Former All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has explained why he decided to join the Wallabies camp in the build-up to next month’s World Cup in France.
Hansen agreed to give Eddie Jones a helping hand as an unpaid adviser as the Wallabies prepare to face World Cup hosts France in a warm-up in Paris on Sunday.
The decision left All Blacks veteran Dane Coles “gobsmacked” when the hooker heard that his former World Cup-winning coach had defected to Australia. Prime Minister Chris Hipkins joked to reporters that New Zealand should “cancel his citizenship” when asked about Hansen on Monday.
WATCH: All Blacks stunned by Hansen defection
In an interview with the Mike Hosking Breakfast on Newstalk ZB, Hansen explained that he would not be giving away any inside secrets during his time with the All Blacks.
“I’m only here for about three or four days at the request of Eddie [Jones], a good mate of mine. And just to give him some feedback on what he’s doing as opposed to anything else. Rugby is bigger than all of us. So happy to do that,” Hansen said.
“The thing is if you’re working for someone you’re getting paid. So, I’m not working for anyone. I’m just here as a friend.
“I’ve only been here less than 24 hours…personally, I don’t think they’ve got a problem,” Hansen told Mike Hosking about the Wallabies. “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 and I think they’re buying into that.
“They’re rebuilding themselves trying to re-establish themselves. Eddie seems pretty hell-bent on having his own Australian style. And they’re learning that. He’s picked a young team. He’s left a lot of the senior players out. As a result, they’re young as far as test experience goes and you see that when they play the All Blacks.”
Photo: CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP