Auckland: Beers in the dressing rooms and well wishes from Steve Hansen. Is a thawing in trans-Tasman rugby relations under way?

The Wallabies spent 20 minutes chewing the fat with the All Blacks in the hosts’ sheds after the 36-0 loss at Eden Park on Saturday night.

The All Blacks pose with the spoils of victory following their 36-0 humiliation of the Wallabies. Credit:AAP

And their coach not only said he thought Australia were capable of winning the World Cup in Japan next month, he told the post-match television broadcast that if the All Blacks failed to hoist an unprecedented third consecutive Webb Ellis Cup he hoped Australia would.

“Whilst we have some fierce battles and so forth, we do enjoy them, they’re good men and they’re very similar to ourselves,” Hansen said. “So if we can’t win it we’d like them to.”