Wellington: Super Rugby is no gauge for form at test level and Australia will be competitive during the Bledisloe Cup series, according to All Blacks coach Steve Hansen.
Australian rugby has been plunged into morbid introspection after a series whitewash at home to England and after all five of the country’s Super Rugby teams lost their matches in the penultimate round of the competition last weekend.
Four of the Super sides were subjected to thrashings by rampaging New Zealand teams, who will take four out of five of the available play-off spots for the Australasian group in the southern hemisphere tournament. Only one Australian team will qualify for the playoffs and only by virtue of winning their national conference.
