All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has moved to provoke England counterpart Eddie Jones, suggesting that the world number two side are avoiding his side.
Speaking before his side's match against the Barbarians on Sunday, Hansen fired a barb at England when asked if he'd prefer to be playing a Test instead of a friendly match with the Baabaas.
"England didn't want to play us at that point, and then they decided they wanted to - it's too late," Hansen said.
The All Blacks coach then spoke about keeping the Barbarians clash, instead of a more lucrative contest against Jones' England.
"We didn't decide to stick with it, we'd already signed a contract."
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