New Zealand Rugby chief Mark Robinson has responded to Australian anger over the decision not to send the All Blacks to Perth for Bledisloe 3, saying NZR were “comfortable” with the way events unfolded and making a pointed reference to their rivals’ “emotion”.
Rugby Australia CEO Andy Marinos accused Robinson of blindsiding him, saying he spoke to him on the phone just before NZR released a statement calling off their visit and Robinson didn’t mention the plans.
“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 statement.
Rugby Australia CEO Andy Marinos. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
Wallabies coach Dave Rennie was also furious, saying he was “bloody angry” with the NZR decision and adding that his players found out the match was postponed via social media.
Adding to Rennie’s anger was the fact Australia had made changes to their travel and game schedule over the past few weeks to allow New Zealand to host back-to-back Bledisloe Tests at Eden Park.
There were reports that New Zealand had given Australia a midday deadline for a decision on the Perth Test and subsequent rounds of The Rugby Championship, and had put out the statement after RA had asked for an extension.
On Saturday, the New Zealand Herald quoted Robinson as sticking by his guns.
“We don’t accept this has been a unilateral decision,” Robinson said.
“We have been communicating right through the week with SANZAAR and Rugby Australia and made it very clear to them the risks and concerns we had.
“We understand the emotion coming out of there but are really comfortable with the rationale that we’ve put in behind the decision and comfortable we’re standing behind our people.
“We can understand the frustration and disappointment from Rugby Australia about the fact we are unable to travel tomorrow night. We have a huge amount of sympathy for them and the impact this has on the match in Perth for next weekend.
“We are absolutely committed to playing that game at some stage and we’ll work as hard as we possibly can to make that happen with them.
“Getting into a whole lot of speculation around who said what when doesn’t really matter at the moment. It doesn’t help anything, doesn’t help us go forward. We’re focused on trying to find a solution to what balances our need to look after our people with our commitment to wanting to make this tournament go ahead.”
There have been a number of options raised for the third Bledisloe match, including in Perth on September 4, in Queensland or in Europe with games in France and Britain.
The NZ Herald reports there is a possibility the third Bledisloe could be played on October 9 at Wembley.
“They are options that are being seriously considered,” Robinson told the NZ Herald about the potential to play in Europe.
“When you look around the world at the moment there are a lot of things happening around sport and entertainment that are different to what we’ve previously considered as normal in the past. This is just another example of that.”
South Africa has also offered to host the remainder of the tournament.
“We have advised SANZAAR that we are ready and able to host the remainder of the competition in South Africa, pending our Government’s approval,” said SA Rugby CEO Jurie Roux.
“But we are now well-versed in turning on rugby Tests within the prevailing COVID restrictions and have the venues and accommodation necessary. We just need the go-ahead.”
“We would love to stay here, but we will play anywhere,” Springboks captain Siya Kolisi added ahead of their match against Argentina.
“There are two teams [South Africa and Argentina] here already.”
Assistant coach Mzwandile Stick added that the success of the recent Lions tour showed South Africa’s worth as hosts.
“If you look at the facilities that we got in our country, they are very good stadiums to host any kind of an event,” Stick said.
“We hosted big events before and there was the success of the British and Irish Lions tour when all the [Test] games were played in Cape Town.
“It’s a pity that our supporters can’t really enjoy the games in the stadiums, but we are living in challenging times.
“I think we’ve got what it takes if it comes to South Africa.”
Micko
Roar Rookie
You’re delusional. NZ can’t do any decent pro sport, and are thus desperate to join in Australian sporting comps and sporting events at any chance. Not to mention New Zealanders begging for an open border deal with Australia to flood here, and get the heck out of NZ! If it was feasible for NZ to have an 8 team pro comp then they would already have it. The PI franchise to be based out of Auckland is being funded by outsiders, so how the heck do you assume NZ can create two more pro sides, PE money from Silverlake?
Micko
Roar Rookie
NZ isn't subjected to an annual cricket series with Australia, and in fact have lost their last six consecutive tests to Australia despite winning the inaugural ICC TC held recently. And rugby league gives kiwis full access to an Australian pro comp that NZ can't sustain, hence why they're now so competitive.
kgbagent
Roar Rookie
Rob Nicol, the NZRPA boss, said on an interview on NZ radio SENZ this morning: "“That wasn’t something we thought was sensible and so what we said, and Argentina and South Africa did the same thing, is that by Friday lunchtime if we can’t confirm that Queensland can host Rugby Championship and quarantine and let them train - Argentina and South Africa - then we are going to have to push everything out a week which is pretty much what happened,’’ "“To be fair they (Rugby Australia) didn’t want the release to go out because they hadn’t kept their stakeholders informed throughout, but the challenge we had is we had 65 people about to jump on a plane and they needed to be told, and their families needed to be told,’’ Nichol told Senz. “And as soon as they are told, everyone finds out. So NZ Rugby made the call to put the release up. Probably the explanation and communication of, exactly, the circumstances wasn’t clear enough is my pick on how things have rolled out.’’" https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/300389029/all-blacks-queensland-government-to-decide-fate-of-rugby-championship A different take.
Jokerman
Roar Guru
Dealing with an inflated ego needs some wisdom to defuse it. The All Blacks did what was right for them. Remember last year? SA didn’t turn up and Australia pulled the competition from NZ to their home country. NZ’s reaction was pretty mild. Australia pulled out of a whole series away from NZ just like the 2003 RWC. Now due to a virus the All Blacks delayed one game. The All Blacks were open to travel to WA but due to the COVID in NZ WA suddenly had barriers and NZ respectfully pulled out for now. NZ didn’t judge WA, but RA judged NZ. It feels like dealing with a Trump administration….”bloody angry” etc. The hypocrisy though when last year both SA and Australia did the same thing under better conditions.
Brian Westlake
Roar Rookie
Nothing like a new zealander playing the victim again hey? If you get caught out, just blame ignorance
LuckyPhil
Roar Rookie
As a long suffering wallabies fan, I feel there is a real risk that in 30 years we will be talking about rugby much the same as we will be talking about petrol cars and T-bone steaks. I am absolutely astounded that the heads of all the rugby unions around the world don't sit down together and map out a plan to actually grow the game. It doesn't really matter who said what, but the simple fact is if rugby is not played on a consistent basis, then other sports or other forms of entertainment will come in and take its place.
Colin Fenwick
Roar Rookie
Yes, that's correct, hence my caveats.
Double Agent
Guest
"ours" In what capacity are you involved Sci?
Bluesfan
Stuff was sold by Nine last year to it's NZ CEO for the sum of $1, allowing 9 to exit the NZ market.
Phantom
Roar Rookie
Nz will do what’s best for them . I have no issue with that.
Clifto
Roar Pro
Where were you last year when Sth Africa announced at the last minute they weren't coming? Literally EVERYONE was furious, and said so at the time...
AndyS
Guest
"If RA has signed a contract with WA to host a game then that’s their problem not ours." TBH, if there's been any sort of sniff of that attitude in the whole thing, that might explain RA's reaction. Wonder how NZR would have felt if having done all the work to relocate the second Test to Eden Park, the Wallabies had decided to instead just jump on a plane and say "'Cos Covid, contracts are your problem"...?
Sci
Roar Rookie
Marinos seems to be changing his story - yesterday he and Rennie were lynching NZRU for not telling them they weren’t travelling. Now he’s saying he knew they weren’t travelling and the issue is around timing of media releases! If RA has signed a contract with WA to host a game then that’s their problem not ours. I think RAs big problem is they’ve employed the guy that single handedly stuffed super rugby as their CEO.
Colin Fenwick
Roar Rookie
While you have a very valid point yourself Ken, aren't you also proving Eddie's?
Colin Fenwick
Roar Rookie
...and scaffolding?
Colin Fenwick
Roar Rookie
Hey! I resemble that comment!
Colin Fenwick
Roar Rookie
Projecting Peter?
Colin Fenwick
Roar Rookie
It's my understanding that SMH and Stuff Ltd (until last year anyway) are/were both owned by Nine (Fairfax). Stuff still publishes many articles from the Nine's mastheads.
Leroy14
Roar Rookie
Well they can do that.
Reddy
Roar Rookie
You could be right however, USA and Japan are interested in having New Zealand involved. They are wanting more meaningful competition. Hence why the all blacks are playing a test in Washington DC this year and why the all blacks have played Japan more in recent years. I think possibly Japan would want the NZ super sides involved in a comp.