All Blacks Coach Steve Hansen Is Pretty P*ssed Off With Pat Lam
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Steve Hansen is not happy with Pat Lam.
The Connacht coach is set to takeover at Premiership strugglers Bristol next season, and he’s bringing an All Black with him.
The English side announced this week that they has secured the services of 25 year-old All Blacks and Blues back-row Steven Luatua. Lam coached Luatua at the Auckland Blues and remain good friends, hence his decision to join the former Samoan captain’s revolution at Bristol.
One man however, who is not happy- is All Blacks coach Steve Hansen.
Speaking to Stuff.co.nz, Hansen said he was disappointed in the lack of communication between Luatua’s representatives and New Zealand Rugby.
It’s always disappointing when you lose a good player, regardless of who he is.
In this case it’s double disappointing because of the lack of communication. It wasn’t as if we were able to engage in the process.
Some agents, once they get an offer, they’ll come to the table and negotiate; others don’t. Steven’s crew didn’t want to talk, because they are fearful we are going to change these guys minds which is disappointing.
He also made it clear that he’s far from happy with Pat Lam, who he expected would take a bit more consideration regarding Luatua’s All Blacks career.
He spoke briefly to the contracts team, and he’s been tapped on the shoulder by Pat Lam, which is disappointing too.
If you’re an ex-New Zealander, you should be a bit mindful about players’ careers. But when they decide to go, you’ve got to support them. Steven has made that decision, so we’ll do that.
