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All Blacks boss Ian Foster has no issue with New Zealand coaching great Steve Hansen linking up with the Wallabies and doesn\u2019t believe he\u2019ll divulge any secrets to Eddie Jones.<\/p>\n
As revealed by this masthead, Hansen has joined Wallabies camp after an invitation from Jones ahead of Australia\u2019s World Cup warm-up match against France on Sunday (Monday 1:45am AEST).<\/p>\n
Hansen and Jones have pointed out that it is only a one-week role but the sight of the 2015 World Cup winner in an Australian setup is something few could have imagined.<\/p>\n
All Blacks hooker Dane Coles said this week he was \u201cgobsmacked\u201d that Hansen would consider helping the Wallabies.<\/p>\n
Speaking ahead of New Zealand\u2019s Test against South Africa in London this week, Foster was quizzed about news of Hansen\u2019s role with Australia.<\/p>\n
\u201cOutstanding. He\u2019s agreed to give me three pages of notes about what\u2019s going on [with them],\u201d Foster joked.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve got no issues. He\u2019s good mates with Eddie \u2026 but there\u2019s no lack of trust. There\u2019s still a commitment to us and what we do.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
All Blacks coach Ian Foster speaks to the media. <\/span>Credit: <\/span>Getty<\/cite><\/p>\n Hansen is expected to be at Stade de France to watch Australia\u2019s upcoming clash with France and according to Foster might even come into the All Blacks camp once the tournament begins.<\/p>\n \u201cIn fact, we might bring him in for a couple of days,\u201d Foster said. \u201cI chuckle at the headlines. You guys must be pretty excited by it.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m happy to keep talking about it, by the way, but I really don\u2019t think there\u2019s much in it.\u201d<\/p>\n Although Hansen, who won 93 of 107 Tests while in charge of New Zealand from 2012 to 2019, isn\u2019t being paid this week by Rugby Australia, All Blacks second-rower Scott Barrett suggested there might be some kind of incentive.<\/p>\n Eddie Jones (left) and Steve Hansen (right) shake hands before the 2019 Rugby World Cup semi-final between England and New Zealand.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Getty<\/cite><\/p>\n \u201cThere must be something in it for him \u2026 or he lost a bet,\u201d Barrett told reporters.<\/p>\n Wallabies centre Lalakai Foketi, who is in line to play No.12 this week with Samu Kerevi nursing a hand injury, said Hansen was a welcome addition.<\/p>\n \u201cHe is a great friend of Eddie\u2019s and to see him in here and trying to help us \u2026 it\u2019s great,\u201d Foketi said. \u201c[I\u2019ve] Already seen him in the leaders\u2019 meetings with the boys, and I think just having his presence around here and especially at training, it lifts the boys. I\u2019m sure we\u2019re gonna take away a great deal of what he has to say and do it this week.\u201d<\/p>\n Jones has made it clear that Sunday\u2019s Test is a warm-up fixture and the only game that matters is the tournament opener against Georgia on September 9.<\/p>\n France has named a near full-strength side, while Australia will name their team on Friday.<\/p>\n With four losses from as many Tests this year, Wallabies players are desperate to build some confidence.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re slowly putting things in place at training and we want to see that on Sunday,\u201d Foketi said. \u201cWe want to showcase that and give our fans and supporters back home something to cheer about and a bit of hope leading into that World Cup. It\u2019s a big emphasis.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re not just here to try new things. We\u2019re going there to front up and to play Wallaby rugby.\u201d<\/p>\n Watch all the action from <\/b>Rugby World Cup 2023<\/b> on the Home of Rugby, <\/b>Stan Sport<\/b>. Every match ad-free, live and on demand in 4K UHD from September 9.<\/b><\/p>\n Sports news, results and expert commentary. <\/i><\/b>Sign up for our Sport newsletter<\/i><\/b>.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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