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The rested Wallabies will have a big advantage in their preparation for the Rugby Championship, according to All Blacks coach Steve Hansen.
Top players from New Zealand and South Africa were involved in taxing Super Rugby semi-finals last weekend and one team from each – the Chiefs and Sharks – are spending this week preparing for the final in Hamilton on Saturday.
Australia’s only playoff contenders were the Reds, who were knocked out 10 days ago in the qualifying round.
Hansen said the lack of Australian involvement in the last two weeks of the competition will have allowed Wallabies coach Robbie Deans to focus full attention on the inaugural four-nation Test championship beginning on August 18.
“I think it’s a big advantage to them (Australia),” Hansen told journalists.
“The more preparation time you have, the better chance you have of getting your game organised and your structures built in and the clarity.”
Hansen is overseeing a two-day All Blacks camp in Wellington this week. There are no Chiefs players among the 28 assembling for the camp.
Deans has gathered a 36-strong squad in Sydney for the second of two training camps.
The Wallabies were caught out by a lack of preparation when the players were stunned by Scotland in June, just days after a round of Super Rugby matches.
The All Blacks made a better fist of their opening Test of the season, beating Ireland in handsome style.
“We were very fortunate that we managed to, in a very short period of time, get that sorted against Ireland,” Hansen said.
“But the Rugby Championship is going to be a totally different contest.”
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.