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'Cancel his citizenship': New Zealand's PM weighs in on Steve Hansen
From the All Blacks to the prime minister, New Zealanders have been shocked by Rugby World Cup-winning coach Sir Steve Hansen’s defection to help the Wallabies.
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However, Hansen has downplayed his role against the Kiwis’ arch-rivals, saying he’s just helping out his mate Eddie Jones and will be gone by the end of the week.
All Black Dane Coles spoke for a nation when he was informed of Hansen’s short-term role with the Wallabies.
“Shag what are you up to?,” the surprised hooker said, referring to Hansen’s nickname, when he was told of the defection.
“It hurts a little bit, to be fair. I’m actually gob-smacked … he’s a bit of an icon in the All Blacks setup.
“I’m actually a bit speechless. A bit disappointing but we can’t do much about that.”
Coles was the starting hooker for the All Blacks in the 2015 World Cup under Hansen, a tournament in which they beat Australia in the final for their third, and most-recent, title.
The shockwave of Hansen’s move was clearly resonating back in Wellington, where Prime Minister Chris Hipkins was similarly aghast.
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Asked by AAP what Hansen’s punishment should be, Hipkins exclaimed, “We should cancel his citizenship”, before laughing and quickly adding, “That’s a joke just to be very clear”.
Hansen jumped on the phone to Kiwi radio station Newstalk ZB to set the record straight.
“I’d just like to put everybody’s mind at rest that I haven’t joined the Wallabies for the Rugby World Cup,” he said.
“I’m here for about three or four days at the request of Eddie, a good mate of mine, just to give him some feedback on what he’s doing.
“Rugby is bigger than all of us, so (I’m) happy to do that.”
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Hansen said he was not being paid for his appearance in Paris this week as the Wallabies prepare for their final World Cup tune-up against France this weekend.
Australia are yet to win a match under Jones in his second term as coach, but Hansen said he liked what he had seen in his short time around the Wallabies camp.
“Australia are looking good actually,” he said.
“They’re just a young side that are coming together and they’ve got a coach that wants them to work hard and be better. I think they’re buying into that.”
France and Ireland are the favourites to win the tournament but Hansen raised doubts over both frontrunners.
He queried Ireland’s ability to run deep given they have never been past the quarter-finals of a World Cup, and said France would find it hard to replace freshly injured five-eighth Romain Ntamack.
The 64-year-old saved his most effusive praise for the All Blacks, who face South Africa this weekend off the back of an unbeaten 2023.
“They’re going great. They’re exactly where they want to be,” Hansen said.
“They know how they want to play (and) they’re confident in each other.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Worst article I've read in a while. Trying to disguise a backhand slap as a compliment. The whole article is a bit weird and negative. I think South African men are emotional in general… think Clad le Clos’s father 2012 London Olympics.
2 Go to commentsIreland are going to win the world cup.
9 Go to commentsIt was the strangest result ever. Etzebeth should've been yellow card for his cynical retiring move and a penalty try. Birth second half tries by the Allblacks were fantastic and the TMO operating outside the law to rule out the first try was egregious. Yes, the boks got the win but it was through some bizarre officiating that allowed them to sneak home against 14 men that dominated them. The quieter Bok supporters know and acknowledge the Allblacks were the better and dominant side. Justifying the win because they beat a pre world cup Allblacks selection is silly.
204 Go to commentsA very English thing to do hey Courtney, blerrie kant
4 Go to commentsIt sounds like Andrew is trying to convince himself or has just lost all perspective. The team did look jaded for the last couple of games of the six nations but a few things were wrong there. Italy tackled their hearts out and made Ireland work hard for every try. Outsmarted by Scotland? Huh? Ireland got held up over the line about 4 times. Scotland did nothing on attack the whole game other than one breakaway near the end. A recharge and reset is needed which they hopefully will have had before the SA your.
9 Go to commentsIncluding SA and Argie teams was great for the quality of rugby, but middle of the night games and player travel/ jet lag make that unworkable. I think that SA in Europe and Argie building an American league with USA, Canada etc would be better long term. If Oz can't sustain Rebels then next cab off the rank should be a Japanese team. Keep regional comps to time zones, both club and test rugby. Then existing test windows for test tours plus RWC.
6 Go to commentsMisogynists have feelings too!
2 Go to commentsCrowd sizes of the URC v the Premiership must be a big factor.
1 Go to commentsWell you’ve made a proper tit of yourself, haven’t you! 😂
173 Go to commentsBen it's beyond their comprehension-
204 Go to commentsThanks Sam. Interesting read. Harder or easier for Parling to come into a completely new setup where performance was abysmal last time out? I’d suggest easier to be better but, as you suggest, will be a lot to do with how much latitude he’s granted. Hopefully all he needs. With hybrids like Holloway, Hannigan, Swinton and Leota as options at 6 we have the basics for a strong lineout. BPA returning means we have good options at 2 also with Faessler, Porecki and Uelese, although Jordan is a scrumming beast rather than a dart thrower. I’m typically a pessimist or realist but that’s never applied to the Wallabies
1 Go to commentsMad how this somehow contained absolutely zero information.
4 Go to commentsI’m looking forward to attending the Twickenham match, I don’t think it will have a bearing on the outcome of the grand prize itself but it will tell us more about each teams’ preparation and game plan. It’s hard to look past one of the big four (I’m including Canada) lifting the trophy in 2025 but sport is a curious thing, there will still be twists and turns in road ahead.
2 Go to commentsThe better side seems to be the losing side a lot these days. As far as narrative goes. Must be the big emergent culture of “participation awards” that have emerged in nanny states. ”It looked like New Zealand would take the game from there but lapses in execution let South Africa get back into the game. New Zealand’s goal kickers left five points out there, including a very make-able penalty on the stroke of half”. Sounds like a chronic problem… I wonder how the better team has lapses in concentration and execution? Or are those not important factors in the grand scheme of total performances? In 2023, the ABs at least didn’t give up a lead to lose. They just couldn’t execute to get the points and take the lead. This Baby AB result points to a choke - letting the game slip through your fingers. In the words of the great Ricky Bobby’s dad - “If you’re not 1st you’re last!” Loosely translated - if you didn’t win, you’re a loser.
10 Go to commentsWith Stuart Lancaster at the helm, Racing 92 looks more and more a mercenaries club like Toulon some years ago and they are not even performing despite all the money on offer.
4 Go to commentsCouple of things BS missed: wind was behind the Baby Blacks in the first half. Baby Boks got points from a scrum penalty in the final quarter against this ‘dominant pack’, and left three points on the park after a missed penalty.
10 Go to commentsSensible thoughts on this, Brett. Also worth considering we’ve sold 60k tickets for a game between the Rebels and the Lions next year. Got to be roughly $10m in ticket and game day revenue there.
6 Go to commentsUnsuccessful bitter ex Ulster player taking a pop shot at a side that isn't including his consistently poor mates up north
9 Go to commentsHis decision to play in France isn’t a petulant decision as this article suggests. I reckon that France is the perfect place to demonstrate that he can mix it in those battles Rassie references. It’s a good decision to try get into the squad. My personal opinion is that he wins more battles than he loses. I don’t have Rassie’s stats machine behind me, but Daymian’s is so strong moving through traffic and in the rip.
4 Go to commentsWow! Argie forward dominance is something I have not read in years….
1 Go to comments