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Australia-New Zealand canceled: the All Blacks "disappointed", the Wallabies "mad with rage"

2021-08-20T11:11:47.704Z


The New Zealanders' decision to withdraw from the Rugby Championship arouses anger and incomprehension among their opponents. And upsets the international calendar.


A strong, abrupt decision, which plunges the southern hemisphere into the storm.

The All Blacks have decided to withdraw from the Rugby Championship, the flagship competition of the Southern nations, due to the resumption of the Covid-19 pandemic in New Zealand.

The Kiwis will therefore not go to Perth in Australia to face the Wallabies there on August 28, a new confinement having been decided following the discovery ... of a positive case.

In addition, the four other matches of the "

men in black

" were canceled, they were to face twice the South African Springboks and twice the Argentinian Pumas.

Read also Rugby Championship: the All Blacks postpone all their matches because of the Covid-19

The Australians immediately expressed their anger at this fact of the prince. New Zealander Dave Rennie, Australia coach, did not mince his words: “

I am mad with rage and angry.

"And to sharply criticize the attitude of his compatriots:"

They asked to play in Auckland on August 7 when we had players absent, and we still honored our commitment.

They asked for an extra game, we accepted.

They were OK to come to Australia on August 21st, they even postponed the game to the 28th and now they are not coming.

I'm mad.

(…) We have all made sacrifices so that matches are played with financial interests in mind, but they only think of themselves, regardless of what they are doing here.

That tells you a bit more about them.

"

60,000 seats sold in Perth

Australia Rugby chief executive Andy Marinos also expressed his anger via a statement. “

It is incredibly disappointing to be informed of this decision by the media, when we had a conversation with the CEO of the

New Zealand Federation (

NZR

)

moments before and he did not mention that it was 'was their intention

,' he regretted. Most of the tickets for the 60,000-seat Perth Stadium match had been sold. The Australian Federation was therefore very surprised by this “

unilateral

decision

by the Kiwis.

This brutal announcement will greatly disrupt the international calendar.

In addition to their match against the Wallabies, the All Blacks were to face Argentina (September 11 and 18) and also South Africa (September 25, October 2).

Before taking off for a tour in the Northern Hemisphere (Ireland, Italy) which will also pass by the Stade de France (November 20).

NZR boss Mark Robinson said the court deemed it prudent to keep the All Blacks at home.

The All Blacks should have left New Zealand for five months

Once the team leaves our shores, they cannot come back until November 23, after their tour in the northern hemisphere. So given this uncertainty, it makes sense to take a break and get more clarity on these meetings,

”he said. Robinson understands the Australians' frustration and disappointment nonetheless and has hinted that NZR is open to playing the Perth test on September 4. “

We share the disappointment of our fans, players and other stakeholders, especially those in Dunedin where the 100th sold-out test between the All Blacks and Springboks was shaping up to be a very special game. But we understand the importance of putting the health and safety of New Zealanders first.

"

For its part, the Sanzaar, the body which brings together the four southern federations, declared itself "

very disappointed

" by this New Zealand decision and the body clarified that it is currently in discussion with all the stakeholders in the thorny subject of the calendar. According to the British press, several matches could be relocated to Europe and in particular an All Blacks-Springboks in Paris. Another solution: South Africa quickly offered to organize the rest of the competition. But that does not change much to the case: the All Blacks are cloistered in their home and have no intention of leaving.

Source: lefigaro

All sports articles on 2021-08-20

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