New Zealand coach Steve Hansen says lower-ranked nations are improving
Last Updated: 25/09/15 1:38pm
New Zealand coach Steve Hansen believes the lower-ranked nations are catching up on the traditional powerhouses of rugby following his team's 58-14 World Cup triumph over Namibia.
The All Blacks ran out comfortable winners in the Pool C encounter at the Olympic Stadium but would have been expected to get closer to 150 points in days gone by.
Nehe Milner-Skudder and Julian Savea scored two tries apiece, with Victor Vito, Malakai Fekitoa, Beauden Barrett, Ben Smith and Codie Taylor also going over.
However, the biggest cheer of the night came in the 50th minute when Namibia's Johan Deysel scored a try against the World Cup holders.
There was to be no major shock here but an impressive display nonetheless, coupled with Japan's victory over South Africa, signalled the traditionally dominant sides were not getting things all their own way anymore.
And Hansen said: "The scoreboards suggest that's the case. When everyone was talking about record scores here, I said they were foolish.
"World rugby has put in a lot of money and effort to improve standards and the so-called minnows have played well so far."
Namibia counterpart Phil Davies agreed the upturn in performances from the lower-ranked nations was no fluke.
He said: "When you look at Japan's victory, they had been building that performance over a couple of years.
"I know the preparation Georgia have put in and we have put a lot of preparation in as well. The effort the players put in has been phenomenal."