Optus Stadium set to host Wallabies in massive double-header of international rugby n

[Alison]

Word out of the Bledisloe Cup lunch is that apparently Rugby Australia found out via the media minutes after speaking to the NZRU on the phone.

That's ice cold.

Shows just how much they think of RA and its CEO. Too bad; how sad.

[SlowCooked]

All Blacks were warned to arrive early in Perth for Bledisloe Cup to avoid potential COVID lockdown

Nick Taylor
The West Australian
Fri, 20 August 2021 5:23PM

The All Blacks were warned of a potential lockdown and went on holidays instead of coming to Perth. Credit: Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images

New Zealand Rugby bosses ignored warnings to send the All Blacks to Perth early for the Bledisloe Cup clash at Optus Stadium to avoid a possible COVID outbreak - and sent them on holiday instead.

Players were given a break after the last Test at Eden Park with the team due to fly to Perth this Sunday.

But worst fears struck when NZ went into lockdown and WA closed its borders.

The Wallabies arrived in Perth last Sunday and have undergone regular testing since.

In long-running talks governing body SANZAAR and the NZ rugby union were warned by WA authorities to take the early action.

WA police were involved in the talks.

“The WA Police Force had been in ongoing discussions with Rugby Australia and clearly articulated the requirements necessary for presentation of a proposal to the Chief Health Officer for the All Blacks to be able to play in Perth on 28 August,” they said in a statement.


Wallabies coach Dave Rennie speaking to media at Optus Stadium today. Credit: supplied/supplied

The final decision rests with WA’s Chief Health Officer Andy Robertson.

An insider said the All Blacks had been warned at least a fortnight ago to make an earlier arrival in Perth.

“The sad thing is that if New Zealand had done what the Wallabies did we wouldn’t be in this situation,” he said.

“Granted there was no COVID problem early in the conversation but they had been told at least two weeks ago that it would be advisable to get to Perth early.

“Shame they didn’t listen.”

NZRU was asked to comment about the early travel advice but did not reply.

Rugby Australia are furious about the NZRU’s last-minute decision to pull out of the August 28 game.

They described it as a “unilateral” decision while a “bloody angry” Wallabies coach Dave Rennie launched a blistering attack saying: “It’s all about them without any concept of what it’s doing over here.

“It tells you more about them than us.”


AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - AUGUST 14: Matt Philip of the Wallabies looks on during The Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup match between the New Zealand All Blacks and the Australian Wallabies at Eden Park on August 14, 2021 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images)
Matt Philip and the Wallabies have been in Perth since last Sunday. Credit: Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images
There is still hope that the game can be re-scheduled for September 4 at Optus Stadium.

But Rennie said: “On current form I’d be very surprised if they agreed to come over here for that date.”

RA chief Executive Andy Marinos said: “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.”

However NZRU chief executive Mark Robinson claimed they weren’t prepared to send the team to Perth with uncertainty around travel and scheduling.

“We certainly don’t accept this has been a unilateral decision,” he said.

“We have been communicating right through the week with SANZAAR and Rugby Australia and made very clear to them the risks and concerns we had.”

https://thewest.com.au/sport/rugby-u...down-c-3736048

[SlowCooked]

Shows just how much they think of RA and its CEO. Too bad; how sad.

Yep, why would the AB's care? They have the Bledisloe in the bag. Now they get extra rest before a big European tour

[JSJ]

Yep, why would the AB's care? They have the Bledisloe in the bag. Now they get extra rest before a big European tour

This attitude will bite the Kiwis one day.

[shasta]

I watched a League match played @ Suncorp tonight and the playing surface starting show signs of deterioration after heavy use. Trying to fit in consecutive Rugby double headers in amongst the NRL finals series might be problematic.

[.X.]

I watched a League match played @ Suncorp tonight.

No way - you never do that.

What changed?

[shasta]

No way - you never do that.

What changed?

Awww shit! Looks like the jig is up then?

[jargan83]

Shows just how much they think of RA and its CEO. Too bad; how sad.

I may have been one of the most hostile people towards Rugby Australia since 2017 but I disagree.

This is completely unprofessional from NZRU letting Rugby Australia find out via a press release minutes after they were in the phone.

They claim player welfare when Australian players haven't seen their families in 8 weeks, moved flights around to ensure they could enter NZ to play 2 games where NZ would benefit from the gate only to claim it's too hard for the when it came to the Might All lacks being put out.

Apparently the Emperor of WA offered them an exemption to enter so long as they arrived tomorrow (AFL sides have been given exemptions with 7 days of quarantine) stayed in the bubble and got frequent COVID tests. Failing that Rugby Australia was trying to move the game to Brisbane but again NZRU simply put up the too hard sign in the window.

Even Kiwi journos are giving it to NZRU.

Yep, why would the AB's care? They have the Bledisloe in the bag. Now they get extra rest before a big European tour

The potential breach of their TV contract that may cost them millions of dollars.

[.X.]

[bootsetal06]

This is arrogance personified….I hope they get smashed by the Boks and the Northern Hemisphere teams which they are clearly taking timeout for .

[bootsetal06]

And they don’t want to risk losing to the No. 7 team at the start of the tour …. Arseholes .

[volvo]

I am no fan for RA but firmly on their side with this fiasco, utter disrespect from NZ rugby.

[chibi]

We're going to keep getting that if we keep dealing with them.

Build from within.

[wallabydarnd]

Not ignoring the fact that the real reason the AB aren’t coming is that they are scared. The Craypot is a hoodoo stadium— checking all the historical records- have they ever beaten the Wobblies at the ground?

[todd4]

Not ignoring the fact that the real reason the AB aren’t coming is that they are scared. The Craypot is a hoodoo stadium— checking all the historical records- have they ever beaten the Wobblies at the ground?

Over the last 100 years? No, never!