2021 Rugby Championship
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In fact it gets worse, RA knew but fail to mention, that SA and Arg had already cancelled their flights in to Oz as they couldn't quarantine as planned in NSW. Add to that the speed the NZ govt imposes restrictions, the ABs didn't have 3 hours to spare (not that time would've made a difference as Queensland still haven't agreed to host the RC over 3 days later). Basically RA were so desperate to keep the five million for three Perth test, they shouted first and loudest to set the agenda, cleverly too.
The uncertainty about where and when the Rugby Championship will be played is not being driven by the usual petty Sanzaar politics and self-interest, but by a global pandemic that continues to rage through Oceania to such an extent that the Springboks and Pumas – both in South Africa – can’t get into Australia.
This salient fact has gone missing from the RA narrative and yet it is the one central to understanding the situation and justifying NZR’s decision to keep the All Blacks at home for nowWhat happened is that early last week New South Wales’s state government decided, with Delta cases presenting at unprecedented levels, it could no longer allow Argentina and South Africa to quarantine there.That left Sanzaar having to negotiate with other state governments to see where the two incoming teams could be housed.
Western Australia agreed to allow the All Blacks to complete a soft, seven-day quarantine where they could train and then play the Wallabies in Perth on August 28.
But they said no to housing the South Africans and Argentinians and said no to hosting any other Rugby Championship games.
At which point – believed to be Wednesday/Thursday last week – Sanzaar, in consultation with its four member countries, scrambled three potential hosting options for the remainder of the tournament [excluding the test between New Zealand and Australia which was still set for Perth].
The All Blacks perform the Haka during The Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup match between the New Zealand All Blacks and the Australian Wallabies at Eden Park. Photo / Getty Images.
The options, in order of preference, were Queensland, UK and South Africa.
Queensland, to be viable, would require confirmation the state government could not only find a facility in which to isolate the Pumas and Springboks, but also agree to it being a soft quarantine where they could fully train.
If those two teams could be successfully housed on those terms, then New Zealand would have flown to Perth on Saturday August 21, played the Wallabies on August 28 and then moved to Queensland for the rest of the tournament.
But as Sanzaar and RA were aware, because there was constant dialogue all week, NZR needed confirmation about the Queensland situation by 2pm on Friday August 20 to commit to getting on the plane.
Again, as Sanzaar and RA were aware, NZR had outlined their position that they couldn’t send the All Blacks to Perth without confirmation that the rest of the Rugby Championship would be played in Australia.
As both Sanzaar and RA were aware, if the All Blacks travelled to Perth to play on August 28 and the Rugby Championship was cancelled, they would be stuck there – unable to return home until November 23.
When the 2pm deadline passed without confirmation from the Queensland government about their ability to offer quarantine places to South Africa and Argentina, New Zealand publicly announced they would not be travelling to Perth the following day.
This was not unilateral, unexpected or uncommunicated. Not only had it been discussed at Sanzaar executive level, but All Blacks captain Sam Whitelock had been in regular contact with Wallabies captain Michael Hooper keeping him appraised of the situation and New Zealand’s intent.
It’s also understood that well in advance of New Zealand confirming their decision not to travel to Perth, Sanzaar had been informed that the Springboks and Pumas had cancelled their charter flight to Australia which was due to leave South Africa on August 22.RA was in a desperate hurry to blame the All Blacks for endangering the Rugby Championship going ahead, when they must have known that both the Pumas and Springboks had made their decision not to travel to Australia way in advance of NZR announcing their plans.
Far from being the bad guy, NZR made a responsible, practical decision – one which respects the welfare of their players and, just as importantly, creates a wider range of options as to where and when the rearranged fixture against the Wallabies can be played.
What’s also not been put in the public domain is that RA, prior to Friday, were adamant with NZR that the game in Perth could not be played the following weekend on September 4.
Now that the All Blacks have stayed at home and been publicly denounced for it, RA has confirmed that playing in Perth on September 4 is an option after all.
The only conclusion that can be reached after analysis of these events is that RA, having sold 60,000 tickets to play in Perth on August 28, were upset that their attempt to pressure NZR into coming to fulfil the fixture on that specific day had failed.
The Wallabies, who have already been on the road for several weeks and have been parked up in Perth since they left Auckland on August 15, were understandably disappointed that there won’t be a game on August 28.
But NZR’s decision to not travel has neither killed the fixture nor damaged the integrity of the Rugby Championship.
If Queensland can confirm early this week that it can quarantine the Pumas and Springboks and host tests, then the All Blacks will fly to Perth, do their seven days in soft isolation and play the Wallabies on September 4 before travelling to Australia’s Sunshine State.
Alternatively, if Queensland is ruled out, then the Rugby Championship will shift to the UK and that may still see the All Blacks travel to Western Australia to play the Wallabies on September 4 and then head north after.
Or, if that is not feasible, the game will be rescheduled – with October 9 and Wembley shaping as the most likely date and venue.
One final point NZR has made clear to RA and Sanzaar is that the remaining fixture between the All Blacks and Wallabies is not, in their eyes, the third Bledisloe but the second Rugby Championship test.
The Bledisloe is safely locked up at NZR headquarters in Wellington – a final fact which may be driving RA to only present half the facts about what really happened last weekk
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What a bunch of fluffybunnies. I wonder what those deriding the NZRFU and swallowing the idea that RA was the innocent ambush victim make of all this? Robinson could have come out and disputed the claims, and was made to look weak for not doing so. But the truth is more damning. Just not for him
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It is a risky strategy to piss off your nearest rugby neighbour and biggest stadium drawcard (apart from Lions?). On the other hand NZ rugby seems to be outmanouevred on a regular basis. I hope sane heads (and perhaps new faces) prevail. Don't see many winners out of the current situation (except perhaps for player health).
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@gt12 said in 2021 Rugby Championship:
NZRU
Like it, but is there a U there?Thought it was NZR.
If so, how about NZAargh... -
There's some people coming out of this with egg on their faces. Marinos obviously and Rennie.
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@canefan said in 2021 Rugby Championship:
What a bunch of fluffybunnies. I wonder what those deriding the NZRFU and swallowing the idea that RA was the innocent ambush victim make of all this? Robinson could have come out and disputed the claims, and was made to look weak for not doing so. But the truth is more damning. Just not for him
That was me. And as I said all along, if it was true.
Not sure why the above can now be considered to be gospel truth either.
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@majorrage said in 2021 Rugby Championship:
Not sure why the above can now be considered to be gospel truth either.
It does seem oddly specific with plenty of details which could be easily contradicted.
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@antipodean said in 2021 Rugby Championship:
There's some people coming out of this with egg on their faces. Marinos obviously and Rennie.
Throw enough shit some of it sticks.
In the minds of fly by night Aussie supporters, AB haters and NZR sceptics all they'll have heard is ABs unilaterally cancelled. Everything that's come out after is detail, and they only need the headlines.
Some interesting reactions to those ZB interviews over the weekend. Heard comment that people were more inclined to believe Rennie over Robinson because of the relative strength of language and assertiveness, including the host Jason Pine. Just one thing on Pine is that he is a soccer man, and his decision to interview Mar Keohane shows either he doesn't know enough about rugby to know that Keo is an irrelevant troll, or, more likely, he does.
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Rob Nichol clearly explains NZR's position and what transpired last week. Audio interview at the bottom of the page.
NZ Rugby PA boss discusses fate of Rugby Championship
“It was almost a decision taken out of the hands.”
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@akan004 said in 2021 Rugby Championship:
Rob Nichol clearly explains NZR's position and what transpired last week. Audio interview at the bottom of the page.
NZ Rugby PA boss discusses fate of Rugby Championship
“It was almost a decision taken out of the hands.”
Sums it up pretty nicely. Correct decisions, poor execution all round. It does beg the question though, if all parties were privy to discussions, and SA and ARG had already decided not to fly, why had RA not at least warned their stakeholders of what was going on? I got the gist that they suddenly had to tell them in a very time sensitive situation
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@canefan said in 2021 Rugby Championship:
@akan004 said in 2021 Rugby Championship:
Rob Nichol clearly explains NZR's position and what transpired last week. Audio interview at the bottom of the page.
NZ Rugby PA boss discusses fate of Rugby Championship
“It was almost a decision taken out of the hands.”
Sums it up pretty nicely. Correct decisions, poor execution all round. It does beg the question though, if all parties were privy to discussions, and SA and ARG had already decided not to fly, why had RA not at least warned their stakeholders of what was going on?
Competence?
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@antipodean said in 2021 Rugby Championship:
@canefan said in 2021 Rugby Championship:
@akan004 said in 2021 Rugby Championship:
Rob Nichol clearly explains NZR's position and what transpired last week. Audio interview at the bottom of the page.
NZ Rugby PA boss discusses fate of Rugby Championship
“It was almost a decision taken out of the hands.”
Sums it up pretty nicely. Correct decisions, poor execution all round. It does beg the question though, if all parties were privy to discussions, and SA and ARG had already decided not to fly, why had RA not at least warned their stakeholders of what was going on?
Competence?
Rhetorical question, nicely answered
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@akan004 said in 2021 Rugby Championship:
Let's hope there isn't an outbreak in Qld or we will likely see the RC cancelled. Would have preferred Europe for that reason.
At this rate the Olympics will be cancelled
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@canefan said in 2021 Rugby Championship:
@akan004 said in 2021 Rugby Championship:
Rob Nichol clearly explains NZR's position and what transpired last week. Audio interview at the bottom of the page.
NZ Rugby PA boss discusses fate of Rugby Championship
“It was almost a decision taken out of the hands.”
Sums it up pretty nicely. Correct decisions, poor execution all round. It does beg the question though, if all parties were privy to discussions, and SA and ARG had already decided not to fly, why had RA not at least warned their stakeholders of what was going on? I got the gist that they suddenly had to tell them in a very time sensitive situation
Because Rugby Australia?
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@mikethesnow said in 2021 Rugby Championship:
@akan004 said in 2021 Rugby Championship:
Let's hope there isn't an outbreak in Qld or we will likely see the RC cancelled. Would have preferred Europe for that reason.
At this rate the Olympics will be cancelled
Yeah, but Anastacia, and Australian State Governments.
Revealed: All Blacks test back on, Rugby Championship host confirmed
