All Blacks aim to turn ranking into reality

AIX-EN-PROVENCE – The New Zealand All Blacks know from bitter experience that a rating as the best team in the world is no guarantee of success at the World Cup.

After disappointments at the last four tournaments, they are determined to fine-tune their game so that they turn that ranking into reality and win the tournament for the first time since their triumph in the inaugural competition in 1987. “The whole thing about this tournament is that you can be the best side in the world, but to win you have to be the best team at the tournament,” assistant coach Steve Hansen told reporters at the team’s training base in Aix-en-Provence.”So that is what we’re trying to do.We’re trying to get where we have to be and be in the right shape mentally and physically so we can play more than one type of game and play it well.”With three wins out of three, 224 points on the board and just 27 against, New Zealand have sailed into the quarter-finals as pool winners.But former Wales head Hansen, who coaches the fearsome All Black pack, explained that instead of trying to pile on as many points as possible they have been following a carefully planned programme designed to strengthen specific aspects of their game.Nampa-Reuters”The whole thing about this tournament is that you can be the best side in the world, but to win you have to be the best team at the tournament,” assistant coach Steve Hansen told reporters at the team’s training base in Aix-en-Provence.”So that is what we’re trying to do.We’re trying to get where we have to be and be in the right shape mentally and physically so we can play more than one type of game and play it well.”With three wins out of three, 224 points on the board and just 27 against, New Zealand have sailed into the quarter-finals as pool winners.But former Wales head Hansen, who coaches the fearsome All Black pack, explained that instead of trying to pile on as many points as possible they have been following a carefully planned programme designed to strengthen specific aspects of their game.Nampa-Reuters