New Zealand coach Steve Hansen believes pain of England World Cup defeat can fuel wounded All Blacks

Bowing out: Friday's encounter with Wales will be the last on New Zealand duty for both coach and captain
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Will Macpherson30 October 2019

Steve Hansen hopes the pain of failing to reach the World Cup Final can inspire New Zealand to greater heights, crediting their 2007 defeat to France for the two World Cup titles that followed.

Hansen insisted New Zealand “can’t wait to play” Friday’s bronze medal match against Wales and duly named a strong team for his final Test in charge.

The core of the All Blacks team that lost to England on Saturday remains, and it is likely to be the final Test for a number of World Cup winners, as well as Hansen.

Captain Kieran Read, centre Sonny Bill Williams and wing Ben Smith are all likely to bow out from the international scene.

"It does require a bit of strength, doesn't it? Knowing that it's a game that you didn't want to be in,” said Read of the challenge of the game.

In Pictures | England vs New Zealand, Rugby World Cup | 26/10/2019

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"We've got a chance to rectify a few things that we didn't get right last week and that in itself is exciting – we’ve got to look at it in that way.

"It's not going to change the fact that we're going to be hurting, probably hurting for a long time, but you can change your mindset for this one moment.”

Only Ardie Savea (who has a knee injury) is unavailable, but there are seven changes to the starting XV.

Aaron Smith, Richie Mo’unga and Beauden Barrett are the three backs to keep their places, while Joe Moody, Nepo Laulala, Brodie Retallick, Scott Barrett (who moves to lock) and Read remain in the pack.

Hansen, keen not to dwell on his own departure, believes the pain of defeat can fuel the All Blacks.

"It is different, you can't sidestep that,” he said of the bronze medal match. “There’s a lot of pain involved and a lot of hurt, but you've just got to make that work for you.

"2007 has earned us two World Cups because it’s created a real pain that's personal and deep inside you. Until you suffer that yourself and it becomes personal, you don't know what people are saying."

New Zealand have not lost to Wales for 66 years, and Read is desperate to sign off on a high.

"It's been a rollercoaster over the last few days,” he said. “To be honest, it's a pleasure to play in this team and I've loved every minute that I've had.

"Post the game, after a while it was like, 'I might as well enjoy my time here, it's my last week to be with the men I call good mates'. Just want to go out there and enjoy it and be with them.

"I'm ready to leave. It's my time, I've had my time in the jersey. I've given it my all and it's time for someone else to step in next year, It'll be hard. It's what I’ve known for a number of years now.

"But it's gotten to that point where your mind might be willing but your body is saying, 'nah, can’t be doing this for too much longer'. It's been a real pleasure, an honour.”

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