Hansen means business
If New Zealand Rugby had more support from central government, we might not have heard from Lima Sopoaga this week.
Sopoaga played to his new audience in England this week, where he has joined Premiership club Wasps, in suggesting the All Blacks’ jersey was losing its lustre. Rugby was a business and, as much as NZR tries to tug at a player’s heartstrings, money talks in the end, he said.
It might not have been the first five-eighth’s intention but, in making his statement to the eager English press, Sopoaga merely reinforced the point All Blacks coach Steve Hansen sought to make after last month’s Bledisloe Cup test at Eden Park.
Hansen suggested the government might effectively become a paid up supporter of NZR, making it easier to keep players such as Sopoaga in the country.
Asked for his two bob’s worth on Sopoaga during his preSpringboks test press conference yesterday, Hansen gave it again.
‘‘This is my opinion, and people can pooh-pooh if they like, but I believe the All Blacks, over many years, have been a great brand for New Zealand,’’ Hansen said.
‘‘You can go anywhere in the world and people may not know New Zealand, but they’ve heard of the All Blacks, and I think it’s an opportunity to take New Zealand to the rest of the world by using that brand, be it in tourism or be it in whatever we want. Business?
‘‘That’s why I mentioned they should be one of our sponsors and, look, if the money goes to grassroots and developing women’s rugby and developing young players to come through Steve Hansen and become All Blacks, then maybe some of the money we get from adidas and AIG and our other sponsors can be used to keep players here.’’
Hansen’s original comments drew derision from various quarters. The idea of already well-paid players being given additional funding via the taxpayer seemed a bit insulting to those who can only dream of the comparative riches enjoyed by All Blacks.
Sopoaga is said to be commanding a seven-figure salary in England. That’s not bad money for a bloke who would probably have been fourth in line for the All Blacks’ No 10 jumper, and Hansen doesn’t begrudge him taking it.
‘‘We’ll always understand that people are going to go overseas, particularly some of the Pasifika boys who are supporting more than themselves. Do we like it? No, I don’t like it when we lose guys who could be of real benefit to the team,’’ said Hansen. Sonny Bill Williams was just ‘‘too valuable’’ to be risked this week.
The second five-eighth hasn’t played since injuring a shoulder in New Zealand’s win over France on June 23, but was named on the bench to meet South Africa in Wellington tomorrow. The 33-year-old missed training on Tuesday and wasn’t in quite the right shape to face the Springboks.
‘‘He’s had tonsilitis all week and it was [a question of] whether we chuck him out in the reserve bench and flatten him, if he has to come on and play 80 minutes, or take the risk that he only has to play 20,’’ All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said.
‘‘In the end, he’s too valuable to do that to, and we’ve got a good replacement in Jack, so it was a no-brainer.’’
Jack Goodhue assumes Williams’ spot on the bench, leaving Anton Lienert-Brown to play centre and partner Ryan Crotty in midfield.
‘‘My job is to make this team as strong as possible, so I’m going to try and talk them out of it if I can. But, if they go, they go with our blessing.’’
The bottom line for Hansen, was that every year NZR spends more than it earns and eventually that will bite. Some additional assistance, particularly for the amateur and community game would help, but NZR is also doing its own bit to keep the Sopoagas of the world at home.
‘‘We’ve got to try and prolong their careers so maybe they don’t go overseas to get that big lump of of money. Maybe they could play another four or five years here and get the same money,’’ Hansen said.