South Africa (SA), coached by Rassie Erasmus, lost 24–17 at Eden Park in the first Test of the series, but responded with a dominant 43–10 win in Wellington seven days later. The Wellington match was widely regarded as a turning point as SA went on to defend the Rugby Championship title plus complete an unbeaten November tour in the northern hemisphere.

Hansen told the DSPN podcast that focus should fall on All Blacks performance rather than Springbok dominance. “Something different” was visible in the All Blacks, Hansen said, adding that the display suggested limited clarity on how to play despite significant talent in the squad.

The defeat was later linked to New Zealand Rugby’s decision to part ways with head coach Scott Robertson, coming after another Rugby Championship loss to Argentina, plus a November tour featuring unconvincing wins over Ireland plus Scotland, a defeat to England, plus a hard-fought victory over Wales.

Despite sharp criticism of the Wellington performance, Hansen warned against overreacting to scorelines, pointing to a heavy SA loss in 2017 followed by a successful rebuild that culminated in World Cup victory in 2019. Hansen said unusual circumstances can shape margins, with Wellington described as an example of a poor final 30 to 40 minutes rather than a permanent gap between the teams.

Hansen still credited SA as the current standard-setter, describing the Springboks as the world’s leading team. Hansen said the challenge for New Zealand is responding with stronger preparation plus a refreshed approach under a new coaching structure.

A tour to SA was described by Hansen as a major test in rugby’s most storied rivalry, with confidence that defeat is always possible for any top side. Hansen said the decisive factor remains preparation quality plus avoiding complacency.

–SABC/ChannelAfrica–