Sir Steve Hansen has moved quickly to calm the storm over his presence in the Wallabies camp, as they prepare for next month's Rugby World Cup in France.
The man who guided the All Blacks to 2015 World Cup triumph and fell just short again four years later has joined old mate Eddie Jones in the Australian environment in a short-term advisory role, as they face hosts France in a final warm-up over the weekend.
His apparent defection to the trans-Tasman rivals has stunned his old team, with veteran hooker Dane Coles admitting he's "gobsmacked".
Hansen, 64, has told Newstalk ZB that All Blacks fans should not read too much into his move.
"We're working hard and just like to put everybody's mind at rest that I haven't joined the Wallabies for the Rugby World Cup," he told Mike Hosking Breakfast.
"I'm only here for about 3-4 days at the request of Eddie, a good mate of mine, just to give him some feedback on what he's doing, as opposed to anythng else. Rugby is bigger than all of us, so happy to do that."
Former All Blacks coaches have previously gone on to help former rivals in the past. Alex 'Grizz' Wyllie helped steer Argentina to the 1999 World Cup quarter-finals, while 2011 World Cup winner Sir Graham Henry has also worked with the Pumas.
This is Australia and, ironically, Jones was the man who ousted the All Blacks from the last tournament, when his England team toppled them in the semi-finals.
Sir Steve confirms he is not being paid for his Wallabies role and insists he is still available to advise All Blacks coach Ian Foster in the World Cup build-up.
"The thing is, if you're working for someone you're getting paid, so I'm not working for anyone," he told Hosking. "I'm just here as a friend.
"I've only been here less than 24 hours. Personally, I don't think they've got a problem.
"They're just a young side that are coming together, and they've got a coach that wants the to work hard and be better, and I think they're buying into that."
Coles was blindsided by media questions over Hansen's presence in the Australian camp.
"Shag, what are you up to?" he responded. "That hurts a little bit, to be fair.
"I'm actually gobsmacked."
New Zealand have dispatched the Wallabies twice this year, but had to rely on Richie Mo'unga kicking a penalty in the dying seconds for victory at Dunedin last time they met.
Australia have drawn probably the weakest of four World Cup pools, with Wales, Fiji, Georgia and Portugal standing between them and the quarter-finals.
"There's no secret to success," said Sir Steve. "You just got to work hard and ask yourself to be better along the way, and if you do that, you'll find success.
"They're rebuilding themselves, trying to re-establish themselves. Eddie seems pretty hellbent on having his own Australian style and they're learning that."
Australia open their World Cup account against Georgia on September 10 (NZ time).
Join Newshub at 6:30am Saturday for live updates of the All Blacks v Springboks World Cup warm-up
