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Better get their All Black asses over here then..
Play or pay? WA Government to lay strong tackle on All Blacks amid Bledisloe Cup withdrawal in Perth
Nick Taylor
The West Australian
Sat, 21 August 2021 2:25PM
Rugby Australia are trying to save the Bledisloe Cup clash at Optus Stadium, cancelled when the All Blacks controversially pulled out at the last minute.
But if New Zealand Rugby refuse to send the All Blacks to Perth they are likely to cop a bill from the State Government that is investigating getting back taxpayers’ money used to snare the game.
Governing body SANZAAR is in talks with RA, NZR and Optus Stadium about re-scheduling the fixture to September 4, after it had already been moved a week to next Saturday at the Kiwis’ request.
It is understood the government forked out about $5 million for rights to the game and Premier Mark McGowan said contracts would be examined for possible action against the NZ governing body.
“I think the All Blacks made a unilateral decision to pull out,” McGowan said after NZR announced on Friday that the All Blacks would not be flying to Perth.
“I was advised that’s their decision, we’ll look at what the contractual arrangements were.“I understand that the State have committed some money towards that, we’ll work out exactly what it was and seek to get our money back.”
A government spokesperson added: “The decision this week by the All Blacks is disappointing and we hope an agreement can be reached between Rugby Australia and SANZAAR for an alternative date.
“In the instance the event is not able to be rescheduled, Tourism WA’s agreement includes financial protections.”
The NZR decision sent simmering trans-Tasman tension to new levels after they made the announcement without informing Rugby Australia.
Furious RA chief executive Andy Marinos said they were told by media despite ongoing discussions with his NZ counterpart Mark Robinson.
Robinson defended the decision saying: “We certainly don’t accept this has been a unilateral decision.”
A “bloody angry” Wallabies coach Dave Rennie, who revealed players discovered the cancellation through social media, blasted the Kiwis for “playing the welfare card” as justification for not travelling.
He said his players, who have been on the road since June, had already endured hardships of their own.
He was furious because RA co-operated when NZR asked for help in rescheduling Tests in New Zealand earlier this month and relented to their request to move the Optus Stadium game.
“It tells you more about them than us I’d say,” Rennie said.
The Bledisloe clash doubles as a Rugby Championship match and the NZR move has thrown the tournament, that also includes South Africa and Argentina, into chaos.
It is hoped games can be played in Queensland but that depends on COVID border regulations. South Africa has offered to host them while talks are taking place about taking the tournament to London, Dublin and Cardiff.