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'Ridiculous' - Hansen slams media criticism of All Blacks captain Kieran Read after Ireland defeat

November 22, 2018

The All Blacks coach launched a passionate defence of his skipper in the wake of the loss to Ireland.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has slammed the media coverage of captain Kieran Read in the wake of the defeat to Ireland.

Hansen said Read's position as skipper was not under threat after a number of calls were made in the media for Read to step down as captain following the loss in Dublin.

"Some of those articles (about Read) are ridiculous," Hansen said to the media in Rome.

"Written by people who have never been in our environment, who have never seen him at a rugby game.

"Is it frustrating when you read some of the stuff from people who should know better? Yes it is.

"They've also got a job to do, usually it's to sell a newspaper or to get somebody to click on their stories, once you understand that part of it as well it doesn't bother you too much.

"A good thing people could do is not click on it, then they wouldn't have a job, it'd be great."

Hansen went on to speak passionately in defence of his skipper.

"He's going well, he's in the best shape he's been all year, he’s had some tough moments during the course of the year which I think have been great for him," Hansen said.

"First of all, his back was a career ending possibility, so to deal with that, he's had some learnings on the track as a leader, he's come through that fine. He's got all the respect in the world from the team.

"He knocked a ball on, on Saturday, that was pretty costly, he knows that and he's bitterly disappointed about it but that's rugby, sometimes that happens."

Speaking generally about the pressure and scrutiny the All Blacks were under, Hansen said that expectation from the public had helped the team achieve what they had in recent years.

"We all understand that if you're in the All Black environment you're going to be scrutinised and you'll have your turn in the sun, but you'll also have your turn in the rain.

"People are going to have plenty to say and you just got to be strong enough to believe in who you are. His position is not under threat.

"The one constant thing about the All Blacks is pressure and you wouldn't want it any other way because what’s made us over the years the team we are."

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