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Sydney rugby fan Chris Walker has put his money into his heart to support the Wallabies ahead of their “incredibly tough” Bledisloe Cup game against the All Blacks in Wellington on Sunday.
Walker, 81, ran a full-page ad in The Press on Friday, and while the central idea is a message of support for the Wallabies, he is also criticizing New Zealand Rugby for its attitude in dealing with rugby. partners.
“If we had the opportunity to choose which of the countries of the world we want as neighbors, most of us would go for kiwis. They think that, like us, they are not short of the ticker and we have been in trenches with them for over 100 years, ” Walker says in the ad.
Andrew Phan / Wallabies Media
Wallabies defense coach Matt Taylor trains in Christchurch this week
“However, they have lost respect for us as a rugby country,” reads the ad in bold. “This is clearly shown with its administrators. This must be corrected. ‘
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The message is addressed to ‘Dave [Rennie, coach] and Michael [Hooper, captain] and the entire Australian squad in New Zealand ‘and Walker says his message of support is on behalf of his fellow rugby players, but also the vast rugby community in his country.
“As you sit in your Christchurch hotel room, handling your quarantine period without family and friends, please note that we in Australia are with you in thought, spirit and commitment.”
Walker, a longtime member of the Briars rugby club in Sydney and a former player and coach in Japan in the 1970s, told Stuff that he had run two full-page advertisements in the Sydney Morning Herald recently to express his views on the rugby, but wanted to. make a special effort to reach the Wallabies while they were quarantined in Christchurch.
“Look what they are up against. They are a new team with a new coach and they have to prepare for the game while in quarantine, while their boys have not had to be quarantined, have not had the same Covid restrictions and have had the benefit of the North vs. South as well. “
Ross Land / Getty Images
Rugby fan Chris Walker hopes against hope to return to Wallabies glory with the Bledisloe Cup.
The Wallabies also faced an All Blacks team that would be “extremely motivated” after their defeat to England in the semi-final of the Rugby World Cup last October.
“It is an incredibly difficult task for our guys.”
In his ad, Walker says: “All of Australia is with you. We have been quarantined outside of New Zealand, so you will not receive any support on the ground. Forget it, we are with you ”.
Walker says he is deeply concerned about the problems in the current international setup and made his comments on New Zealand’s loss of respect for Australia as a rugby country based on his remarks on the negotiations between the two countries on Super Rugby and the Rugby Championship, and comments. also from South Africa on the attitude of NZR towards their colleagues from Sanzaar.
“What we need is respect to come back and a fair start, and hopefully we can have some great competition in the coming years.”
Walker expects some heated social media on this side of the ditch for their opinions. “I hope they tell me to do things that are not anatomically possible,” he laughs.
Given the odds and circumstances in their favor, the All Blacks should win the trials, he says.
“But I hope our boys win. And I hope his boys don’t suffer any injuries. ”
