The All Blacks receive the support of the rival coach to change the dates of the Rugby Championship

12:32 am, September 28, 2020

By NZ Herald

Wallabies coach Dave Rennie backs New Zealand Rugby’s call to play the final round of the Bledisloe Cup earlier.

The final game of the six-week Rugby Championship in Sydney is scheduled for December 12, which means the All Blacks will not come out of quarantine in time to spend Christmas with their families.

Rennie says the Wallabies would have tried the same tactics if the competition had been held in New Zealand.

“It would be hypocritical of us not to support New Zealand now when we thought it was a good idea. I know Australia supported them, but the decision, but be unanimous among the group, “said Rennie.

“That’s what we want. It has been a tough year for everyone. The All Blacks will be away from home for a long time, but so will everyone else. “

New Zealand Rugby boss Mark Robinson remains optimistic about the prospects of bringing the All Blacks players home in time for Christmas.

On Thursday SANZAAR and Rugby Australia (RA) announced the matches for this year’s COVID-affected tournament and appeared to have dealt a blow to New Zealand Rugby (NZR) by not giving players enough time to return to their families in time. for the festive season.

As it stands, New Zealand players and management will not be home in time for Christmas Day due to the final test between the All Blacks and Wallabies to be played in Sydney on December 12.

If the All Blacks return home a day later, the earliest they will see their families after the standard fortnight of quarantine is December 27.

The announcement appeared to have taken NZR by surprise and Robinson admitted to the media that the organization had made all its plans based on a final game for the All Blacks on December 5.

Despite the setback and constant tension between the organizations involved, Robinson told Martin Devlin in Newstalk ZB on Saturday which remains optimistic a happy resolution can be found for this particular issue.

New Zealand Rugby Chief Mark Robinson remains positive about the prospects for bringing #All the black people players involved in the #RugbyChampionship Back home in time for Christmas. https://t.co/uq7PWoAvbh

– RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 26, 2020

“I think we can work it out… from our perspective, and I’m sure Australians are the same, there’s not much to gain by looking back over the last six, 10, 12 weeks.

“This issue, in regards to this specific tournament and the challenge of getting the team home before Christmas, is a completely separate issue from all the other narrative that has been posted.

“I am very encouraged to hear the feedback from Rugby Australia over the last two days, they are very committed to trying to find a solution to this, so that the All Blacks come home for Christmas.”

Robinson indicated that NZR is preparing multiple proposals to bring SANZAAR and RA, who they believe are open to compromise.

“I think they are showing intent through their public comments just as we are, and as we are through the dialogue we’ve had since Thursday via email, about trying to point out that we are looking to put some solutions on the table shortly. . “

Rugby Championship 2020 Schedule

First round – Saturday, November 7, 2020

Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Argentina v South Africa
Australia in New Zealand

Second round – Saturday, November 14

Bankwest Stadium, Sydney

New Zealand v Argentina
South Africa v Australia

Third round – Saturday, November 21

ANZ Stadium, Sydney

New Zealand v South Africa
Australia vs Argentina

Fourth round – Saturday, November 28

McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle

Argentina vs Australia
South Africa v New Zealand

Fifth Round – Saturday, December 5

Bankwest Stadium, Sydney

Argentina v New Zealand
Australia vs South Africa

Sixth round – Saturday, December 12

ANZ Stadium, Sydney

South Africa v Argentina
Australia in New Zealand

This article first appeared on nzherald.co.nz and was republished with permission.