All Blacks flanker Sam Cane has given his honest input into how his coach is approaching this weekend's game against Wales and perceived rival Warren Gatland, saying Steve Hansen's competitiveness is the same as it always is.
Cane was drawn into the Hansen-Gatland maelstrom in this morning's press conference when he was asked if his coach seemed more motivated than usual to prevail this weekend.
"Steven's one of the most competitive people I've ever come up against," Cane said.
"I haven't got any inkling or insight from him that he's treating it different to any normal Test."
It comes after both coaches refused to acknowledged there was any ill-feeling between them, with Gatland saying overnight he has no issues with the team despite his allegations of knowing "explosive" details about the All Blacks' camp.
"I have heard of some things about the All Blacks that could be quite explosive if they were made public, and if it does get dirty then I will raise a couple of those things. At the moment I'm just keeping my counsel," Gatland wrote in his book, 'In the Line of Fire: The Inside Story from the Lions Head Coach'.
The All Blacks coach wasn't in the mood to talk about Welsh coach.
But Gatland had nothing but praise for his fellow Kiwi coach today.
"People try to make a lot of stuff about myself and Steve, but from my point of view there are no issues between us," Gatland said.
"I have a huge amount of respect for what he has achieved in the game, and the success he has had as an All Black coach. He has been absolutely outstanding.
"I look forward to catching up with him on Saturday, having a beer after the game. In recent years, on a couple of occasions, we have gone out as two management groups for meals during the week. We all understand the pressures we are under, but they are not as a result of our relationship."
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