Hansen on Lions’ South Island test snub
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen says a series against the British and Irish Lions is a ‘‘cash cow’’ and New Zealand Rugby had to play two tests in Auckland to make more money.
The South Island was snubbed when the 2017 Lions tour itinerary was announced last Friday with Christchurch and Dunedin left off the test circuit.
Christchurch-based Hansen, who was born in Mosgiel, said it was disappointing that the All Blacks would not get to play the Lions in the South Island.
But, speaking from the All Blacks’ hotel in Christchurch, Hansen said he was also ‘‘realistic’’ and understood New Zealand Rugby’s call because Christchurch’s stadium was too small.
‘‘New Zealand needs the money from the gates. [the Lions tour] is a cash cow, whether you like it, or not.
‘‘Plus, we’re doing the best thing we can. The franchises are getting a game each [against the Lions], the Highlanders and [the Crusaders in] Christchurch.
‘‘The reality is we don’t have a stadium here [in Christchurch] big enough to maximise the opportunity.
‘‘Until such time that Christchurch gets a stadium big enough, they won’t get that test match.’’
Hansen said NZR was playing a test against South Africa in 2016, ‘‘only because of the goodwill’’.
‘‘There’s no real benefit for NZ Rugby to be playing it in Christchurch because it’s such a small stadium. It’s one of the big games of the year and it probably should be played in Auckland, but because the Rugby Union wants to look after Christchurch, it’s brought that test match here.
‘‘But it just can’t extend that to the Lions test because we would all be moaning if we’re losing players [overseas] because we can’t afford to pay for them.’’
Having two tests at Eden Park, where the capacity is more than 50,000, was ‘‘one way to do that’’, Hansen said.
‘‘You can’t have it both ways, it’s disappointing, but the powers that be in Christchurch have made their decisions about what they want to do with stadiums and you can understand that.
‘‘But they’re missing out because they don’t have one.’’
All Blacks fullback and Highlanders co-captain Ben Smith said it ‘‘would have been nice to get one [test] in the South Island’’, but he could also see the union’s rationale.
‘‘With the crowd they will get along, it probably makes more sense to have it up in Auckland. I can see the reasoning to have a couple more tests up there [rather] than having one down in the South Island.’’
Smith said all New Zealand rugby stadia were good to play at and match locations were not an issue. ‘‘To be fair, as players, we just look at playing as well as we can. We don’t really worry about what the venue is, or where we’re going to play. It’s just making sure we’re ready to perform.’’