All Blacks star 'gobsmacked' by Hansen assisting Wallabies

Veteran All Blacks hooker Dane Coles said he was "gobsmacked" to hear former New Zealand coach Steve Hansen is helping rivals Australia prepare for the Rugby World Cup.

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Hansen has agreed to assist Australia head coach Eddie Jones, a long-time friend, this week as an unpaid adviser while the Wallabies prepare to face France on Sunday in a World Cup warm-up fixture in Paris.

Coles, who has played 86 Tests for New Zealand, was stunned to hear his ex-All Blacks boss is currently in the Wallabies camp.

"Yeah? Shag what are you up to," the visibly shocked Coles said, using Hansen's nickname.

"That hurts a little bit, to be fair," he added.

"I'm actually gobsmacked. He's a bit of an icon in the All Blacks set-up. I'm a bit speechless. It's a bit disappointing, but we can't do much about that."

New Zealand reporters broke the news to Coles following a training session in London, where the All Blacks are preparing for their own World Cup warm-up against reigning world champions South Africa.

Hansen coached New Zealand to their 2015 World Cup triumph, in which Coles started in the final against Australia.

"He's a great man. He's obviously not in our environment at the moment. I suppose he can help out Eddie," Coles added.

"Hopefully, he doesn't tell Eddie all our secrets. I think he'll be respectful, that's the main thing."

Loose forward Ardie Savea was more circumspect, saying: "Everyone's got to do what they have got to do. Good on him."

Hansen's defection to the Wallabies camp even made it to the corridors of parliament in Wellington.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins quipped to reporters that New Zealand should "cancel his citizenship" when