Moving on: Richard Kahui
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All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen has expressed his disappointment at Richard Kahui's call to play in Japan.
Hansen said that he was frustrated the centre never gave him a chance to change his mind.
Kahui announced last week that he would move to Top League club Toshiba Brave Lupus in 2014 after seeing out Super Rugby 2013 at the Chiefs.
"We were very disappointed with that because he didn't really speak to us, or his agent didn't," Hansen told commercial radio on Tuesday.
"I always find that a bit frustrating."
Hansen said he would have appreciated an opportunity to put a counter-offer to Kahui, who was a key member of New Zealand's World Cup-winning team in 2011 and helped the Chiefs to the Super Rugby title last year.
Kahui said last week that he decided to play in Japan to secure his future after a string of shoulder injuries, which has restricted him to just 17 Tests since his international debut in 2008.
The 27-year-old will not be eligible to play for the All Blacks while in Japan but has canvassed the possibility of returning to his homeland in 2015 so he can help New Zealand defend its World Cup title in England.
Hansen said Kahui was taking a gamble as there was no guarantee an up-and-coming centre would not cement a spot in his absence.
"He's talked about coming back, but he, like everybody else, takes a big risk when they leave because there's other people here who have got talent," he said.
"But he's weighed that up and believes he can come back. Hopefully he does and hopefully he comes back and plays to the level that can get him selected."
Comments
three6three6 says...
Richard Kahui is one of those players who has rarely played for the All Blacks.... But when he has played he has played outstandingly well. I am sure that any Head Coach would be disappointed to lose someone with the ability of Kahui.
On the other hand the decision to have an extended sabbatical away from the demands of SH rugby, is probably a great idea for Kahui. With the physical demands being less intense he might even last a full season.... it might help to turn around the wretched bad luck that Kahui has experienced with injuries.
There will be plenty of quality centres coming through the system. Another cycle of Super Rugby will no doubt turn up two of three suitable contenders. In the meantime we should not be too critical of Hansen & Co.
Posted 04:01 24th February 2013
rugby_rockstar says...
Trying to button up a size 38 regular pair of trousers probably frustrates Steve Hansen too.
Sorry, its Friday afternoon.
Posted 15:13 22nd February 2013
Phill_Moore says...
@GoWalesGo
Sure mate, lol!
(Classic, transform own limitations to magically be the fault of others... :rolleyes: )
Posted 16:23 21st February 2013
GoWalesGo says...
Phill_Moore
Nope still don't get it. I don't think you actually know what Sour Grapes means, you just use it whenever someone says something slightly negative about someone/something connected to the almighty AB's
Posted 10:00 21st February 2013
Phill_Moore says...
It's funny that very few locals complain about the NZ eligibility rules, even players that could benefit *a lot* financially don't do it much.
It's funnier that it is mostly supporters of big rivals or other less successful teams that do it... hmmm, I wonder why... ... ... ... ... ... oh wait...
@GoWalesGo
""disparagement of something that is unattainable." not too bad. How long did you google?
Now go on, put 2 and 2 together, I'm holding my breath, not.
(Ok, ok, other posts might give you a clue then, but I'm not putting money on you picking the right ones, LOL!
"...spell it out because i think you're just being precious."
Oh no, how am i gonna sleep at night now???
Posted 17:31 20th February 2013
powerplay says...
@p.r. just gota change the title from the main page to "Frustrates"
Posted 11:30 20th February 2013
ferdie says...
classic - a thread about Richard Kahu becomes a vent for anti-Hansen
calm down folks!
All he said was 'a bit disappointing' and 'frustrating' in terms of lack of communication from Kahui's agent who normally deals with NZRU.
Find the full interview and you'll see:
Hansen: "The way we're look at it, if someone gets injured, or someone goes offshore, or someone goes on sabbatical even, it's an opportunity for us to find out some more about other people. With 2015 in mind that's a good thing. If we can give people opportunities at training camps or to be involved in test matches, that experience is invaluable."
"We see it as a positive rather than a negative. It is disappointing to lose players to injury and offshore but we can't control it."
Posted 11:13 20th February 2013
GoWalesGo says...
@Phill_Moore
No i don't get the sour grapes part actually because it doesn't relate to me original or subsequent post at all. The definition of sour grapes is "disparagement of something that is unattainable." Now what in god's name does that have to do with me thinking that Steve Hansen is a miserable person.
This phrase gets thrown around way too much by around by rugby supporters imho.
Go on spell it out because i think you're just being precious.
Posted 09:39 20th February 2013
carpelone says...
He is a fantastic outside center, a bit to frail and with that monster ahead of him (Conrad Smith). He is injury prone and he may not feel to be up to the task for the AB's jersey. It is understandable that he wants to make sure that some good money flows into his account. Good luck to him.
Re Hansen, he is entitled to say so as he wants that the floodgates do not open.
Posted 08:40 20th February 2013
Phill_Moore says...
@GoWalesGo
That's all you can do then, personal insults, dull ones, but personal nonetheless. I guess I hit the nail in the head. LOL!
Protect him? Hahaha, yeah, he needs that. Nope, this was all about you. Feel flattered much?
No? Well then:
Off course you didn't question his success, how could you? Gosh... Ok, ok, here it goes: So you either have more success or coaching skill than him to judge or feel superior, which you obviously can't, or you know him well personally to know he's a "miserable prick", and that's also obviously not the case... do I really need to keep on spelling it all out for you??
But seriously, if you don't get the sour grapes part then there's really no point in this...
Posted 02:57 20th February 2013
turboboy says...
Could be a great time for a certain Blues centre to have a great season and push his way into reckoning - still some way to go past Smith but surely Smith won't make the next WC
Posted 00:25 20th February 2013
kennyisgay says...
GoWalesGo says " There's no pleasing this guy.He always moans and moans, he was the same when he was Wales head coach. A miserable fart"
He never said boo until he moved to Wales. Must've been drinking the same water you and your buddies do
Posted 23:57 19th February 2013
porridge_time says...
@rugby_rock_star....
If the NZRFU were to change their policy then it could be a death nail to their provincial ITM Cup competition. Many of the European, Japanese and Australian scouts are in and around the schools looking to pick up talent that does not make in to the provincial sides.
As a Scot living in NZ I've got nothing but admiration for the systems, coaching and effort that is put into the game of rugby union from grassroots through to test level. The lure of the black jersey really is what currently stops cherry picking and to remove that would be potential disaster for them... because of the sheer logistical nightmare of bringing them all together.
Posted 22:52 19th February 2013
hellovanite says...
Smart move really.... I mean can anyone honestly say that they think he would go injury free until 2015 if he stayed in NZ. For that matter I'll be surprised if he makes it through his full contract in Japan. Don't worry about NZ we will be ok, there is always someone coming through. Who knows this could be Rangers year at centre and that boy can cut open defences, just needs to work on his own defence and he'll be a star!
Posted 19:59 19th February 2013
GoWalesGo says...
Phill_Moore
He's a bloody good coach, no doubt about that.
But he's a miserable prick.
Why do you have to feel the need to protect him so much... Precious Much?
Are you his girlfriend or something lol
And what does sour grapes have it do with anything..?
Did i question his coaching ability or success you dunce
Posted 14:51 19th February 2013
Haldir says...
Jeez, this gives you plenty of time to now develop the likes of Bundee Aki and Robbie Fruean. Why are you complaining! I have no sympathy for you Mr Hansen...
Posted 14:41 19th February 2013
Phill_Moore says...
GoWalesGo says... "A miserable fart."
You surely mean a World Cup, multiple NH Grand Slams + 3Nations + Bledisloes + etc, etc. winning one.
So what have you achieved, that you speak with such authority? Maybe a world record for the number of sour grapes stuffed in one mouth?
Posted 13:01 19th February 2013
5Lock4ward says...
Funny Hansen talks about the risk of leaving when God knows how far the AB's will roll out the red carpet for Sonny-Bill when the wind carries his fickle mind back to Union.
Posted 12:46 19th February 2013
ArmchairGeneral says...
ATG77: by your measure, not winning world cups consistently, everyone is rubbish. Doesn't help differentiate much. To say ABs are weak on options at centres is a joke. Selection is the only challenge.
Posted 11:50 19th February 2013
ATG77 says...
New Zealand's old weakness coming back to haunt them - midfeild. With Nonu and Smith also getting on, the cupboards looking a bit bare. If their fullback if shifted to outside centre in the next world cup(as in the 99, '03 and '07), we'll all know what's going to happen...
Posted 11:05 19th February 2013