All Blacks to avoid another Pacific upset
The All Blacks plan to show full respect to the calibre of their opposition when they tackle Fiji on Friday, after the Wallabies were handed a shock 32-23 defeat by Samoa last weekend.
Samoa’s historic victory will inspire their Pacific Island neighbours Fiji, who will desperately want to cause an even bigger upset by surprising New Zealand.
All Blacks assistant coach Steve Hansen believes it was complacency that cost the Wallabies and won’t allow his team to make the same mistake. Hansen called for the players to respect every opposition and treat each Test on its merits.
“Clearly Australia didn’t do that [respect Samoa],” Hansen told Stuff.co.nz.
“As Rob [Deans] said in the paper they’ve had a real good reminder of what’s required. I think [skipper Rocky] Elsom said it’s how we respond now that’s important. So their Test match against the Springboks [on Saturday] now becomes very important.”
All Black stars Keven Mealamu, Isaia Toava and Ma’a Nonu all have Samoan heritage and thoroughly enjoyed seeing the Pacific Islanders give Australia a rugby lesson.
“The Samoan boys are very proud of where their family roots are, and even though most of them were born here they’ve still got strong connections with Samoa,” Henson explained. “They certainly would have enjoyed it and I think a lot of New Zealand fans would have enjoyed it too.”
“It won’t have done Australia any harm at all,” he added. “There will be a bit of pain and everyone will be moaning and bitching about it. But the reality is it’s given them an uppercut and they’ll come back a stronger and better side for it.”
Maori scrumhalf Piri Weepu said the players with Samoan origins in the All Blacks squad had been delighted and couldn’t conceal their joy.
“I’m just rapt for Samoa,” Weepu told Stuff.co.nz.
“It’s not often they play a big Test like that and come away with the win. We’ve just got to make sure we’re not complacent because teams like that have got the calibre of players to produce the goods.”
Weepu believes Fiji will offer a massive challenge this weekend despite their very poor record against New Zealand.
“Games between Pacific Island nations are pretty physical,” he said.
“I’m sure the boys will come off pretty battered and bruised come Friday. We’ve just got to make sure we don’t get complacent and think it’s going be a walk in the park.”
