hansen conceded the Wallabies deserved the win, and rued handing the home side what he said was a seven-point head start through Reece Hodge’s 70m intercept try early in the contest.

“They didn’t blow any of the opportunities they had, they worked hard and put us under pressure as well and prevented us taking ours,” he said.

“Australia played well. They’ll be happy with themselves. Hopefully they kick on and have a great northern tour.”

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