S
sanzar
Guest
Here's the latest news on Aus and NZ's reaction to France having the top 14 continue past May 31:
Pretty interesting if you ask me. Personally I'd actually be quite interested in seeing the Brumbies and Tahs play the ABs, much more than watching **** English and French B sides get walked over.
Wallabies dump north for Kiwi tour
| August 8, 2008
THE All Blacks playing a full-strength Waratahs team at the Sydney Football Stadium next season is being planned as a way to overcome the northern hemisphere disease of sending their B-grade line-ups here every June.
Angered by northern countries treating their southern tours with near contempt by not picking their best players, Australian Rugby Union chief executive John O'Neill yesterday proposed that the trans-Tasman neighbours take a dramatic new course.
It involves ignoring the north and having the All Blacks tour Australia during June to play three local provinces - Waratahs, Reds and Brumbies - followed by the Wallabies going to New Zealand to play the Crusaders, Blues and Hurricanes. Matches would be played on Tuesday and Saturday nights.
O'Neill said the idea came during a recent conversation with his New Zealand counterpart, Steve Tew, where they discussed their frustration with the June tours.
They had been further irritated by misguided International Rugby Board officials recently explaining that northern countries would from now on select their best for the June tours, because all domestic competitions in that part of the world would supposedly finish on May 31.
However, seconds later, during a telephone hook-up, a leading French official told O'Neill and Tew that their competition would end next year on June 6, meaning that if key local players were playing in the finals they would not be able to tour New Zealand and Australia.
France are scheduled to play two Tests in New Zealand and one in Australia next year. Two Italy Tests are also scheduled for Australia. Australia and New Zealand have other ideas.
"We've been confronted two years in a row with under-strength teams coming to Australia from the northern hemisphere. In 2007, Wales fronted up under-strength, and then this year the French showed up under-strength," O'Neill said yesterday. "Apart from the impact it has on the fans, the viewers at home, sponsors, broadcasters, and the look and the damage it does to the integrity of Test match rugby, the financial cost to the ARU over two years was $1.6 million."
O'Neill added that the ARU was "not obliged to accept an inbound team that doesn't comply with IRB regulation 9, which means best available".
"The alternatives we need to look at includes whether in that window we look at the Wallabies going to New Zealand, and playing the Blues, Crusaders and Hurricanes, and the All Blacks coming to Australia and playing the Reds, Waratahs and Brumbies," O'Neill said.
"Remember the Lions tour of 2001 �c Canberra Stadium packed, SFS packed, Brisbane packed. You are talking about a full-strength All Blacks side playing against a full-strength NSW team, and so forth. That would lure a crowd.
"We're not being Bolshevik about it. We are simply saying that we can't rely on the quality of the northern hemisphere teams. Our audience is disillusioned. We're hurting and we should be allowed to look at alternatives. We're looking to expand Super Rugby, and that's our commitment. When that happens it will fill the June window. That will hopefully be in place by 2010.
"But in the interim, you've got to say Wales 2007, France 2008 �c do we really want to insult the audience again?"
�¡ In other news, foreign players are expected to be allowed to appear for Australian Super 14 provinces from next year. ARU directors will shortly be asked to endorse a new foreign player policy that would allow each province to have what is expected to be one high-profile overseas performer.
The ARU board has agreed in principle to relax a regulation that prohibits players ineligible for Wallabies selection from playing with the four Australian Super teams. A final submission will be presented to the board for approval on September 5.[/b]
Pretty interesting if you ask me. Personally I'd actually be quite interested in seeing the Brumbies and Tahs play the ABs, much more than watching **** English and French B sides get walked over.