Hansen defends All Blacks’ hotel choice in Sydney as ‘spy-gate’ case opens

ALL BLACKS coach Steve Hansen has defended their decision to stay at the same Sydney hotel where they reported the discovery of a listening device in the team meeting room ahead of last year’s Test against Australia.

Hansen’s comments came as Adrian Gard, a security consultant used by the All Blacks, faced a court hearing in Sydney yesterday on a charge of public mischief involving the discovery of the device at the Intercontinental hotel at Double Bay last August.

Police have alleged Gard made a false claim by reporting the bug had been found.

Gard, who was arrested in February, pleaded not guilty to the charge in March.

The All Blacks will stay at the hotel next week in the leadup to the opening match of the Rugby Championship against Australia and Hansen, pictured, shrugged off reporters’ questions about the decision.

“It’s a good hotel,” he told a media conference in Christchurch yesterday.

“There are potential bugs in every hotel. Even your one.”

Gard had worked with the All Blacks on security arrangements for over a decade before his arrest in February and had also provided protection services for former US President Bill Clinton and other celebrities.

Hansen confirmed the All Blacks were working with the same firm that managed their security during last year’s visit to Sydney and also reiterated his belief that Gard was innocent. The New Zealand Rugby Union waited a number of days after the device was discovered before alerting Australian police and making a public announcement on the morning of the match against the Wallabies.

The delayed announcement angered the Australian Rugby Union, who blamed the All Blacks for the “distraction” that the media attention created for both teams.

The hearing, which continues at Sydney’s Downing Centre court continues today.

Hansen has meanwhile recalled prop Nepo Laulala and fleet-footed wing Nehe Milner-Skudder to his squad for the first time since 2015, while dropping Julian Savea for the Rugby Championship.

Milner-Skudder, named World Rugby’s “Breakthrough Player” in 2015, was included in the 33-man squad released yesterday after missing much of the past 18 months following shoulder surgery last year and then a broken foot earlier this season.

Chiefs tighthead Laulala played the last of his four Tests against Australia in 2015, before suffering a serious knee injury and will hope to break back into the side for the Rugby Championship opener against the Wallabies in Sydney on August 19.

Prolific try-scorer Savea, nicknamed “The Bus” for his bruising running game, is the notable omission from the Kieran Read-captained squad, losing out to Milner-Skudder, Israel Dagg and Waisake Naholo among the outside backs.

Savea, who turned 27 yesterday, has scored 46 tries from 54 matches but has struggled for form this season.

He was relegated to the bench for the Hurricanes’ recent semi-final loss to the Lions in Super Rugby, with teammates Milner-Skudder and Wes Goosen chosen as the starting wingers.

“It’s pretty hard news to hear... He is disappointed and so he should be,” Hansen said. “He’s done a lot in the jersey. He’s enhanced it while he’s worn it. As I said before, his time’s not over.”

With tighthead prop Charlie Faumuina and flyhalf Aaron Cruden heading to France, Hansen was forced to make changes from his squad that drew the series with the British and Irish Lions.

Flyhalf Lima Sopoaga is now expected to take on a greater role as Beauden Barrett’s backup, while Chiefs playmaker Damian McKenzie could also see some action in the No 10 jersey.

McKenzie has mostly played fullback in Super Rugby, but both Hansen and new Chiefs coach Colin Cooper have said they see his future at flyhalf.

He was named as a replacement in the squad, with team vice-captain and fullback Ben Smith available for just the opener against the Wallabies and the return game in Dunedin the following week before he takes a sabbatical until next year’s Super Rugby season.

The All Blacks’ first two matches double as the openers for the three-match Bledisloe Cup, the annual series contested with the Wallabies. New Zealand have held the Cup unchallenged since 2003 and are the reigning holders of the southern hemisphere Rugby Championship, which includes South Africa and Argentina.

“The first two Bledisloe Cup matches will set the tone, as we know the Australians will throw everything at us, while we’re expecting the South Africans and Argentinians to be as bruising and physical as always,” said Hansen. – Reuters