Cross-Ditch defector: Mike Harris
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All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has criticised the Wallabies for poaching New Zealand talent and not doing enough to develop their own players.
Hansen fired a broadside at Australian rugby after Saturday's 18-18 Bledisloe Cup draw in Brisbane in which New Zealand-born centre Mike Harris kicked five penalties for Australia.
Hansen says he doesn't begrudge Harris' decision to sign for the Reds when he was rejected by New Zealand Super Rugby franchises nor his choice to later play for Australia but slammed Aussie administrators for allowing it to happen.
"I am pleased he [Harris] has achieved his dream ... what I find frustrating is that Australia is trying to build their game and put more franchises in place but all they are doing is putting franchises in place and stealing our players," said Hansen.
"They should get their own house in order and develop their own. There must be players there good enough.
"Australia has been a breeding ground for gun players for centuries."
Hansen did not mince his words when replying to a question claiming Harris' defection is a breakdown in New Zealand rugby's systems and is clearly annoyed by the Western Force recently signing ex-All Blacks scrum-half Alby Mathewson from the Blues and promising outside back Jason Woodward from Wellington.
"It's called Australia pinching our players. That's the system breakdown. How many you got going to the Force? It's time you actually develop your own players and your own coaches. (It'd) be good," said the All Blacks coach.
On Monday, 24-year-old Harris replied with wry smile and hinted at hypocrisy from the All Blacks, who have selected many Pacific Islanders over the years.
"I was a bit surprised by Steve's comments," Harris told NZ Newswire.
"It's been going on for as long as rugby has been professional, and maybe even further back as well."
Harris qualifies to play for the Wallabies through an Australian-born grandmother, and insists he has no regrets in wearing the gold jersey.
"As an aspiring rugby player you always want to be playing at the next level and if New Zealand had offered me a Super Rugby jersey things might have been different," he said.
Comments
stag says...
Hansen's road from poacher to gamekeeper has gone full circle
Posted 09:28 22nd October 2012
BokAvenger says...
Ha, ha, ha. I wonder if Hillbilly Hansen will show the same indignation at all the Kiwis who go over to Oz to live on the dole.
Posted 09:13 22nd October 2012
Willem says...
The AB's just cant accept it when they draw or loose and will look for excuses everytime it happens.
After the Boks beat them in 2009 in Hamilton (for the third time in a row in 2009) with long range penalties, Graham Sour Face Henry called for penalty kicks to count just 1 point and not 3. How crazy is that? Who does he think he is?
At RWC 1995 their food got poisoned.
Mike Harris came into his own with the Reds and not with a New Zealand franchise. He has all right to play for who he wants and fatboy Hansen needs to shut up and go on a diet.
Posted 09:01 22nd October 2012
mattlalor says...
I think this is one of those never ending discussions that is losing more and more importance the longer the game globalises. This particular character seems to enjoy forcing his bullish old school ideas on the public that is seemingly designed to torment or provoke (even his countrymen have not been able to avoid - dingo Deans). I listen to very little of what he says. He certainly has a short memory. His comments about Higgenbottom clearly showed his selective memory of the All Blacks of recent years. To me it seems like his ambition is to be known as an all-powerful and commanding coach. This is a little boring. Apparently this was met with mixed feelings in NZ. There was quite a few negative reactions. Should we not consider ANY other nationality in our teams if they choose to move to Australia as so many kiwis, safas PI players have?
Posted 08:58 22nd October 2012
Noodle says...
Hansen sounds like a whiny ....
Many tongan, samoan and fiji born players in AB squads in past! Tana, jerry, mils, etc etc. people in glass houses dont trow stones.
Posted 08:57 22nd October 2012
NHsaints says...
Good on you Harris, I understand the Frustration Hansen, England poach waaaaay too many players when we have plenty of homegrown talent. Australia do need to sort out their player development scheme especially for front row forwards. England have Tuilagi, Barrit, Botha and Hartley none of whom are very English when players around the fringes in those positions include: Joseph, Tait, Twelvetrees, Allen, Day, Kennedy, Haywood, Youngs and Bauchanan. However at the moment I'm not complaining about Hartley/Tuilagi since they've spent over half his life here.
Posted 08:46 22nd October 2012
hybrid187 says...
Before the inevitable ' ABs are Island poachers' trash comes up I believe there is only one player (B Franks) in the current AB squad born outside NZ, and hes not even Islander he was born in Melbourne.
The simple fact is most of Australia's best players werent even born in Australia. The ABs have been guilty in the past but that is certainly coming to an end, if you look at the number of players born outside NZ playing for the ABs over the past decade or so.
I personally find it unbelievable someone can be born and raised in one country and play rugby there till the age 23 then go over to another country and represent their national side (Harris). Its happening in league too... Sort it out Australia you have 20 million more people to choose from ?
Posted 08:33 22nd October 2012