Rugby Australia remains hopeful the third Bledisloe Cup Test will proceed in Perth in 10 days despite a change in border arrangements with New Zealand and Western Australia’s Premier saying he can’t guarantee it will happen.
But plans for the four-team Rugby Championship, also including world champions South Africa and Argentina, being played solely in Perth look to have been knocked on the head.
The Bledisloe match is scheduled for Optus Stadium on August 28, however doubts surfaced with the All Blacks caught up in New Zealand’s snap lockdown on Tuesday.
Following the outbreak the West Australian government changed the border arrangements so all arrivals from New Zealand must quarantine for 14 days upon arrival.
The Wallabies flew straight to Perth on Sunday following their second Cup defeat in Auckland before the change in quarantine measures.
(Photo by Getty Images)
WA Premier Mark McGowan gave no guarantees the match would go ahead but said the All Blacks could be placed in a quarantine bubble similar to protocols used for as interstate AFL teams.
That means that while isolated in hotels, players are be allowed out to train and to play.
“We are not sure,” McGowan said when asked by reporters about the status of the game.
“We may have to work out some arrangement … there may be a bubble or they may have to just comply with the rules that exist for everyone else,” McGowan said on Wednesday.
“It’s a moving situation and we’re trying to work out exactly what can be done about that.
“That would be very disappointing for rugby fans if we’re forced to cancel the game but that’s the nature of the world we’re in.”
Scheduled to depart Auckland for Perth on Sunday, the All Blacks are on personal leave with New Zealand Rugby saying they are in ongoing discussions with SANZAAR and RA.
“We will be guided by government travel guidelines and any potential border restrictions in Australia while working closely with SANZAAR and Rugby Australia in coming days to understand what the impact is on our plans,” said NZR chief executive Mark Robinson.
RA may look at pushing back the All Blacks’ arrival date until the end of the seven-day lockdown in Auckland in the hope the clean travel bubble between the cities is re-established.
The Rugby Championship matches involving the Wallabies are slated for September at the SCG, Suncorp Stadium, Newcastle and a clash with Argentina in Canberra on October 2.
Given the COVID-19 outbreaks in NSW and ACT, SANZAAR was considering hosting all four teams and matches in Perth, with double-headers over four consecutive weekends.
McGowan said such a scenario was now “unlikely”. “It’s not our number one priority,” the Premier said.
Rugby Australia will now look at shifting the Rugby Championship to Queensland, with games split between Brisbane, the Gold Coast and possibly Townsville.
Pinetree
Roar Rookie
As always Ken, you are a fair bloke, and you are right it is not an easy job for mods. I do feel if opinions start in an off topic conversation, that all opinions should be treated equally, meaning that either all off topic conversations are removed, or all are allowed through. No one should have the right to be the judge of what is a correct opinion in political matters.
Pinetree
Roar Rookie
Yeah, I agree in fairness that it is a tough job for the Editors. I guess some topics I have posted have also been off topic to rugby. I just feel that some off topic conversations are allowed to be had, as long as you have the correct opinion. I also feel the fair standard is to remove all off topic stuff evenly, or allow all opinions to go through. But there is also a great deal of posts that are hard to moderate evenly, and maybe I am extra frustrated with lockdown...
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
We live in interesting times, Pinetree. In sympathy with the editors it is a very difficult time to be a neutral journalist. It is also a difficult time to have an independent thought. I am in correspondence with Tony Harper, who is working to guide the blog content along a fair line. Where is ‘fair’? There’s the rub. Editors seem to be functioning in environments of unprecedented pressure.
Pinetree
Roar Rookie
To The Roar, . I would like to request the reason why my posts have been deleted along with Ken’s? It would be nice to know why, so I can correctly follow the guidelines to not get deleted. More posts of mine have been removed in the last 2 months, than the 5 years previously combined that I have been on here.
jameswm
Roar Guru
For sure Rhys. McGowan is even more paranoid, we'll likely be in NZ before WA
DAVEC
Roar Rookie
time will tell what happens with it
Kiwi in East Perth
Guest
Would have been great if a bubble with all the TRC games could be held in Perth, would have been fantastic for the game here in WA with Double Headers for 4 weeks straight but alas it won't happen. Although i dont agree with McGowan and many of his policies, it wouldn't be fair having rugby teams take up space in Quarantine when so many Australian's are stuck overseas. Although i disagree with the Premier he at least has never compromised and made exemptions for his policies and treated every scenario the same which was why the AFL GF was not held here last year and probably wont be again this year.
fiwiboy7042
Roar Rookie
Likely means the game will NOT be going ahead!
Force Westerner
Roar Rookie
Those heading to Optus Stadium on the Mandurah Line on Saturday 28 August, will need to transfer to BUSES from Aubin Grove to Elizabeth Quay and back. Transperth will be working on the rail line all that weekend from late Friday 27 August to Sunday 29 August. Now that is dumb, when stadium is 59,000 people. Probably half live South of River.
Pinetree
Roar Rookie
"and the gate that Richie never found?" :laughing: No idea what you're are talking about.... Good to see you are retaining your sense of humor! Yeah, I notice it often, Ken...
fiwiboy7042
Roar Rookie
Interesting to read that Europe is now being considered as hosts of the RC! :happy:
Coker
Roar Rookie
You're confusing correlation and causation. WA, like NZ, is so far out the back of beyond that the outcome would have been little different with no lockdowns at all. If they did have a significant impact, countries like Belgium wouldn't have one of the highest death rates in the world.
Coker
Roar Rookie
No, he's just had an easier job to do — isolated with lower population density. And now he's milking it for all he's worth. Like Ardern.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Nice of you to notice, Pinetree. :happy: Whatever happened to the good old scandals of Izzy, Quadegate and the gate that Richie never found? Thems were the days of blessed memory. Those old scandals were luxury.
KFar
Guest
It's all go!! :rugby: :rugby: :thumbup: :thumbup: Capacity crowd included!!!!
Ex force fan
Guest
KFar, I definitely prefer McGowan’s approach to Gladys. However I think the there is enough differences between NSW and WA states that justifies the differences in risk tolerance. WA must be less risk tolerant as our population density North of Geraldton is extremely low and therefore the medical facilities and capacity to handle an outbreak locally is negligible. If we get an outbreak a disproportionate number of people that add a disproportionate large value per capital will be effected and many in Aboriginal communities. It is a risk that is not worth taking as an outbreak in for example Dampier or Port Hedland will shutdown iron ore and LNG exports as the resources industry prioritise lives above production.
Pinetree
Roar Rookie
Can't help but notice that rugby is not the topic of conversation here, which is fine as it is the circumstances effecting rugby that is the conversation. But I see you have been putting out alternative theories, but thankfully we have had the alternative thought police to cleanup any damage you may have caused, Ken...
wigeye
Guest
thats not what you said Read what you said. Then park off over East when you work it out
wigeye
Guest
Did you not say 3 years because of McGowan
Wigeye
Guest
if anyone thinks that the top notch tests are more important if or where or when than us being able to see our loved ones please abstain from the the roar get out of jail