Steve Hansen on why the All Blacks are starting to fire up!

The All Blacks are starting to look dangerous again. In Part 2, David Pembroke, Ewen McKenzie and Steve Hansen break down New Zealand’s nine-try performance against Italy and what already looks different under Dave Rennie: more clarity, more energy, more counterattack and more confidence across the park. They talk through the impact of coaching alignment, Roigard’s tempo, De Groot’s resurgence, Will Jordan’s remarkable strike rate, and why Jordie Barrett at 12 is such a crucial piece in the backline. The discussion then shifts to Japan’s loss to Ireland in Newcastle, where the panel argues the bigger issue was not just the result but the decision to move Japan’s home game away from Tokyo, denying the Brave Blossoms a true home advantage and the competition a chance to grow the game properly in Japan.

You can listen to or watch the FULL EPISODE here: open.spotify.com/show/2CsMO8YIDbnY2zDM1BPWE9

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In this episode:
00:00 ⚫ The All Blacks start moving through the gears against Italy
02:00 ⚡ Dave Rennie’s New Zealand has energy, clarity and real intent
04:00 💪 De Groot, the front row and why the old guard are responding
06:00 🧠 Coaching alignment and the “nice energy” around the All Blacks
08:00 🚀 Roigard, tempo and the return of true New Zealand counterattack
10:00 🪽 Will Jordan’s record run and why great support players always find tries
12:00 🎯 Jordie Barrett at 12 and why multi-skilled midfielders change everything
20:00 🤝 Conrad Smith’s new high-performance role in New Zealand rugby
21:00 🇯🇵 Japan deserved their home game in Tokyo, not Newcastle
27:00 ☘️ Ireland get the job done, but Japan show again they are a real threat

Call to action:
📌 Are the All Blacks really back — and should Japan have been forced to play Ireland in Newcastle?

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