In a packed press conference at the Swansea Rugby Club today, Hansen also felt moved to reassure an anxious public back home. Near the end of a 15-minute inquisition on a variety of topics which included, from him, an unprompted mention of the Rainbow Warrior, Hansen effectively said - don't worry, everything is going to plan.
"I can understand why there's a bit of concern at home - it's because they're at home and not here," Hansen said. "They don't know everything that we've been doing and they'll be a little bit apprehensive about a few things I guess because they don't have any control over it.
"When you don't have control over something your tendency as a human being is to worry."
He added: "We know what's on the line, as everyone else does ... without being disrespectful to the pool rounds, it's not the same edge [as a knockout match]. It's not the same edge when you play Namibia because you know you're going to win the game."
There was a discussion about French rugby and the relationship between the nation and New Zealand. It is one which has seen many ups and downs on and off the pitch (all of which have been extensively covered already), but also including the fatal bombing of Greenpeace ship the Rainbow Warrior in Auckland in 1985 by two French agents.
"When we think of it we don't limit it to the Rugby World Cup," Hansen said. "There's been a great relationship between the two countries for a long, long time. Apart from the Rainbow Warrior, we've probably been on the same page for most of the time. From a rugby point of view we've got similar athletes ... their game is built around flair in the backs and real physicality up front."
It is here that perhaps Hansen made his only dig at France, when he referred to their traditional flair being played and coached out of them by their domestic competition and a succession of coaches who have put more store on defence than attack.
"I'm not sure it's the same flair they've got now. The Top 14 has become quite a dour competition ... I know they're trying to recapture that flair - it's there, you can see it - and when they let it loose it's definitely there. We'll be expecting them to play with flair and physicality."
Asked which current player had the most flair and Hansen replied: "Your inside centre [Wesley Fofana] ... you wouldn't want to give him too much room or he'll skin you as quick as look at you."
Asked why they no longer had as much flair as the France of old, Hansen replied: "I'm not sure, you'll have to ask their coaches. Usually their coach has something to do with it."
It's over to Saint Andre, rumoured to have been increasingly hands-off in terms of coaching recently, to reply on Sunday.
France:Scott Spedding, Noa Nakaitaci, Alexandre Dumoulin, Wesley Fofana, Brice Dulin, Frederic Michalak, Morgan Parra, Louis Picamoles, Bernard Le Roux, Thierry Dusautoir, Yoann Maestri, Pascal Pape, Rabah Slimani, Guilhem Guirado, Eddy Ben Arous. Reserves: Dimitri Szarzewski, Vincent Debaty, Nicolas Mas, Damien Chouly, Yannick Nyanga, Rory Kockott, Remi Tales, Mathieu Bastareaud.
- By Patrick McKendry in Swansea
