Rugby World Cup 2019: Steve Hansen credits All Blacks' championship-winning pedigree against Ireland

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen claims New Zealand's championship pedigree was vital in his team's 46-14 thrashing of Ireland in their Rugby World Cup quarter-final. 

Lots was made of how Ireland had beaten the All Blacks in two of their last three outings, including a 16-9 win in Dublin last year. 

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But Ireland looked nothing like the side that toppled the All Blacks last year, as New Zealand ran in seven tries to two to secure a semi-finals place against England. 

Hansen gambled on youth for the quarter-final, with Sevu Reece, Jack Goodhue, George Bridge and Richie Mo'unga all playing less than 15 tests each. 

But that doesn't bother Hansen, as all four players have a winning pedigree with the Crusaders.

Ireland have never made it past the quarter-finals of a World Cup, which proved significant in Hansen's eyes.

"Experience is a funny thing, isn't it?" he mused. "What is it that you've experienced - that's the key.

"Our young guys, a lot of them have been involved in championship-winning teams in Super Rugby, in big moments, and that's why you can select them with confidence. 

"And they've played well in test matches that we've selected them in.

"It was interesting, everyone was talking about how many [experienced players] Ireland had. Half of our 23 had played in a knockout tournament and won it, and that was the difference wasn't it?

"I'm not being disrespectful here in saying this, but Ireland's experience was not to win and we had 11 guys that actually had experience of winning.

"That's why you've got to be careful when you start talking about experience, because sometimes, just because you've played for a long time, you might have learned a lot of things that you don't want to learn or you may have learned nothing along the way.

"I was a bit like that when I played - I didn't learn much."

Hansen was quick to quash claims that the team now has the monkey off their back after beating Ireland. 

"I don't know if you can call it a monkey, but we got reminded and reminded and reminded that we've lost to Ireland.

"All Blacks don't need to be reminded they've lost two games of 32 - they know that. We remember our losses way more than we remember the wins. 

"It's banked, but it's not something you go and talk about. Just everyone knows it.

"The circumstances have ended up that we played a team we respect a lot tonight. They are a hard team to play against and we had to spend a lot of time getting ourselves right, because we knew that if we didn't, we would go home".

Even though several All Blacks players were playing in their first World Cup, Hansen also heaped praise on captain Kerian Read, saying the No.8 performed admirably. 

"The next thing I'd like to acknowledge publicly is the big fella alongside me here. He's come back from a back injury and copped a lot of flak from people about his form, but as that injury's got better, so has his play.

"It's not just that, he's led the team really well and I think he's even gone to a higher level at the World Cup.

"Our attack has gone to a new level and [Ian Foster's] coaching is the best I've seen. Scott McLeod is doing a fantastic job with the defence and my old mate 'Crono' [Mike Cron] is certainly doing a great job with the forwards. 

"We wouldn't have a team without these four people so I'd like to thank them."

Join us at 8:15pm Sunday for live updates of the Wales v France Rugby World Cup quarter-final.

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