Originally Posted by
wholetruth
Your little bird has sung too early
Bledisloe Cup: More confusion as AFL refuse to relinquish hold on Optus Stadium
Nick Taylor
The West Australian
Wed, 25 August 2021 6:44PM
Nick Taylor
The on-again, off-again Bledisloe Cup clash in Perth has been thrown into further disarray by the AFL’s refusal to release their Father’s Day hold on Optus Stadium.
There is also concern over the State Government’s travel ban on New Zealanders as the country goes into lockdown amid a growing COVID-19 outbreak.
But it is understood that if the All Blacks arrive on their charter flight on Thursday as planned it will give them enough time in quarantine - where they will be allowed to train under strict conditions - to play the game.
WA Health has confirmed they will be cleared to fly in, subject to final approval by the Chief Health Officer.
However, just when they will play the Wallabies is still in doubt because the AFL - who have first rights on the stadium for September 3, 4 and 5 - have thrown another spanner in the works.
Rugby Australia was set to announce on Wednesday that the game was locked in for September 5, Father’s Day, - but 30 minutes before the scheduled announcement the AFL pulled the plug.
They claim they may need the stadium on that Sunday, depending on this weekend’s results, concerned about getting sides into WA with enough “clear air” to play games on Friday or Saturday.
The AFL do not traditionally play Sunday games after the opening week of finals. The league has been contacted for comment.
The Bledisloe clash promises to be a feisty affair after off-field relations between RA and RNZ hit new lows when NZR refused to send the All Blacks to Perth for the scheduled fixture on 28 September. citing welfare issues.
RA had already agreed to move the game from September 21 to accommodate the Kiwis.
Wallabies coach, New Zealander Dave Rennie, ensured tensions would run high when he launched a blistering attack on the NZR last-minute decision to pull-out.
“Bloody angry. I just feel there’s only one of us who are interested in doing what’s best for the game,” Rennie said.
“It tells you more about them than us I’d say. I’m not surprised.
“I’ve had a couple of years now where I’m on the other side of the ditch. It’s been really disappointing the way they have conducted themselves over that period.
“It’s all about them without any concept of what it’s doing over here.”
Rennie said NZR they did not have the courtesy to let Rugby Australia know their decision, revealing his squad only heard through social media.
RA chief executive Andy Marinos added fuel to the fire after the NZR withdrawal saying they had set unrealistic deadlines before pulling out.
“They unilaterally discredited us, made a public statement before we even had an opportunity to further discuss. It was pretty clear to me I don’t think they really ever had any intention of playing that game on the 28th,” Marinos said.
NZR chief executive Mark Robinson denied the claims.