‘Cancel his citizenship’: New Zealand PM’s joke as Hansen news prompts shock

Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan has urged New Zealanders to calm down after the news former All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has joined the Wallabies camp was greeted with disbelief.

Hansen promised New Zealanders he wasn’t sharing inside information about the All Blacks with the Wallabies’ inner sanctum weeks out from the start of the World Cup.

News that Hansen had joined Eddie Jones’ Wallabies camp before their warm-up match against France, which was first revealed by this masthead, was such a talking point in New Zealand on Tuesday that Prime Minister Chris Hipkins was quizzed by reporters about the alliance.

News Hansen would be helping out the Wallabies in an unpaid role dominated talkback radio and headlines across the country.

“We should cancel his citizenship,” Hipkins said, before adding, “That’s a joke, just to be very clear”.

Hansen, who helped the All Blacks beat the Wallabies in the 2015 World Cup final, is not being paid for his time in France but is running a close eye over Australia’s squad before Sunday’s warm-up match against the World Cup hosts.

Former All Blacks coach Steve Hansen. Credit: PA

The 64-year-old informed All Blacks coach Ian Foster he would be advising Australia and received his close friend’s blessing to do so.

However, that news did not get back to All Blacks players, who are preparing for a warm-up match against South Africa in London on Friday.

The reaction of All Blacks hooker Dane Coles to the Hansen news went viral on Tuesday.

“What? Actually? In [a] camp kind of set-up?” Coles said. “Shag [Hansen’s nickname], what are you up to?

“That hurts a little bit to be fair. I’m actually gobsmacked. I know he’s quite tight with Eddie. I know they’re good mates ... but he’s a bit of an icon in the All Blacks set-up. I’m a bit speechless. A bit disappointing, but we can’t do much about that.

“Hopefully, he doesn’t tell Eddie what our secrets are. I think he’ll be respectful.”

McLennan, who has known for some time about Jones’ plan to invite Hansen into the Wallabies’ inner sanctum, threw a subtle barb towards New Zealand.

“Two of the best coaches in the world see the potential of the Wallabies,” McLennan told this masthead. “Half of New Zealand already live in Australia, so Steve would be welcome here.

Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan, Eddie Jones and former Rugby Australia chief executive Andy Marinos.Credit: Getty

“They had no issues when Robbie Deans, Dave Rennie, Rob Penney, Warren Gatland and others got exported overseas. I’m gobsmacked they don’t see any difference.”

Hansen was quick to hose down suggestions that his input would have a major impact on the performance of the Wallabies, who have lost all four games under Jones this year.

“We won’t be giving them any trade secrets, but we will be giving them some feedback on what we’re seeing,” Hansen told Kiwi radio host Martin Devlin.

“Obviously Fozzie [All Blacks coach Ian Foster] didn’t tell them [All Blacks players] I was coming here because I have spoken to Foz about it. They were fully informed on what was going on.

“I know Eddie very well, and we talk often. He said, ‘can you spend some time with us’. I said ‘yep, no problem’.

“He is a man who brings a lot of people into his environment.

“Anybody who knows me knows I won’t be giving away any secrets about the All Blacks. You don’t spend 20 years of your life working with a team to give it all away.”

Australia’s first match of the World Cup is against Georgia on September 9. The Wallabies also have Fiji, Wales and Georgia in their pool. Provided they do not get bundled out in the group stages, Australia is likely to play either Argentina or England in a quarter-final.

The Wallabies cannot play New Zealand until at least a semi-final.

Watch all the action from Rugby World Cup 2023 on the Home of Rugby, Stan Sport. Every match ad-free, live and on demand in 4K UHD from September 9.

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