In New Zealand, there is still a slow acceptance of the idea that Steve Hansen, their former World Cup-winning coach, has agreed to help Australia in preparation for the upcoming World Cup. The All Blacks camp is even joking about it. When asked about the news, lock forward Scott Barrett dryly responded, “There must be something in it for him – or he lost a bet.” Ian Foster, the current All Black head coach, was also prepared for questions and responded with amusement. He mentioned that Hansen has agreed to give him three pages of notes about what’s going on with Australia and joked about bringing him in for a couple of days themselves.
Foster had known about Hansen’s plan weeks ago and although it surprised some senior players, the All Black management is relaxed about the situation. Foster emphasized that there are more important topics to discuss than Hansen having a social gathering with Eddie Jones, and that the trust between Hansen and the All Blacks is still intact.
Foster’s main focus is on maintaining the team’s momentum against South Africa before heading to France for the World Cup. The game against the Springboks is expected to be intense, and Foster has named a strong-looking side for the match. He believes that it’s too late to hold anything back and that the team needs to go into the game at full throttle.
There is also awareness of the high-tackle issue that has affected other teams, such as England losing Owen Farrell and Billy Vunipola. Foster acknowledged the importance of discipline and technique in minimizing the risk of high tackles.
Overall, New Zealand seems well-prepared for the World Cup, although a heavy defeat and injuries could change the situation. For now, the team is enjoying their time in London and feeling positive about their preparations.
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