All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has fired a shot at the Six Nations countries to abandon their self interest and try to work with World Rugby to get a global calendar.
Hansen, who is preparing his side for their Rugby World Cup semifinal against England on Saturday, added that a lack of regular play between northern and southern hemisphere nations had meant there was no traditional rivalry between the sides.
He explains: “I think South Africa will always be our biggest rival because of the history that comes with it.
“That’s the nature of the fact because we play each other so regularly.
TRUE RIVALRY: All Blacks and Boks. Picture: Kimimasa Mayama/AP.
“I think we have played England once in the last six years and it’s hard to build a rivalry when you don’t play each other.
“If we could get the Six Nations to come on board with a global season then we might able to do that.
“Once they do that, they’re starting to think about the game rather than themselves.”
FINE: Hansen says Kieran Read will be perfectly fine to play in Saturday's semifinal clash against England. Picture: Keisuke Koito/AP.
Meanwhile, captain Kieran Read skipped training on Tuesday due to a sore calf muscle, but Hansen says he is 100 percent certain he will be ready for the England tie.
Hansen says: “There is no issue. You didn’t see him train because he was in the gym on the bike. “He got a tight calf from the game the other day and we didn’t want to put him out on a wet track.”