Wallabies ‘bloody angry’ over All Blacks’ decision

Planet Rugby

Australian coach Dave Rennie is seen before the Tri-Nations rugby union match between the Australian Wallabies and the New Zealand All Blacks, at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Saturday, November 7, 2020. (AAP Image/Darren England) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY ** STRICTLY EDITORIAL USE ONLY, NO COMMERCIAL USE, NO BOOKS **

Australia head coach Dave Rennie is furious after New Zealand took the decision to stop their team from travelling to Perth next week.

The All Blacks have also cancelled their matches with South Africa, leaving the Rugby Championship in disarray.

There have been concerns all week that the Bledisloe Cup game could be called off due to the worsening Covid situation in both countries and the travel restrictions put in place as a result.

Rugby Australia were not told about New Zealand’s decision, according to a fuming Rennie, who has been left consistently disappointed by their actions over the past two seasons.

Not surprised

“Bloody angry. I just feel there’s only one of us who are interested in doing what’s best for the game,” the Wallabies’ boss told reporters. “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.”

He added: “It’s all about them without any concept of what it’s doing over here. New Zealand’s attitude of not honouring their commitments is really disappointing.

“We made a commitment to go there this year, they made a commitment to come here. They haven’t honoured that.”

Rennie believes that Australia have been the only country that have tried to compromise over the past year and criticised New Zealand Rugby’s attitude.

“We’ve all made sacrifices to ensure that games are played for the financial benefit of everyone and for the good of the game,” he said.

“There’s only been one partner that’s been flexible and this is the reward you get.

“New Zealand rugby union didn’t have the respect to consult Rugby Australia about their decision.”

The next few games could well be rescheduled and potentially played on the other side of the world, with the UK mentioned as a possible destination due to their lack of restrictions.

As it stands the 2021 Rugby Championship appears to be over but Rennie says that they will get clarification over the next few days and believes that there are ways of solving the current mess.

“We’ll sit on our hands for a few days now, uncertain whether the Test will be put back another week and played here in Perth or be played somewhere else in the world,” he added.

“We’ll get clarity on what the Rugby Championship looks like and where it’s going to be held and whether that’s Brisbane or whether that’s South Africa or whether that’s in Europe, the games are able to take place on those dates.

“So the 11th or the 12th of September is the first one; New Zealand could have come here and played the game here knowing that we’ve got a Rugby Championship game a couple of weeks after that. So hugely disappointing.”

 

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All Blacks hammer Australia

New Zealand’s dominance over Australia continued when they sealed an emphatic 57-22 victory in their Rugby Championship encounter in Auckland on Saturday.