Some “old-fashioned” stern words from head coach Steve Hansen inspired New Zealand to their huge71 – 9 victory over Namibiain the Rugby World Cup.
The All Blacks were being held at 10 – 9 after 30 minutes by the tournament’s lowest ranked team, before scoring 47 unanswered points after the break.
The crowning moment was when Brad Weber threw a behind-the-back pass for TJ Perenara to dot down in the corner.
“It was a special one, it even got me out of my seat, “said coach Hansen.
- Relive the action from New Zealand v Namibia
- Red cards will change rugby forever – Dawson
- World Cup permutations
Hooker Dane Coles, however, said Hansen had earlier been furious with his players at half-time – giving them one of the biggest dressing -downs he has ever experienced.
“It was one of the better ones I’ve heard. And rightly so, to be fair. We deserved it, “said Coles, rating it as a nine or 10 out of 10.
“It was good, a bit old-fashioned, you don’t really see that too much these days. But I think it was just what we needed to get things going.
“When that first word came out of his mouth I knew something was on.”
Hansen, though, described the half-time team talk a little differently.
“We just talked about making sure we got our heads in the right place and simplify the game a little bit, “he said.
Perenara, who is usually a scrum-half but was playing at fly-half outside Weber, said he thought his “feet were out” for the All Blacks’ 11 th and final try.
“I knew I had the ball down,” he said.
“Ten [Helarius Kisting] makes a good tackle on me and I tried to get my feet in the air but I thought he had kept me down. “
The 27 – year-old also said the pass from the “skilful” Weber was “pretty cool”.
“I was screaming that I would be on the left and he sort of shaped right and threw it behind his back,” he added.
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings