Hansen: World Cup is history now
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All Blacks coach Steve Hansen wants to put last year's World Cup triumph firmly in the past and redirect the attention on a new set of goals.
New Zealand have been basking in their victory since Richie McCaw lifter the Webb Ellis Cup on October 23, but it's now time to focus on the present with a Test series against Ireland rapidly approaching.
"We've won the World Cup, that's great, we'll never forget it, but we need to put a full stop on that and reset the goals, and we have to do that pretty smartly," Hansen told the media.
"There is an expectation, and rightly so, from everyone in the country that we'll win Test matches. That's what's made the All Blacks great over the years."
Hansen is currently conducting a training camp with the available members of the squad in Auckland that ends on Tuesday, and a second camp is being held in Wellington from May 27-29.
There is an always a re-shuffle following a World Cup year with senior players retiring and coaches looking to blood youngsters with an eye towards the future. Hansen's first squad has been no different, with a number of last year's Under-20 side being called-up for a first taste of the big time.
"There's a couple of people there that clearly are going to be All Blacks in the future if they continue to develop in the way we believe they will, and it's a nice opportunity to bring them into the camp," Hansen explained.
There is a new coach and some new faces, but the stalwarts Dan Carter and Richie McCaw are their to guide the world champions into the next chapter of their history.
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