All Blacks coach Ian Foster has dismissed any perceived treachery behind Sir Steve Hansen's presence in the Wallabies' pre-World Cup camp.
On the eve of this year's tournament in France, the 2015 World Cup-winning coach has caused a stir by agreeing to help old mate Eddie Jones, as he tries to make his Australian side competitive in the global showpiece.
Since taking the Wallabies reins for the second time in his career, Jones has gone winless through Rugby Championship and Bledisloe campaigns this season, and is clearly underfire from media and fans back home.
Hansen's apparent defection was greeting with shock by former protege Dane Coles in the All Blacks camp and drew a joking response from Prime Minister Chris Hipkins that his citizenship should be revoked.
Foster admits he's amused by the fuss, but doesn't seem to have taken the move by his former boss personally.
"Outstanding, he's agreed to give me three pages of notes on everything going on in their campaign," he quipped to media. "I chuckle at the headlines - you guys must be pretty excited by it.
"He told me a month ago he was going in. He's good mates with Eddie.
"There's no lack of trust at all from his commitment to us and to what we do and sharing stuff, so I've got no issues. We might bring him in for a couple of days ourselves."
Veteran hooker Coles began his All Blacks career under Sir Steve and was caught offguard, when media revealed the Wallabies connection this week.
"Shag, what are you up to?" he admitted. "That hurts a little bit, to be fair.
"I'm a bit speechless, it's a bit disappointing, but we can't do much about that."
Foster has given that reaction some context.
"Let's get that right, you guys asked Dane Coles a question... you surprised him, which is great and that's your job, but you do know Dane Coles," he said. "He's a beautiful man, he's emotive and he said exactly what he thought, and that's his first reaction.
"I get that and I love that reaction - it just adds to the story, but it doesn't change the facts."
With Australia on the opposite side of the World Cup draw, there's a good chance the All Blacks won't face their trans-Tasman rivals until late in the tournament - if at all - and Foster concedes his attitude might be different, if Hansen was helping immediate rivals France, South Africa or Ireland.
"Yeah probably, but jeepers, surely we've got a better topic to talk about than Steve Hansen going to the Aussies for a couple of beers with Eddie.
"I'm happy to keep talking about it, but I really don't think there's much in it."
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