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Australian Coach Dave rennie sided with New Zealand on Sunday for a schedule line threatening to derail the Rugby championship, but refrained from saying that it would be resolved.
The hurdle is New Zealand’s demand that the tournament, which also involves South Africa and Argentina, end in time for the All Blacks to be home with their families for Christmas after complying with strict 14-day quarantine rules from his country.
The tournament is taking place in a country for the first time due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with the opening round in the Australian city of Brisbane on November 7.
But when governing body SANZAAR set the final round to be played in Sydney on December 12 on Friday, which meant players would still be in quarantine on December 25, an outraged New Zealand refused to commit to the itinerary.
New Zealand Rugby CEO Mark Robinson said they were instead considering “a lot of different options.”
He also accused the Australian hosts of reneging on their “commitment” to have the players home for Christmas.
New Zealand was initially asked to host the tournament, but later moved to Australia, which offered looser quarantine rules.
Under the original agreement, New Zealand had accepted an Australian request that the Wallabies be home for Christmas and Rennie said it would be “hypocritical of us not to support New Zealand when we thought it was a good idea.”
But New Zealand-born Rennie said that while Australia supported the All Blacks’ request, a change of schedule “must be unanimous” within the four-nation SANZAAR organization.
He added that there was talk of a bubble that would span New South Wales and New Zealand “and if that comes before Christmas then it’s not a problem. They will be able to go straight home to their families and that’s what we want. It’s been a difficult year for all “.
Rennie and his team of 40 Wallaby, including 16 newcomers, arrived in New Zealand on Friday night ahead of the first round of the Bledisloe Cup in Wellington on October 11.
They are doing their 14-day quarantine at a hotel in Christchurch, and will be able to start training on Tuesday with Rennie keen to start shaping his 23 game-day players.
“There are still some positions at stake,” he said.
“I’ve always said we’re going to get into shape. And you know, if you’re good enough, you’re old enough that there’s no question that some of the young guys are going to put a lot of pressure for a place that is 23.”
