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Cameron Spencer / Getty Images
Rugby Australia Acting Chief Rob Clarke and New Zealand CEO Mark Robinson in Manly on Friday
In late September, Rugby Australia President Hamish McLennan made no bones about it when asked on a Kiwi television appearance about Tasmania’s rugby relationship.
“There’s respect there, but the relationship is probably at the lowest point it’s ever been,” McLennan said.
The Australian and New Zealand unions had exchanged picks in a public dispute over the form of a trans-Tasmanian competition. At the heart of the matter was a disagreement over the number of Australian representatives: the Kiwis wanted two Australian sides to offset the numbers, while RA would not budge on five.
Rugby Australia
NZ Rugby CEO Mark Robinson says he expects Australian Super Rugby teams to be “really strong”.
As the stalemate dragged on, New Zealand Rugby chief Mark Robinson decided late last month to travel to Australia and meet main antagonist McLennan and RA Acting CEO Rob Clarke in person.
READ MORE:
* It’s what ‘all players want’ says Sam Cane about trans-Tasman Super Rugby competition
* NZR boss Mark Robinson is good-hearted and should be as he fights for the survival of New Zealand rugby.
* All Blacks coach Ian Foster says ‘common sense has won’ after the Rugby Championship calendar change
On Wednesday night, Robinson joined McLennan and Clarke, as well as RA COO Adam Foulsham, in smoking the peace pipe at the upscale Garfish restaurant in Manly after starting a trans-Super Rugby competition. Tasman six weeks to start. on May 14 after the respective national competition of each country. Turns out, the mess was nothing a few $ 90 bottles of red wine and some seafood couldn’t fix.
After a stressful few months of tense negotiations, particularly over who would host the Rugby Championship and New Zealand’s subsequent request to change the schedule and have the All Blacks home by Christmas, it was no surprise that the group decided blow off some steam and discuss how they could get through a rocky weeks.
RNZ
Former All Blacks coach Laurie Mains explains in overtime how things need to change for rugby to remain an engaging and entertaining sport.
“We had a fun night and it was pretty cathartic,” McLennan said. “There were some friendly shots each way, so it must be a good sign.
“We feel so much better about where we can go with [NZR chairman] Brent [Impey] and Robbo. We are certainly stronger together with New Zealand ”.
Robinson joked that his Australian counterparts were feeling a bit off on Thursday.
“I recovered without problem. These guys were all in a bloody battle yesterday, ”Robinson said.
Cameron Spencer / Getty Images
Mark Robinson, left, traveled across the Tasman last month to meet Rugby Australia’s top leaders in person.
Clarke hurried to return service. “Oh come on buddy,” he said. “We were there when we needed to be.”
Love was there for everyone to see on Friday. Robinson and Clarke took off their brown leather boots, pulled up their chinos, and took a barefoot stroll across the sand at Manly Beach, shifting one foot to the other.
It looked more like a scene from a romantic comedy. You certainly never would have seen John O’Neill and Steve Tew doing the same when they were in charge.
Weeks earlier, McLennan called New Zealand’s view that Australia didn’t deserve five teams in a new competition as “a joke.” He also shook the pot saying the Wallabies got a top coach in Dave Rennie and touting the fact that Australia pinched New Zealand’s rights to host the Rugby Championship.
Did McLennan’s comments burn bridges? Maybe Friday’s press call was a front for the cameras?
“I really didn’t have an opinion on it,” Robinson said. “We understand that you are doing what you think is best for Australian rugby and that is fine. We understand why Australia took that stance in the media.
“There has been a lot of talk in the media, mainly on this side, about all kinds of speculation about the relationship. We have just kept going and focused on what we have to do for rugby. And we have been very happy. There has been great progress lately. “
Clarke said the vaccines were necessary and showed that this new administration was not willing to give in to its New Zealand counterparts.
Matt King / Getty Images
All Blacks winger Caleb Clarke bursts into a tackle during Test 3 of the Bledisoe Cup.
“Comments from the past are the past,” Clarke said. “We have been able to really be on the same page about how we could work more closely between our two nations to build a formidable force in the southern hemisphere.
“In a Covid world where we were all under so much pressure, we needed to make sure we were protecting the game and making decisions in the best interest of Australian rugby. Sometimes that doesn’t necessarily benefit another party.
“Dark clouds were on the horizon then and we have had some storms, but I think now we are starting to see sunlight. Rugby Australia is more agile, meaner and in better shape because of the decisions we have had to make around our structures, our resources, our cost base and I think it is a good platform to move towards 2021. “
Wednesday’s lively evening gathering could grow in importance for years to come.
“Someday we could refer to it as the Garfish Accord,” McLennan said.
