New Zealand Rugby slammed for putting ‘self interest ahead of the wider game’

Tensions between New Zealand and Australia are heating up again ahead of the opening Bledisloe Cup Test of 2023.

A media opportunity with Wallabies captain James Slipper and All Blacks skipper Ardie Savea is the recent source of a spat with Australian journalists slamming New Zealand Rugby.

Slipper and Savea were set to have a press conference after posing for photos as part of the build-up to the clash at Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Not for the first time

However, Savea was absent for the conference, not allowing the chance for local journalists to speak to the captain.

The Roar editor Christy Doran took aim at New Zealand Rugby’s media team calling out Communications Specialist Jo Malcolm while he also criticised the All Blacks’ decision to only arrive in Sydney on Thursday.

'Tried to scrap him': Ardie's ABs warning ahead of rendezvous with Wallabies rookie as NZR arrogance returns

**

One job as a media manager. Blaming counterpart for early start is poor form.https://t.co/aa9FpGTDsJ

— Christy Doran (@ChristypDoran) July 28, 2023

“He [Savea] was supposed to have a press conference before posing with Wallabies co-captain James Slipper ahead of Saturday’s Test,” Doran explained.

“But not for the first time, New Zealand Rugby management put self interest ahead of the wider game, as their ‘Communications Specialist’ Jo Malcolm, who infamously took it upon herself to cancel a press conference for Ian Foster and Sam Cane after the All Blacks lost their series to Ireland last year, chose to start the press conference 20 minutes early.

“It meant several local journalists missed the chance to speak to the acting All Blacks captain, as Malcolm took a page out of Mathieu Raynal’s book by employing a “let’s play” attitude.

“Malcolm, meanwhile, blamed her Australian counterpart for the early start time. So much for thawing trans-Tasman relations.

“The media opportunity was the only one on Australian shores, with the All Blacks leaving their arrival in Melbourne as late as possible.”

All Blacks wary of new-look Wallabies

While Australian media may not have had the chance to speak to Savea, the stand-in All Blacks captain answered a few questions at the event.

The number eight said that the All Blacks are wary of the new-look Wallabies outfit after Eddie Jones made some bold selection calls.

“We have that in the back of our mind; we know they are going to come out firing, and we know they can throw something at us that we haven’t seen before,” Savea said.

“The great challenge for us is having to adapt fast to the game, and that’s something that we’ve talked about.”

Commenting on the Bledisloe Cup, Savea added: “The Bledisloe means so much not only to the All Blacks, but the whole of New Zealand, so a lot is on the line,” Savea said.

“We know that we feel that, we harness that. We have used that as fuel and energy this week and hopefully on Saturday.”

READ MORE: WATCH: Eddie Jones stars in two HILARIOUS ads for the Rugby World Cup