Rugby Championship: Ian Foster frustrated ‘bitterly disappointed’ by All Blacks schedule

All Blacks coach Ian Foster is “bitterly disappointed” with the proposed Rugby Championship schedule that may force his team to self-quarantine until Christmas, but is hopeful a resolution can be reached with the Sanzaar partners from New Zealand in the coming days.

Foster clashed on Tuesday, when the All Blacks met in Hamilton for a three-day camp, for the first time since Sanzaar launched the Rugby Championship draw without New Zealand Rugby’s agreement.

On Monday night, Foster addressed his team to discuss the various options on the table and when he spoke publicly a day later, his frustrations with the process were clear.

“There is still a lot going on in that space. There was an agreement based on [December] 5. We feel like Sanzaar has breached that, so we’ve come up with some solutions and we’re looking forward to that. We have to fix it, “Foster said.

“Expectations have been set and they haven’t been met, so that depends on the game and Sanzaar needs to figure it out in the coming days.

“We have to fix this little hiccup and move on. Today would be great, but we’ll take it tomorrow.”

When asked if the All Blacks were prepared to boycott the final test of the Rugby Championship against the Wallabies on December 12 to avoid having to be quarantined until Christmas, Foster said: “I don’t want to talk about it right now. That’s a headline that we do not want to publish, but we are bitterly disappointed that what was proposed has changed.

“We are not relying on any timeline now because the timeline that has been proposed is not one that we agree to or accept.

“This is not a Christmas issue. It is about players who have been playing and preparing to play through Covid and a lot of situations for a long, long time. At some point we have to draw a line in the sand and say ‘ It’s enough’ “.

Foster wouldn’t go into details on workarounds, but it essentially involves the possibility of advancing the All Blacks and Wallabies final test, while allowing Springboks and Pumas to play on December 12.

“I don’t think that’s going to be useful. At the end of the day, there was a good solution at the beginning: you could get six tests in five weeks. South Africa and Argentina could play six in six weeks; they conceded a time zone. We came up with a couple ideas about it.

The issue of quarantine over Christmas may affect the decisions of some players, particularly those with families, on whether to commit to the full Australian tour or not.

“There are many things that could happen, but let’s not stop at that. We believe that there is a good attitude to fix this and it has to be fixed.”

The Rugby Championship schedule continues a year of uncertain and ever-evolving rugby, but All Blacks hooker Dane Coles is trying to put the latest problem aside to focus on the dual Bledisloe Cup events, which begin in Wellington on October 11.

“There are so many scenarios going around,” Coles said. “We have talked about plan A, B, C through F. There is a process between New Zealand Rugby and Sanzaar to resolve and we have no control over that so we will let the best dogs have some meetings and get it under control.

“Hopefully things go well. It is not ideal, we do not want to spend Christmas in quarantine.

“I’m not going to talk to my wife until I know what the plan is. Everyone will be in their different situations. It doesn’t make sense to go to all the new dads and partners and tell them ‘there are six situations.’ I can imagine what could happen.

“Once we have a solid plan, we can have those difficult conversations with our loved ones. I have spent a great deal of time away from my family with rugby. My wife knows this and we have great support, so when it happens we will have a thread and we’ll see what’s best for us and the All Blacks. “

Hurricanes midfielder Ngani Laumape, Crusaders captain Scott Barrett and Otago hooker Liam Coltman have joined the All Blacks in Hamilton.

Laumape (broken forearm) and Barrett (toe) will have their respective injuries evaluated, but both are expected to be among 11 players added to the 35-man All Blacks squad for the Rugby Championship, along with the Wellington midfielder. , Peter Umaga-Jensen, who is in line to replace the injured Braydon Ennor.

Coltman has been called up to cover for Asafo Aumua, who is recovering from a blow to the head while playing for Wellington. Beauden Barrett has also rejoined the team following the birth of his first daughter, Billie Rose.

“Ngani is still far away,” Foster said. “Her is an easier assessment because she is a bone, while Scott is progressing well, but we have to consider what her timeline is for making contact.”