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Steve Hansen discusses tactics with the Rugby World Cup Squad
(Main) Steve Hansen discusses tactics with the Rugby World Cup Squad (Thumbnail) Steve Hansen guides Chris Wyatt through his intentions during training
Huw Evans
Hansen: It's hard, but the team comes first
6 January 2006, 4:17 pm
By Pete Griffin
Wales Coach Steve Hansen trimmed his fifty-five man training squad down to the final thirty last week, but he says it's one of the hardest things he has had to do in rugby.
Hansen told each player personally whether they where going to Australia for the Rugby World Cup or staying at home and he says he can empathise with each and every one who didn't make it.

"It's a very difficult time in a coach's working life, telling people who want to be a part of the team and who haven't stopped working towards that goal, that they are not going to be on that plane," admitted Hansen.

"No-one enjoys that kind of thing, but you just have to be honest with yourself and the players. A coach's loyalty must be to the team first and the players second, the team must always come first.

"I will always understand when some players react in a negative way and the hope is that they don't get taken advantage of and that what they say doesn't fall on unsympathetic ears."

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