SANZAAR and Rugby Australia management have apologised to Argentina Rugby for taking a promotional photo for The Rugby Championship that omitted Argentina.
SANZAAR released a statement on Monday that attempted to outline how the photo, labelled ‘direspectful’ by an angry Los Pumas coach Mario Ledesma, came to be taken of captains Michael Hooper, Ardie Savea and Siya Kolisi.
“A promotional photograph featuring the captains of Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa had been planned for the tournament once all matches had been rescheduled to be played in Queensland,” SANZAAR said in the statement.
“A photo session was organised for the day before the Round 5 matches in Townsville on Friday 24 September. Unfortunately, a late travel change then meant that the Argentina captain could not make the designated time for the photo session.
(Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
“It was determined that the photo session would proceed so that a photo of the New Zealand and South African captains could be taken to promote the historic 100th match between the two countries.
Furthermore, the Australian captain would be photographed in the First Nations jersey that the Australian team would wear in the match for local promotion. These photographs were taken and utilised by the media from the respective countries.
“However, during the photo session a communications breakdown led to a photograph being taken of the three attending captains with the trophy, minus the absent Argentina captain.
“SANZAAR and Rugby Australia take full responsibility for this error and acknowledge that it should not have happened and fully understands Argentina Rugby’s disappointment over this matter after the image appeared in the media.
“SANZAAR would like to publicly state that no disrespect was intended and indeed would like to thank Argentina Rugby for its unselfish and committed contribution to The Rugby Championship, highlighted by the fact that it has played all matches away from home over the last two years.”
After Argentina lost to the Wallabies on Saturday, Ledesma said: “The boys and staff felt really disrespected.
“We’re not asking for much; last year when South Africa pulled out, we came over here, went through strict lockdown.
“We were away from home three or four months and we’re the only team that haven’t played at home for more than two years.”
Australia and Argentina engaged in a feisty battle last week in the aftermath of the photo snub. They resume hostilities on the Gold Coast on Saturday.
“We’re always travelling, we never complain but we feel sometimes we’re getting treated with disrespect and we just continue, cop it on the chin,” Ledesma said.
“We spent three weeks in a one-hour radius to get to the picture and all of a sudden we’re 1400km away, cannot get here and they take the freaking picture.
“They made a video, everyone is joking, having a good time and our captain is not there…and nobody said anything.”
Anibal Pyro
Roar Rookie
I am not a Ledesma fan. Miles from it. But we do not know all the things they have been through. Perhaps they felt treated as garbage and cannot declare such a thing. Just a thought.
piru
Roar Rookie
As they should - but glad to see it being made
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Whats an F grip James?
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Please enlighten us all Carlos. This stinks as it is without the conspiracy but with one it may well be biases being shown. I do doubt it was deliberate but something went wrong. Was it communication? What was it that caused the LP Captain to miss it?
Double Agent
Guest
I bet if all four were in the pic none of us would've ever seen it anyway.
Rhys
Roar Rookie
John Kirwan is all of a sudden in the Argentina corner! Amazing what a little karma can do. :silly:
James584
Roar Rookie
BFD. Get over it. Take another one. Classic distraction by the Argie coach and you are all sucked in, hook, line and sinker. If this was us and Hooper was left out and we made a big deal about it, I would think it was pathetic. Get a F grip. The Argie captain couldn’t attend.
Carlos the Argie
Roar Guru
We are trying to figure it out ourselves!
Oblonsky’s Other Pun
Guest
What’s this about, Carlos?
cinque
Roar Rookie
Yes, perhaps Hooper should have sat this one out, or been advised to. A photo with the other two would look okay and not offend. Of course, no photo would have been best.
Old Bugger
Roar Rookie
Exactly....he could've stood between Ardie and the cup.....no probs??? Oh hang on, the idea to shoot was to celebrate the 100th test and get Ardie and Siya, to stand with the cup. But, Hoops did a great photo-bomb there....and that's when everything went belly-up cos silly administrators, released a print that was photo-bombed and someone missing.
J Jones
Roar Rookie
Very poor form…
Ben
Guest
They couldve photo shopped Montoya in surely....
Francisco Roldan
Roar Rookie
According to you, Carlos: this is more than a simple mistake... Whatever point of view we choose to analyze the subject, it openly disfavors Los Pumas.
bazza200
Guest
This is crazy dissappointed in our captain for not speaking up. Hooper need to be better they've come to australia so games can happen two years in a row. Fans are greatful just cause your not the best team doesn't mean you shouldn't be included.
Carlos the Argie
Roar Guru
From the NZ Herald: "A Rugby Australia spokesperson told the Sydney Morning Herald that attempts were made to have all four captains but with the teams based an hour apart, it wasn't possible. Offers were made to pick up a non-playing member from the Argentina squad but it wasn't taken up." As you can read, there definitely is more to the story. I just don't trust Ledesma anymore.
Francisco Roldan
Roar Rookie
It's hard to believe that these kinds of mistakes are made at this level. I think of two possible interpretations: A) SANZAAR intends to disable ARG from RugbyChampionship in the short or medium term. B) Indirect messages to Mario Ledesma's management, sent by the president of SANZAAR (Marcelo Rodriguez). Any option seems unacceptable for the moment.
YKT
Roar Rookie
Make it right. Take the photo again this weekend with all four captains.
Nobrain
Roar Guru
Probably a dispute over the money. The big three do not think that LP deserve the same piece because they do not bring enough to the table.
Harry Jones
Expert
I’ll stay tuned!