Steve Hansen hails England for rugby World Cup
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen is impressed by the way his side, which was unbeaten this year, was controlled in a game that rewrote records
New Zealand coach Steve Hansen believes England, as well as his own reigning champions, could win the 2015 World Cup after seeing Stuart Lancaster's men inflict a record-breaking 38-21 defeat on the All Blacks.
Three tries in eight second-half minutes from backs Brad Barritt, Chris Ashton and Manu Tuilagi at Twickenham saw England, who had been 15-0 up only for New Zealand to close to 15-14, pull away to their biggest winning margin over the All Blacks, surpassing a 13-0 triumph in 1936.
England's victory, which ended New Zealand's 20-match unbeaten run, was all the more remarkable as it came after defeats in the previous two weeks by Australia (20-14) and South Africa (16-15).
"There were two teams capable of winning the World Cup out there," Hansen said after New Zealand's first loss to England since 2003. "No excuses, we got beaten by the better side. This is a good England side.
"They thoroughly deserved their victory and should be proud of what they have achieved with magnificent football. They took the game to us from the get-go, full credit to them."
England were 15-0 up early in the second half following four penalties and a drop-goal by fly-half Owen Farrell. But New Zealand then closed to within a point thanks to two tries in three minutes from wing Julian Savea and No 8 Kieran Read.