Rugby World Cup: Steve Hansen pays tribute to England after they end dream of fairytale New Zealand farewell

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Will Macpherson26 October 2019

Outgoing New Zealand coach Steve Hansen paid tribute to England after they knocked his side out of the World Cup, and accepted that he perhaps erred in selection when picking Scott Barrett to start at flanker for the first time ahead of Sam Cane.

Hansen’s double-reigning champions were humbled by an epic semi-final performance from England, with the 19-7 scoreline barely reflecting Eddie Jones’ side’s dominance.

The defeat was New Zealand’s first in world cups since 2007, and means that Hansen’s reign will end with a third-place playoff against South Africa or Wales, rather than next Saturday’s showpiece final.

Both coaches made just one change to the line-ups that had started their respective quarter-finals, and while George Ford repaid Jones’ faith with a superb display, Hansen’s plan to dominate the lineout by including Barrett did not come to fruition, as Maro Itoje excelled for England.

“If we had our time again, we might consider doing something different,” Hansen conceded, when asked about the selection. “They're a very good team so there's no shame in losing.

In pictures - England rugby fans celebrate New Zealand win

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“I’d just like to congratulate England, they played a brilliant game of footy and deserved to win,” he added. “You can’t give them half a step because they will take it. At the end of the day, you have to say well done to them.

“I’m really proud of our team, they’ve done a tremendous job for their country and tonight they weren’t good enough. We have to take that on the chin and so do the people back home. You saw the boys at the end, they were still trying their guts out and that’s all you can ask. Really proud of them.”

Hansen’s pre-planned departure will bring to an end a 15-year association with the All Blacks that saw him win the 2011 World Cup as an assistant coach, before leading the defence of that title as the main man four years later.

Jones described his counterpart as “a great rugby man” and said they would meet up for a drink – while also cheekily revealing that the Kiwi would come to coach in Japan.

"We're going to catch up and have a drink,” he said. “There's nothing that changes in that relationship. He's a great coach, I first coached against him in 1997, he was with the Crusaders and I was coaching the Brumbies. We've had some wins, we've had some losses. He's a great rugby man, he will go down as one of the greatest All Blacks coaches.

"The thing that's impressed me about him is that he's always looked to see what's best for the game. He's going to be missed from that game. I know he's coming back here and coaching in Toyota, so their cars will run a bit faster. I'm sure he'll get involved in helping World Rugby. They're not a sponsor are they, so I'm probably in trouble there. He's a great rugby man."

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