Tokyo (AFP)

The failed All Blacks World Cup brought to light the missed bets by coach Steve Hansen, who will leave his post at the end of the competition. Will the Federation rely on continuity or, in the face of failure, will it dare to break up?

The match for third place, against Wales next Friday in Tokyo, will allow the New Zealanders to leave on a slightly less bitter note the competition, in which they knew Saturday against England in half -finals (19-7), their first defeat since 2007.

But he will not change the face, marked the seal of failure, since they were aiming for a third consecutive title.

Before saying goodbye to Hansen, who has been in post since World Cup 2011 (he was previously deputy), has a staggering record of 86% victories, marked by the global title of 2015 but slightly tarnished by the failure of 2019.

Some of his choices have been questioned, even though he had on hand material of less quality than four years ago, after the departure of the monuments Dan Carter (112 selections), Richie McCaw (148 sel.), Conrad Smith (94 sel.) And Ma'a Nonu (103 sel.).

A more experienced rear line would probably not be stubborn, like Saturday, raise all the hair in the hand of his own camp to impaled on the barbed wire erected by the English and give them balloons.

Still in the middle, the staff chose veteran Sonny Bill Williams (34) rather than the explosive Ngani Laumape (26), who stayed at the dock like experienced right-hander Owen Franks (31). He even made "SBW", who appeared to be making his age Saturday, his replacement behind, leaving Ryan Crotty in the stands.

- Smith, Ioane and Crotty in stands -

Rear-winger Ben Smith, the 2015 title scorer, and winger Rieko Ioane, a sensation from the past two years, have suffered the same fate as Crotty, with Hansen preferring wingers Sevu Reece and George Bridge, launched in the great international swim less than a year ago.

Beauden Barrett, who has flared at the opening in recent seasons, has been repositioned this summer in the back, post where he had started eight times before Saturday.

The goal was, just minutes from the World Cup, to make room for the opening to Richie Mo'unga, top scorer but who only honored his ninth tenure with the N.10 in the back, face in the XV of the Rose. His lack of experience has been seen.

Hansen also maintained his confidence in Captain Kieran Read's N.8 position, while many voices in New Zealand pleaded for him to swap his position with the more explosive third-line open-end Ardie Savea. Read, too, suffered in the face of the Rose.

- Foster or Robertson? -

In third row still, his bet to start on Saturday, for the first time internationally, the third row Scott Barrett was largely lost: the youngest brother did not weigh in touch and deprived the All Blacks of a best "scraper" in the groupings. Where the English have reigned supreme.

Hansen, who had replaced Barrett by Cane from half-time, admitted: "If we could go back, we would probably do it differently."

"You always find reasons for defeat, and maybe hidden things have come to light" Saturday, he added Sunday.

His failure is also that of the staff in place, and could push the federation to reconsider its first option of succession, according to the New Zealand press, that of making the current assistant in charge of the rear, Ian Foster, the future boss.

The other big favorite is Scott Robertson, former All Blacks third-seeded player this summer to win the Super Rugby for the third time in a row with the Crusaders.

© 2019 AFP