Bledisloe Cup: Australia v New Zealand
Hansen laughs off McKenzie mind games
August 15, 2013
The Brumbies' Matt Toomua passes the ball against the British & Irish Lions, Brumbies v British & Irish Lions, Lions Tour, Canberra Stadium, June 18, 2013.
All Blacks mentor Steve Hansen is expecting Ewen McKenzie to hand Matt Toomua a Test debut © Getty Images
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New Zealand All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has welcomed Wallabies counterpart Ewen McKenzie to Test rugby with mind games designed to pop a balloon of Australian expectancy.

Hansen laughed off McKenzie's decision to hold back naming his team for The Rugby Championship-opening Bledisloe Cup Test at ANZ Stadium in Sydney on Saturday, saying "it doesn't bother me a hoot".

He then revealed that his spies had whispered the team anyway, anticipating that two Brumbies backs - fly-half Matt Toomua and outside-centre Tevita Kuridrani - will each make their Test debut. Hansen believes Toomua, 23, and Kuridrani, 22, may play either side of inside-centre Christian Lealiifano to operate a Brumbies-style rush defence to put pressure on the All Blacks' backs.

McKenzie's strategy to give nothing away on his starting XV until late on Thursday was the action of a man under pressure after riding a wave of positive publicity since replacing Robbie Deans, Hansen said.

"Australia hasn't had a great run against us for a wee while now," Hansen said. "That's all been attributed to Robbie Deans, which I think is a wee bit unfair. Everyone seems to think that Ewen's going to make the difference so there's got to be pressure on him. What happens if it doesn't work?"

Follow live text commentary of the Bledisloe Cup Test between Australia and New Zealand on Saturday, August 17, from 730pm (AEST), 930pm (NZT), 930am (GMT)

And Quade Cooper, overlooked by Deans over the past 12 months, provided a headache for his former Queensland Reds coach McKenzie, Hansen said, believing the Wallabies chief has shied from the "risk" of selecting the Queensland Reds five-eighth as kick-off has neared.

"Is he feeling a bit mentally challenged because he doesn't know which five-eighth he wants to play," Hansen said. "I'd imagine when Robbie Deans wasn't picking Quade Cooper, McKenzie was probably saying 'I'll pick you Quade, I'll pick you'. Our information is telling us that he's going to pick the other bloke [Matt Toomua]. It doesn't bother me a hoot who they play."

© AAP

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