Steve Hansen has opened up about the rivalry between the All Blacks and the Wallabies, with the two sides preparing to meet in Tokyo this weekend.
Dating back to August 2015, the Wallbies have won just two of 11 Tests against the All Blacks, leading to some across the ditch to lose interest in rugby altogether. And with the Bledisloe Cup already locked away for another year, that interest appears to have dropped even lower.
However, ahead of this weekend's clash, All Blacks coach Hansen talked up the rivalry between the two sides.
"If you look through history, we've done a lot of things together," he said.
"There's a close bond with the Anzacs. That same closeness breeds a fierce competitive challenge, and I think they're the same.
"It becomes difficult if one side has more success than the other, but there's definitely a mark of respect from our guys.
"We love playing them, they love playing us. We love beating them and they love beating us."
The All Blacks will meet the Wallabies in Tokyo on Saturday evening NZT.
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