Rugby Australia chief executive Andy Marinos claims he was blindsided by New Zealand counterpart Mark Robinson as the fallout began over the decision not to send the All Blacks to Perth for Bledisloe 3.
“It’s incredibly disappointing to be informed of this decision via the media, despite having a conversation with the CEO moments before and there no mention that this was the intention,” Marinos said in a scathing statement released by Rugby Australia.
SANZAAR, the body that governs The Rugby Championship, also expressed disappointment over New Zealand’s decision while Wallabies coach Dave Rennie, in Perth with the Australian team, was furious.
“Bloody angry,” Rennie, a New Zealander, told reporters when asked for his reaction.
“I think it’s disappointing how it has been communicated. Our boys all found out through social media.
“I thought New Zealand Rugby didn’t even have the respect to consult RA about their decision so that’s hugely disappointing.
“We made a commitment to play a Test in Auckland on the 7th of August and while we had players away from home for six weeks already out of NSW, we honoured that commitment.
“They asked to play an extra game because we couldn’t go back to Wellington on the 28th and we honoured that as well.
“They made a commitment to come on the 21st which was pushed back to the 28th and now they are not coming.
“If they are playing the welfare card, well our New South Wales boys haven’t been home for eight weeks already with no clear end in sight and likelihood they won’t get home until late November to then be in quarantine.
“I feel like there’s only one of us doing what’s in the best interest of the game.
“Last year, we want to NZ to ensure the games were played for the benefits of both countries. We quarantined in Wellington for two weeks. The expectation was we made a commitment to go there this year, they’d come here and they haven’t honoured.
“It tells you more about them than us I reckon.”
Rugby Australia CEO Andy Marinos. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
Marinos was clearly angered by the NZR approach, especially in light of the Wallabies’ decision to travel to New Zealand and play back to back matches at Eden Park, in a change to the original schedule.
Fox Sports reported New Zealand had set Australia a midday deadline Friday for a plan of action on where the remaining games would be hosted, with Queensland an option.
They reported that Australia asked for a three hour delay, only to be surprised by the NZR announcement.
“I would also like to thank the Wallaby team and management for their continued sacrifice, compromise and willingness to ensure Test matches get played,” said Marinos.
“The team has been in camp since the end of June and jumped on a plane at the end of July to go to New Zealand with no certainty as to what the Test schedule will look like, or when they would be home.”
NZR also cancelled home Tests for women’s rugby.
“The news of the cancellation of the O’Reilly Cup Tests is equally as disappointing for our Wallaroos, who were ready to play their first Test of the year,” Marinos said.
“We will continue to leave no stone unturned in finding an option for our Wallaroos as well as the Perth Test.
“Australia has proven its ability to host International Rugby in the current climate, and it is something we will continue to work towards.”
The statement added that Rugby Australia is continuing to work with its SANZAAR joint venture partners regarding the schedule for the Rugby Championship this year.
SANZAAR released its own statement which criticised the New Zealand decision.
Here is the SANZAAR statement in full
The ongoing impact of the pandemic, and the latest outbreaks of COVID-19 in Australia and New Zealand, has led to the tightening of regulations placed on travel and quarantine by various state and national governments. This has caused massive disruption to the match schedule for The Rugby Championship.
However, SANZAAR is currently working night and day with all stakeholders, and the tournaments’ associated commercial partners and rights-holding broadcasters, to find a suitable solution for the remaining matches. This also involves talks with the various government departments and health authorities to determine if suitable travel, accommodation and quarantine regulations can be implemented to allow the tournament to proceed in Australia.
SANZAAR is very disappointed that the New Zealand Rugby Union has made the decision not to travel to Perth at this time to play Australia for its second-round match [and Third Bledisloe match]. However, SANZAAR and the other national unions will continue to work on when and where this match can be played as part of the overall rescheduling work being done. SANZAAR also recognises that this decision is incredibly disappointing for rugby fans in Perth.
The other second-round match, South Africa versus Argentina, scheduled for Saturday 21 August in Port Elizabeth will take place as scheduled. SANZAAR will announce the details of the venues and dates of the remaining nine matches when appropriate and will not enter into speculation until then.
Earlier NZR relased its own statement. Here it is in full.
New Zealand Rugby (NZR) has announced the All Blacks’ two home Fortinet Rugby Championship Tests against South Africa and the Black Ferns two O’Reilly Cup Tests against the Wallaroos will not be played in New Zealand.
The decision follows advice from Government that the Springboks and Wallaroos would not be able to enter New Zealand to play the matches due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.
The All Blacks were scheduled to play South Africa at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin on Saturday 25 September, and at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday 2 October. The Black Ferns were scheduled to play the Wallaroos at Rugby Park, Christchurch, on Sunday 26 September and at Eden Park as part of a double header with the All Blacks.
NZR has also confirmed that, given the current uncertainty over The Rugby Championship schedule, it has made the decision not to send the All Blacks to Perth this weekend for the third Bledisloe Cup Test which was scheduled to be played at Optus Stadium on Saturday 28 August.
Ticket holders for the matches in Auckland and Dunedin will receive a full refund and will be contacted by the respective ticket providers in due course – Ticketek for Forysth Barr Stadium, and Ticketmaster for Eden Park.
New Zealand Rugby CEO Mark Robinson said every effort had been made to keep the two Tests in New Zealand.
“We share the disappointment of our fans, players and other stakeholders, particularly those in Dunedin where the sold-out 100th Test between the All Blacks and South Africa was shaping up as a very special occasion.
“However, after discussions with Government, it is clear that the COVID-19 travel restrictions meant there was no way of bringing the South African and Wallaroos squads into New Zealand and we understand the importance of putting the health and safety of New Zealanders first.
Speaking on the decision to not have the All Blacks travel to Perth this weekend, Robinson said:
“Without complete certainty on the team’s next movements around The Rugby Championship we felt it was prudent for the team to stay put in New Zealand until SANZAAR have announced the full tournament schedule.
“Once the team leaves our shores, they currently can’t return until November 23 post their Northern Tour, so given the uncertainty, it makes sense to pause and get more clarity on these fixtures.
“We remain 100 percent committed to playing in the entire Fortinet Rugby Championship in 2021 and are working closely with SANZAAR to look at a range of options to reschedule these important matches.”
SANZAAR would make further announcements around the Rugby Championship schedule in due course.
Atapene
Roar Rookie
Hey mate you got your postponed game then.... how was it for you. Hope you enjoyed
jeznez
Roar Guru
Yeah my apologies to the Blues halfback Sharky. This one is defo the Chiefs midfielder Mark Powell Robbo. Mixing up my Mark Robinson’s. Heinous!
Uriah Heep
Roar Rookie
The important thing from here is the end-of-year tour and the game in the US - they're the money earners. Given that there won't be any more home games and the schedule hasn't been finalised, the rest is simply not that important.
Uriah Heep
Roar Rookie
Sharky is the other Mark Robinson - ex-half back. This one was a mid-fielder. Both All Blacks.
RugbyLover
Roar Rookie
Marinos has not done the planning and got caught out. Even with SANZAAR planning was not his strong point.
RugbyLover
Roar Rookie
Noodles that makes no sense at all. It seems NZR gave a deadline on Friday for an answer and instead of meeting that timeframe RA tried to delay it for a few hours while they talked more to the Qld Govt about the next steps and NZR declined and pulled the plug. They pulled the plug as RA could not give them comfort as to where they would/could go after Perth. RA did not have it worked out. This does not seem like a good excuse for rational people to blow up like RA and Rennie did. Its a shame because I really liked Rennie as a coach. From a non-parochial point of view it looks to me like RA got caught not having done the planning and is trying to cover themselves by blaming someone else.
jcmasher
Roar Rookie
hahahaha ouch! Too stupid to be nasty, that sounds a bit rough. I think it's just a typical scenario where people are talking without knowing all the facts - a bit like most of us on here TBH. And as usual in these instances people get upset when they don't know what's happening. I was a bit surprised to hear Rennie go off as much as he did. Maybe he's under more pressure than we know as that's not like him
jeznez
Roar Guru
I'm taking the positives JC, this was an attempt to inject a bit of levity. I haven't really got my tin hat on here. Doubt that Robinson possesses the competence to have planned this maliciously.
jcmasher
Roar Rookie
Mate it gives Rennie and the Wallabies a game they won't lose. Take the positives. Considering Kerevi has done nothing to scare the ABs in the last 4 years I'm not sure he'd be an issue now
jcmasher
Roar Rookie
He's just proved he's as incompetent to run RA as he was for SANZAAR. Not sure why he is trying to split the NZ/Aus relationship but he's doing a god job of it
Renzeau
Roar Rookie
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.newshub.co.nz/home/sport/2021/08/rugby-championship-nz-players-association-boss-rob-nichol-backs-decision-to-suspend-all-blacks-travel-to-perth.amp.html This is also missing from this article
robel
Roar Pro
Sydney is closer to Auckland than Perth is to Sydney. The game should have goner ahead for the 28th. NZRU copout. No community C19 in the whole of WA, 1/3 of the continent. 6014
Dally M
Roar Rookie
If that was the case, the ARU or SANZAAR would have been the ones to call off the match not NZ, given they still weren't planning to fly out for another 36 odd hours when they made their announcement.
Dally M
Roar Rookie
And yet somehow they are willing to go play in the UK and the US where cases are way worse. When NZ could not host South Africa, it was at that point that NZ knew they would have to play the games overseas and would be away until Nov 23. Why didn't they pull the pin on the tour then? Why just the Perth match, because they are saying they are still willing to play it and the rest of the RC? So, how can it be about the 4 months away if that is the reason?
Old Bugger
Guest
Mick if only that could happen.....?? Except, RA just won't let go.....they keep arguing for their 5 teams; they keep arguing for shared funds and yet, they bring nothing but on-the-paddock misery, to the table. Oh yeah sure - they had massive increases in TV viewing but, lets not confuse that by suggesting free-to-air TV, had nothing to do with, the massive increase. Did Ch9 make a bucket load on game advertising?? I suppose they have to recoup their $30M outlay paid to RA, for the broadcast rights. I'm sure I'm not alone but, I look forward to the day when the ABs return to the NPC to play and this comp, becomes SR Aotearoa.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Just saw it posted, who knows what to believe now. They are carrying on like a pair of spoilt children.
Old Bugger
Guest
Yes, everyone with intentions to enter NZ, must go into quarantine. However, the greater impact is that before you fly to NZ, every traveller has to acquire what is called a quarantine hotel-stay booking first and foremost. Without the booking, you can't arrange a flight, into NZ. The next quarantine hotel stay bookings will become available on November 23. So, if the ABs flew out to Perth yesterday/today and find the competition has been postponed/cancelled till a later date and/or moved, to another location, then they cannot return to NZ due to the quarantine booking hotel stay non-availability. I understand that, following discussions with all parties concerned not to mention the AB players, coaches and support staff, NZR decided to delay its departure to Perth pending receipt of confirmation of when and where, the RC will take place.
Scotty P
Roar Rookie
It's not easy for us kiwis to trust Marinos after he released the initial 2020 TRC draw without getting NZR's sign off. A bit rich of him to now complain about supposedly not being informed. He's also the guy who apparently wasn't in the running for the RA CEO job, but a few weeks later becomes the CEO. I don't trust the guy, but that doesn't mean he's not telling the truth in this case. It's just impossible to know.
Old Bugger
Guest
Perhaps the problem is, when you're confronted with fact, you cry "wolf...." All week, there's been no denial from either RA or Sanzaar about NZR's list of concerns, presented to them. There's been no denial from them about NZR's deadline for such a formal response - a deadline that passed without any communication and yet, both RA and Sanzaar wanted the ABs to get on a plane and fly to Perth, without knowing if a game or even a competition, would proceed. Cos if it didn't, then the whole squad, could not return to NZ without spending, 14days in MIQ. There is nothing obscure, about NZR's decision and the reasons for that decision. It's best to wait for definitive confirmation of when and where, this competition will take place - then, fly there to participate.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Taking the word of the guy speaking plainly, not the guy talking like a politician giving non-answers