Rugby Australia and SANZAAR have revised the Rugby Championship draw and brought forward the final Australia-New Zealand clash to ensure the All Blacks won’t spend Christmas in hotel quarantine.
The Wallabies and All Blacks were due to meet in the last match of the tournament on December 12, but under current New Zealand regulations they have to complete two weeks in quarantine that would take in Christmas.
There was talk of a potential boycott by New Zealand players if a solution wasn’t found.
The teams will now square off in the Rugby Championship opener, which doubles as the third Bledisloe Cup match, on October 31 at ANZ Stadium.
The match between Argentina and South Africa, part of a double header on December 12, has been relocated from ANZ Stadium to the smaller McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle to close out the seven-week tournament.
The remainder of the draw is otherwise unchanged, with the Wallabies and All Blacks meeting for fourth time as part of a double header in Brisbane on November 7.
South Africa’s participation remains to be confirmed, with their government still to approve international travel for the world champions.
SANZAAR chief executive Andy Marinos said the opening of a travel bubble between Australia and New Zealand had allowed organisers to make the changes.
He hinted that New Zealand Rugby had been forced to foot some of the bill for the rescheduling.
“The opening of the travel bubble between Australia and New Zealand from New Zealand and an agreement by the parties on revised commercial outcomes has enabled the joint venture to consider alternative solutions in addressing our two key objectives of commercial viability and player welfare,” Marinos said.
“This year has been a year of continued adjustment where the SANZAAR partners have had to compromise on a number of levels.”
The Christmas quarantine stoush had kept tensions high between the trans-Tasman neighbours, with New Zealand claiming they never agreed to a December 12 finish.
New Zealand Rugby were already unhappy that Australia had snatched hosting rights away due to more relaxed COVID-19 restrictions.
It got to the point that RA chairman Hamish McLennan said the relationship between the countries was at its “lowest ebb”.
The teams meet in the opening Bledisloe Cup in Wellington on Sunday, with and Auckland Test a week later.
REVISED DRAW FOR 2020 RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP
Matchday one – Saturday, October 31, ANZ Stadium, Sydney
19:45 AEDT – Australia v New Zealand
Matchday two – Saturday, November 7, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
17:00 AEDT – Argentina v South Africa
19:45 AEDT – Australia v New Zealand
Matchday three – Saturday, November 14, Bankwest Stadium, Sydney
17:00 AEDT – New Zealand v Argentina
19:45 AEDT – South Africa v Australia
Matchday four – Saturday, November 21, ANZ Stadium, Sydney
17:00 AEDT – New Zealand v South Africa
19:45 AEDT – Australia v Argentina
Matchday five – Saturday, November 28, McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
17:00 AEDT – Argentina v Australia
19:45 AEDT – South Africa v New Zealand
Matchday six – Saturday, December 5, Bankwest Stadium, Sydney
17:00 AEDT – Argentina v New Zealand
19:45 AEDT – Australia v South Africa
Matchday seven – Saturday, December 12, McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
19:45 AEDT – South Africa v Argentina
MW7
Roar Rookie
Kahkura is that question for me?
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Now that wasn't so hard...
LBJ
Roar Rookie
Hmmm. That is a very curious perspective - and I don't think many would agree with you, certainly not here but I suspect not in NZ either. McLennan has given the baby their bottle here, and the bald truth is that NZ look childish, weak, and commercially inept. This has been an extremely embarrassing period for NZ Rugby - from the Aotearoa (spelling?) report, misleading of the Pacifica team and this recent amateurish behavior. NZR have behaved like spoiled, arrogant brats for some time now - living off the outstanding on-field performance of the team(s). If they don't realise that they have been embarrassed, then they will find themselves in some trouble in the future, as that arrogance is of limited use in the boardroom. The objective facts here are that NZ has to pay Aus to change the date so that their players don't have to risk missing Christmas (a risk which will not materialise if there is a bubble), while Aus will host the series anyway, make potentially more $ due to the back-to-back-to-back Bledisloe series, and have our corporate reputation emboldened right in the middle of very important broadcast negotiations. Subjectively, NZ players look beyond selfish - in a world where >10% unemployment is the norm and boxing day/ NY day cricket tests will be played - what an astonishing tantrum to throw, and then NZ Admin look weak - what a demand to give in to?! McLennan meanwhile, has proven that he is a leader who has a level head and can negotiate to get good commercial outcomes for everyone at the table - more of that please!
scrum
Roar Rookie
So you know Rennie made those statements under RA direction. Perhaps you will provide the iron clad proof you demand of others. And has no one told you using upper case is the equivalent of shouting. This whole concept you have pushed from the beginning is just your idea. And as for looking dumb- well I have to say you have some expertise
scrum
Roar Rookie
Jacko- unbelievable that someone of your infinitesimal knowledge and wisdom was ignorant of the fact that the quarantine restrictions had been lifted was the main reason the game could be shifted forward
Spencer
Guest
How do you keep getting away with your antagonistic attitude and ridiculous comments?
Paulo
Roar Rookie
About as predictable as you mate :silly:
Broken Shoulder
Roar Rookie
Hopefully they get as many of them over as they can. I know they'll give it everything. Saw they added a second match at Newcastle so that should make your Mum happy.
Mclemon and clark got owned......Bad leadership for it to get to this...Should have played first 2 games on 10th and 17th but Rennie...Under RA leadership instruction, deliberately refused to play on those dates but insisted on the 11th and 18th. meaning the 31st was not available like it WOULD HAVE BEEN..mclemon looks dumb over this and he must be really embarrassed as he looks like a loser now
Tight-Head
Roar Rookie
We obviously read different reports - the main thing is that it is all sorted now
Thats just Kearns pre game speech
fiwiboy7042
Roar Rookie
No, only to NT, NSW and ACT. Then there are those interstate border restrictions specifically Qld-NSW! What has not been resolved is whether the Qld govt will give an exemption to the Wallabies and NZ teams flying from Sydney to Brisbane; I'm due to move to regional NSW from Qld next week so should be no hassle but Sydney is a hotspot so bans still apply.
TH I fully understand that but if Rennie didnt refuse to play on the 10th but happily accept the 11th then it could have ALWAYS been played on the weekend of 31/1 anyway as their would have been a 14 day quarantine between matches. It was Rennie that created the need for NSW to change anything. I dont really like the fact that NZers can just fly in to NSW tho.....
Fiwi are NZers allowed to travel to Aus now without quarantine? I think thats a bit dumb on Aus's behalf....Hopefully it doesnt bite
i dont get why they didnt go down the seperate tests road anyway. Surely an NZ v SA and NZ v Arg match would have had enough spectators to cover the 30k broadcasters fees.....Thats only 1000 fans at $30 a head and Id garrantee more than 10,000 fans at the SA v NZ games.....So at least a 250K advantage.....And very few Test tickets are $30 plus I reckon a NZ v SA game would get 20k anyway so they have missed the boat here.....Games would still have been on same day at same timeslots....
LBJ
Roar Rookie
Another outcome that makes me tremendously pleased with the job that McClennan and Clarke are doing. What a relief to have their leadership - Commercially astute, enormous integrity and that essential ability to read the room. It's undeniably thought times, but we seem to be in very good hands.
fiwiboy7042
Roar Rookie
No. Federal government decision entirely. That's why Qld is not getting NZ visitors; the federal government doesn't like the Labor govt there even though Qld is the best placed of all the big state which is why Qld are not part of the semi-bubble.
Micko
Roar Rookie
"Anti-kiwi rant" geez how precious can you be Paulo? :laughing:
Bing Yep true colours do come out. You are angry that NZ is not going to be locked up for christmas.....Not angry that your team is, but that another team isnt.......pathetic....talk about true colours
haha I clearly hope differently ....Not that Im particully happy with Fosters first team....