Wallabies defence coach Nathan Grey has hit back at claims from All Blacks boss Steve Hansen that something is not right about Australian rugby.
Hansen was responding to an article in the New Zealand media claiming the world champions struggled against northern hemisphere sides this year due to a one-sided Bledisloe Cup series.
However Grey dismissed the report and said Ireland’s win over the All Blacks in Dublin demonstrated the current strength of world rugby and had nothing to do with the Bledisloe Cup whitewash.
“You’ve got to look at the big picture and identify that the top six, seven nations in the world at the moment, if you’re not on your game you’re going to get beaten,” Grey said.
“There’s opportunities to beat any team in the world.
“If you’re off you’re going to lose and we’ve shown that against New Zealand a number of times. Other teams have struggled against them as well but I was super happy for Ireland to get that win.”
Grey and the Wallabies came under fire last month after conceding 81 points in two matches against New Zealand and Argentina but have rectified those issues in Europe.
Wales and Italy were both kept to under 10 points and Grey is confident that parsimony can be carried into the England game at Twickenham on Saturday.
“I sound like a broken record but we’re searching for that consistency and being able to do that for a couple of weeks,” he said.
“It’s a new challenge this week and we are really looking to execute our defensive systems and take it up another notch.”
The Wallabies showed great resolve in Italy last week holding the hosts out as they laid siege to their line for 10 second-half minutes with 14 men after Scott Sio was yellow-carded.
Grey said in what has been a challenging year, the win in Padua was hugely satisfying.
“The guys spoke about it in the review that the communication amongst the players on the field was excellent,” he said.
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
New Zealand's, favourite Stooge team????? Honestly, you're not related to that Mark Treason, oops, sorry, Reason, that continually writes his tripe, about NZ rugby, whilst in residence in New Zealand, are you? Well, he's a noted Pom, being from the UK, & I was just wondering, with a name like Rhys, if you are an ex-pat Welshman? If so, I do understand your line of thought!!
BeastieBoy
Roar Rookie
Dear Nathan, if you don't realise there are many things manifestly wrong with Australian Rugby, then you are part of the problem. No need to go over the continuing problems of the last 20 years under the poor management we have suffered under. The most disappointing thing is that it is fixable and the longer we leave the longer it will take to fix. The Board must resign and we need a new constitution where the board is elected by grassroots members. I am upset though how the Wallaby brand has been trashed and how the management has not put the interests of Australian Rugby and our record first and foremost.
Damo
Guest
Yep.
soapit
Roar Guru
T man, Ireland nd were all over oz in the second 2 matches after a disappointing n performance in the 1st. Its just their style doesn't accumulate pints very well at the moment so it leads to scoreless being closer than they should be.
soapit
Roar Guru
more likely it pints to the defence being the same but less risk bein b taken in attack
soapit
Roar Guru
Watcher? Is that you?
soapit
Roar Guru
Except they're not are they.? Wrt bos s comments, i really think made fair effort to be diplomatic to a leading question
Tasman sea brotherhood17
Roar Rookie
I would have to agree 100% well said, NZ is the nation of Rugby. Their skills & experience they've developed over years of executing International test sides. Their code of Rugby will always be a step ahead of other nations (Joe Schmidt) has proven that with Ireland. The All Blacks winning percentage over the Past 100 years is 77.8% the highest out of any other sporting team. This makes the NZ ABs the most successful and number 1 sporting team on the Planet.
The Slow Eater
Roar Rookie
Yep. +1
Kirky
Roar Rookie
Ryan! ~ Like the Poms in 2003, held it for 5 minutes till the All Blacks got it back, it was only borrowed!
rebel
Roar Guru
Except he did own it. They were the first words out of his mouth. He's not blaming anyone, but if he says the same thing 90% of Aus rugby fans say then people jump into him. He's not the one reflecting badly.
rebel
Roar Guru
No excuses and no blame. Some people read way more into something than is there.
Rhys Bosley
Roar Pro
I never denied that the Wallabies are rubbish at the moment Kirky, I have written articles to that effect myself. It is just Hanson’s implication that New Zealand’s loss to Ireland had something to do with that, which I think is a pathetic excuse. Ireland went into that test having only played only Italy then Argentina since the Australia tour in June. They haven’t played a strong team since the Six Nations, the All Blacks have had a far tougher preparation against England and South Africa. Hanson is just failing to own the result, blaming it on New Zealand’s favourite stooge team. It only reflects badly on him.
The Hulk
Guest
I strongly suspect that NZ Rugby and NZ media have a hidden agenda behind the comments. That is preparing to axe the Bledisloe and/or pulling out of the Rugby Championships in preparation for the new League of Nations Tournament in 2020. With a very crowded test schedule this might well suit them. Furthermore are there any reasons that the LNT can't in be played in the Northern hemi November one year and earlier the following year in the Southern hemi?
DCNZ
Guest
yes a terrible year for the All Blacks, 12 out of 14 likely wins. 85.7% win ratio. Any higher and we would have PEAKED before the RWC again. What's the Wallaby win ratio, Nathan Grey. 27% and about to lose to England for a record six losses in a row.
Kirky
Roar Rookie
Rhys ~ You are doing nothing but defending the obvious and I doubt you've read the article properly! All Hansen has intimated is that the Wallabies being in the gross state of decline they are this very moment are, simply not providing the quality opposition required considering the amount of time spent playing the All Blacks which is far more than any other International side playing the game! ~ As he said, "the quality play to provide a measured amount of hard and tough competitive rugby necessary to allow to us to compete at the very top level is simply not there with the Australians at this moment"! You can't deny he's correct mate and in fact everyone knows that Internationally the Australians are not up with the play right now or anywhere near it! He isn't rubbishing the Aussies as all he's saying is a distinct fact and entirely true!
Rhys Bosley
Roar Pro
All good things come to an end Ryan. 2019 could be 1991 all over again for the All Blacks.
Rhys Bosley
Roar Pro
Hanson’s comments were nonsense Pinetree, the All Blacks has plenty of preparation. It is just an excuse. I reckon he knows they are up it to win the World Cup again next year and is setting himself up to blame the Wallabies for that, as they are the only team the All Blacks will play twice.
Rhys Bosley
Roar Pro
Here is the original article where Hanson was quoted. He was asked whether the Wallabies form was a problem for the All Blacks and he responded with the “not quite right” comment, amongst other things. People can lawyer it all they like, but I’m calling it the weak rubbish that it is. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12163195
Machpants
Roar Guru
They've won two of the last three, and the previous one we scraped at the death, not exactly one off!