What Steve Hansen thinks the All Blacks' latest performance means - New Zealand v Ireland

The Nations Championship is off and running, and even if the final round did not hit the heights of earlier weeks, there is still plenty to unpack. David Pembroke, Steve Hansen and Ewen McKenzie break down the All Blacks’ convincing win over Ireland, why New Zealand now look clear, connected and tactically refreshed, and whether Ireland are starting to slide after failing to truly replace Johnny Sexton. The conversation then turns to the upcoming South Africa tour, how Dave Rennie will manage a huge squad on the road, the importance of culture and connection in a long touring environment, Gilbert Enoka’s role as the glue inside the All Blacks, and Japan’s spirited performance against France in front of a packed Tokyo crowd.

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In this episode:
00:00 🏆 Final round wrap and why the Nations Championship has been such a strong start
02:00 ⚫ All Blacks beat Ireland and look clear, connected and dangerous again
04:00 🌟 Tuipulotu, New Zealand’s attack and the value of straightening lines
07:00 ☘️ Has Ireland gone over the top of the mountain?
10:00 🧠 Why the All Blacks’ triple-threat game is changing the tactical picture
13:00 ✈️ Greatest Rivalry tour preview and how the All Blacks will prepare
16:00 🚌 Big squad management, two buses and avoiding an A/B split on tour
22:00 📘 Gilbert Enoka’s role as the glue inside the All Blacks environment
25:00 🇯🇵 Japan’s growth, France in Tokyo and the next step under Eddie Jones

Call to action:
📌 Are the All Blacks now the team to beat again — and has Ireland lost a step?

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