Steve Hansen draws comparisons between this year and 2014 as critics again doubt an aging All Blacks' ability to defend it's World Cup title
Hansen says the team had an identical record four years ago before going on to win back-to-back Rugby World Cups the following year.
The players would be driven to be better next year after what Hansen described as a "good" year.
“We’ve had some good results, we’ve had some very, very tight games where we’ve had to come back and win from behind and we’ve lost a couple,” he told media in Rome.
“In those tight games and the ones we’ve lost, there’s been plenty of gifts for us to learn.”
With critics doubting whether Hansen can lead a team with some aging stars to a three-peat next year after losses to Ireland and the Springboks this season, the All Blacks coach raised the team’s record in 2014.
That season, the All Blacks had 11 wins from 13 Tests, with a draw against the Wallabies and a loss to the Springboks in South Africa the only blips.
Assuming they beat the Italians in the season-ending Test this weekend the team's record will also be 11 wins from 13 matches.
“We’ll end up with a winning percentage I think which will be exactly the same as that of 2014,” he said.
“Guys will be driven to be better next year and that’s exactly what we want.”
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