All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen has insisted that a horse he part-owns running in a 7.4m race will not divert him away from his side Rugby World Cup quarter-final contrary to Ireland.
Nature Strip will operate on Saturday in Australia’s most rewarding horse race , The Everest, only a five hours at Japan.
Hansen is trying to guide the All Blacks to a second under his direction, and a third consecutive World Cup triumph.
Asked by a reporter which of the’horses’ that he had been more nervous about, Hansen said:”I do not know if the boys are quite that keen about being called horses but clearly it is a highlight to have a horse in a race like The Everest.
“There is not a lot I could do. I can not ride him, I can’t carry him, I can not train him. It’s only a thing of sit back and enjoy that for what it really is.
“However, you can have an impact throughout the week for this particular team and we have attempted to do this and we’ve attempted to make an environment in which we could access to Saturday, excited, full of energy and ready to rumble.
“So, which is the most significant? Well obviously the one which you can have the maximum control in.”
On Thursday Hansen appointed his team to face Ireland, with Anton Lienert-Brown selected at centre ahead of Sonny Billy Williams and Ryan Crotty and Jack Goodhue.
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