New Zealand Rugby boss hits back at Dave Rennie
New Zealand Rugby (NZR) CEO Mark Robinson has dismissed the criticism of his organisation for the All Blacks to withdraw from their Bledisloe Cup Test in Perth.
Rugby Championship in disarray
New Zealand have also cancelled their matches with South Africa, leaving the Rugby Championship in disarray.
“It’s disappointing how it’s been communicated. Our boys all found out through social media,” said Rennie.
“NZ Rugby didn’t even have the respect to consult RA (Rugby Australia) about their decision, so that’s hugely disappointing. I’m not sure shocked is the right word, because I’m not surprised.”
Robinson reacted by saying that, although he is sympathetic to Rennie over the situation, it is untrue that there was no consultation.
“Certainly I know that senior All Blacks and Wallabies were discussing the situation and our players were making them aware of the reality of our situation,” he told Newstalk ZB on Saturday.
“It’s a shame that it couldn’t get back to Dave and some of the people he’s referring to.
“I haven’t read all of his comments, but my understanding of some reference to no consultation, that’s simply not true.
“We had calls right through from sort of Wednesday, Thursday; we put something in writing on Thursday, and then we spoke to them (Rugby Australia) before anything was released.
“I have real sympathy for Dave.
“I’d have thought there’d have been talking the days up to when this came a possibility, that there would have been communication within Rugby Australia to identify this as a possibility.”
Meanwhile, an angry Rugby Australia CEO Andy Marinos said his organisation found out via the media of the decision on Friday afternoon despite ongoing discussions with Robinson.
“It’s incredibly disappointing to be informed of this decision via the media, despite having a conversation with the CEO moments before and there (was) no mention that this was the intention,” he said in a statement.
Marinos added that discussions between all parties, including the Western Australia government, were positive and they were “close to finding a solution” and that a meeting with SANZAAR was scheduled later for Friday.
But Robinson said he felt NZR and the All Blacks needed more certainty over whether the Test would be played in Perth or shifted to Queensland.
“We’ve got a touring party of over 60 people potentially, about to be on the road for probably over 15 weeks, not able to get back into the country until the 23rd of November, and then have two weeks of managed isolation and quarantine,” he told Newstalk ZB.
“We tried to give Rugby Australia as much time as possible til Friday afternoon to have quarantine tidied up with Queensland … that was unable to be achieved and therefore we weren’t really able to get on a plane – which would have been today – at such short notice and be in a position to play that game in Perth.
“You’re talking about four months where people are going to be away. So under that scenario, we think before we set off with no real understanding of when we might be able to come home, we think that pausing for the sake of a few more days is reasonable for our people at this time.”
The Planet Rugby Show - Episode Ten
Mark Smith and Adam Kyriacou bring you another Planet Rugby Show, covering the goings-on in the sport.