OFFICIAL - Rugby Championship Thread

[JPNZ]

Dates have been released as below

The Rugby Championship 2020 fixtures

Round One - Saturday 7 November 2020

Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Argentina v South Africa

Australia v New Zealand


Round Two - Saturday 14 November

Bankwest Stadium, Sydney

New Zealand v Argentina

South Africa v Australia


Round Three - Saturday 21 November

ANZ Stadium, Sydney

New Zealand v South Africa

Australia v Argentina


Round Four – Saturday 28 November

McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle

Argentina v Australia

South Africa v New Zealand


Round Five – Saturday 5 December

Bankwest Stadium, Sydney

Argentina v New Zealand

Australia v South Africa


Round Six – Saturday 12 December

ANZ Stadium, Sydney

South Africa v Argentina

Australia v New Zealand

[Carter's Choice]

Hmmm, some early thoyghts;

- I like the idea of double headers. Should make a great spectacle.
- Mid December is quite late to be playing Rugby in Australia, could be very hot.
- I assume the squads will be in Covid-19 bubbles and that's how they can travel between QLD and NSW?
- The four squads will get to know each other very well.
- Crowds could be allowed back in stadiums by then. For the AFL Grand Final the QLD state govt has allowed the GABBA to be 70% full. If that was the case then you'd think that SANZAAR would have been better off playing in larger stadiums than Newcastle?

[Jb1981]

*Potential* dates from NZ Rugby’s perspective.

In another sign of the breakdown in the SANZAAR relationship those dates apparently aren’t what NZR expected and would mean the players and management would have Christmas in quarantine.

https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-b ... ampionship

New Zealand Rugby CEO Mark Robinson said he is disappointed and surprised with the schedule.

“We were working on the understanding and all our planning and scheduling was on the basis that the All Blacks last match would be on December 5 to give our players and management time to get home, undertake the 14 days' quarantine back in New Zealand, and then be with their families for Christmas, as will be the case for the other three teams in the Tournament,” Robinson said in a statement from NZ Rugby.

“We understand the commercial considerations in the scheduling. However, the wellbeing of our people is an incredibly important factor in this also.

“We are committed to playing in the Rugby Championship and we know the scheduling of matches has been a complex and dynamic issue to work through, especially with quarantine protocols, but we haven't agreed to this schedule and are disappointed at the announcement.

“We will now work through the issues with Rugby Australia and SANZAAR and believe that there are other solutions within the Rugby Championship window,” Robinson said.

[Carter's Choice]

Seems like a big breakdown there regarding dates and scheduling. Surely NZR needed to agree to this format?

[mrbrownstone]

If they don't find another solution, could be a case where the Bled is locked up by the Dec 12 game, and players with families are allowed to leave after the Dec 5 game?

Unless the Wobs are up 2-1 it'll be decided one way or another by then. I guess it might not be fair to let some leave but not others though.

[Carter's Choice]

If they don't find another solution, could be a case where the Bled is locked up by the Dec 12 game, and players with families are allowed to leave after the Dec 5 game?

Unless the Wobs are up 2-1 it'll be decided one way or another by then. I guess it might not be fair to let some leave but not others though.

Is there any reason why they can't simply start the tournament a week earlier? Except for SANZAAR being disorganised and incompetent?

[mrbrownstone]

If they don't find another solution, could be a case where the Bled is locked up by the Dec 12 game, and players with families are allowed to leave after the Dec 5 game?

Unless the Wobs are up 2-1 it'll be decided one way or another by then. I guess it might not be fair to let some leave but not others though.

Is there any reason why they can't simply start the tournament a week earlier? Except for SANZAAR being disorganised and incompetent?

The only thing I can think is that the Boks and Pumas need more preparation time?

Even then, surely the All Blacks and Wallabies could start a week earlier, and the Boks and Pumas still play their last game on December 12?

[JPNZ]

As AC/CC stated December is hot, hell even November in Brisbane & Sydney is hot. All of those games have the potential to be played in 25-30c+ heat. Considering two matches in one day/night the latest kick off would be 7.30-8pm which means potentiality an earlier kick off around 5-5.30pm. Temps at 5pm in the middle of summer will be hot

[Carter's Choice]

The announcement of this schedule is genuinely farcical. It appears that SANZAAR did not inform NZR of the final schedule prior to releasing it to the public. The fact that NZR released a media statement 9 minutes after SANZAAR strongly condemning the schedule suggests an unacceptable breakdown in communication. I'm not sure how they will work through this as SA and Arg aren't budging. NZR needs the money that the tournament will generate, but I think the gloves are now off in SH rugby.

[Carter's Choice]

Of course it isn't just about pay, TV right etc. Christmas is a very important time on the religious calendar and this schedule means that no All Blacks will be able to attend Christmas services with their family and church. There are many Pasifika players who are staunchly Christian and this schedule will have an impact on their ability to practise their faith.

[Jb1981]

The announcement of this schedule is genuinely farcical. It appears that SANZAAR did not inform NZR of the final schedule prior to releasing it to the public. The fact that NZR released a media statement 9 minutes after SANZAAR strongly condemning the schedule suggests an unacceptable breakdown in communication. I'm not sure how they will work through this as SA and Arg aren't budging. NZR needs the money that the tournament will generate, but I think the gloves are now off in SH rugby.

I think you are being generous putting this down to a breakdown in communication. From the outside it looks like there is antagonism and pettiness across members. We must be close to “irreconcilable differences” territory.

[mrbrownstone]

Surely the solution is quite simple?

One of the first two Bledisloe tests counts towards the Rugby Championship points table, while the other is a stand-alone Bledisloe. This is pretty standard, and happens most years when there's a third Bledisloe that falls outside TRC. I know we've been starved for test rugby, but we don't need 4 Bleds.

That means South Africa and Argentina can still play on December 12, while the All Blacks and Wallabies will wrap up a week earlier. The only downside I can see to this is there will be less interest in that final match, as it can't be sold as a double header with the Wallabies involved.

This won't happen though as the levels of petty in-fighting among SANZAAR are beyond the pale. At least we can now plainly see the levels of nous that have led to some of the more interesting decisions in recent years. I'm sure they'll find a way to contrive a conference system instead.

[Enzedder]

Jacinda Ardern - "I was right, wasn't I?"

[stemoc]

the last game is controversial, AB players will have to spend Christmas in quarantine in NZ ...

[Carter's Choice]

the last game is controversial, AB players will have to spend Christmas in quarantine in NZ ...

Yes, controversial and ridiculous. Forget the fact that this is time to spend with family, many of the Pasifika AB's are devout Christians. Forcing them into quarantine over Christmas, when the other three teams can all go back to their homes with no quarantine seems very unfair.

[Jerome_Kaino]

Will any of the European based players be available for this?
I don't expect the European clubs will be to happy to release their players for this long and for them to enter some kind of quarantine extravaganza.

[Gumboot]

the last game is controversial, AB players will have to spend Christmas in quarantine in NZ ...

Yes, controversial and ridiculous. Forget the fact that this is time to spend with family, many of the Pasifika AB's are devout Christians. Forcing them into quarantine over Christmas, when the other three teams can all go back to their homes with no quarantine seems very unfair.

Yep, it's unfair for the Kiwi sky pointers to be working overtime while their Saffer brethren get the day off.

[Carter's Choice]

the last game is controversial, AB players will have to spend Christmas in quarantine in NZ ...

Yes, controversial and ridiculous. Forget the fact that this is time to spend with family, many of the Pasifika AB's are devout Christians. Forcing them into quarantine over Christmas, when the other three teams can all go back to their homes with no quarantine seems very unfair.

Yep, it's unfair for the Kiwi sky pointers to be working overtime while their Saffer brethren get the day off.

I'm not religious at all, but do you need to insult people by calling them "sky pointers"?

[Carter's Choice]

Will any of the European based players be available for this?

I don't know, but this tournament does not fall within the WR test window.

SANZAAR has had one job to do since Mid march and the cancellation of Super Rugby. That job was to organise this tournament. And so far it's been a complete farce and they cannot even organise a draw.

[Jerome_Kaino]

Will any of the European based players be available for this?

I don't know, but this tournament does not fall within the WR test window.

SANZAAR has had one job to do since Mid march and the cancellation of Super Rugby. That job was to organise this tournament. And so far it's been a complete farce and they cannot even organise a draw.

If European based players don't come, anything other than a clean sweep would be failure for the AB's.
Aus lost a lot of players after an already poor world cup, there is a lot of talent and Dave Rennie is a really good coach, but I expect it to take a bit of time.
Regarding the springboks, most of the guys who are still left in the country are injured.
Argentina was already struggling in the RC the last couple of years and now lost a big part of their group to European clubs as well. Also I didn't read anything what kind of warm-up games they are planning to play?

The AB's didn't lose that many key players after the world cup, have a lot of young talent coming through.

[Kiap]

Will any of the European based players be available for this?

Yeah, there will be some.

I don't know, but this tournament does not fall within the WR test window.

It's in WR's expanded EOYT test window.

[Carter's Choice]

It's in WR's expanded EOYT test window.

If you include quarantine time, that's one heck of an expanded window. I assume the NH clubs are livid that they're losing their most expensive players from late October till late December?

[JM2K6]

Currently we're staring the death of pro rugby in the face up here, I don't think anyone's gotten round to worrying about the RC yet

[stemoc]

i'll be dead long before rugby players start coming out as atheists...easier to come out as gay now for them than that.

[Carter's Choice]

Just a thought, SANZAAR could push the tournament back a week, not forward, so that it would finish a week before Christmas. NZR could arrange for families and spouses to fly to Australia and they could all celebrate Christmas together in Australia, before returning to NZ and undertaking quarantine together. International cricket players and their families routinely spend Christmas away from home in Melbourne for the Boxing Day test match, so why can't Rugby players do this just once in what has been an unprecedented year?

[Monkey Magic]

Just a thought, SANZAAR could push the tournament back a week, not forward, so that it would finish a week before Christmas. NZR could arrange for families and spouses to fly to Australia and they could all celebrate Christmas together in Australia, before returning to NZ and undertaking quarantine together. International cricket players and their families routinely spend Christmas away from home in Melbourne for the Boxing Day test match, so why can't Rugby players do this just once in what has been an unprecedented year?

Thing to remember is no players have said they have issues yet.

Also comparing it to cricketers isn't completely valid. A cricketers signs up knowing the schedule and what that might mean. A lot of players here forgo large contracts overseas, and its likely one of the pulling cards to do that is to have the lifestyle with family/friends that playing in NZ affords them, including being home for Christmas

[Carter's Choice]

Just a thought, SANZAAR could push the tournament back a week, not forward, so that it would finish a week before Christmas. NZR could arrange for families and spouses to fly to Australia and they could all celebrate Christmas together in Australia, before returning to NZ and undertaking quarantine together. International cricket players and their families routinely spend Christmas away from home in Melbourne for the Boxing Day test match, so why can't Rugby players do this just once in what has been an unprecedented year?

Thing to remember is no players have said they have issues yet.

Also comparing it to cricketers isn't completely valid. A cricketers signs up knowing the schedule and what that might mean. A lot of players here forgo large contracts overseas, and its likely one of the pulling cards to do that is to have the lifestyle with family/friends that playing in NZ affords them, including being home for Christmas

Hey I'm just trying to come up with solutions to SANZAAR's mess.

[Monkey Magic]

Just a thought, SANZAAR could push the tournament back a week, not forward, so that it would finish a week before Christmas. NZR could arrange for families and spouses to fly to Australia and they could all celebrate Christmas together in Australia, before returning to NZ and undertaking quarantine together. International cricket players and their families routinely spend Christmas away from home in Melbourne for the Boxing Day test match, so why can't Rugby players do this just once in what has been an unprecedented year?

Thing to remember is no players have said they have issues yet.

Also comparing it to cricketers isn't completely valid. A cricketers signs up knowing the schedule and what that might mean. A lot of players here forgo large contracts overseas, and its likely one of the pulling cards to do that is to have the lifestyle with family/friends that playing in NZ affords them, including being home for Christmas

Hey I'm just trying to come up with solutions to SANZAAR's mess.

At the moment the only solution seems to be to clear out whoever has been representing Nzr to RA and Sanzaar as the relationship looks completely stuffed

[Guy Smiley]

Just a thought, SANZAAR could push the tournament back a week, not forward, so that it would finish a week before Christmas. NZR could arrange for families and spouses to fly to Australia and they could all celebrate Christmas together in Australia, before returning to NZ and undertaking quarantine together. International cricket players and their families routinely spend Christmas away from home in Melbourne for the Boxing Day test match, so why can't Rugby players do this just once in what has been an unprecedented year?

Thing to remember is no players have said they have issues yet.

Also comparing it to cricketers isn't completely valid. A cricketers signs up knowing the schedule and what that might mean. A lot of players here forgo large contracts overseas, and its likely one of the pulling cards to do that is to have the lifestyle with family/friends that playing in NZ affords them, including being home for Christmas

Regular season cricketers also had the option of ducking home for a week if they needed a break.

[OomStruisbaai]

Since when is Xmast at home more important then playing for the All Blacks?

[Enzedder]

Since when is Xmast at home more important then playing for the All Blacks?

It's not really. However, when the planning was for this to be in NZ the teams would have been finished , thru any quarantine arrangement and home before Christmas. Now it's not the case and one wonders if that is just a nice "get fucked" from Andy M.

I feel it is aimed to give the Argies and Boks more time to prepare so we will just have to lump it - cos $$$

[Wignu]

There's that but is also what is happening in their respective countries with regards to Covid, I'd be hesitant to play against them unless it was a minimum 3 week quarrantine especially with the Covid apparently in the leadership of the Argentine squad.

[Carter's Choice]

Great to see NZR and RA have come together, and resolved the scheduling issue regarding Christmas. Great to see the ANZAC friends and neighbors working together to achieve a mutually beneficial outcome.

[Enzedder]

I'll be home for Christmas - as the song goes.

The rugby test against Australia that would have forced the All Blacks to spend Christmas in managed isolation has been moved.

New Zealand Rugby said the 12-match tournament would now be played across seven weeks with the Bledisloe Cup clash moved from Saturday 12 December to Saturday 31 October at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium.

The All Blacks will play the Wallabies the following Saturday, 7 November, at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, and Argentina at Bankwest Stadium, Sydney on Saturday 14 November, before two back-to-back tests against South Africa at ANZ Stadium on Saturday 21 November and McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle on Saturday 28 November.

[Carter's Choice]

Grant Nisbett mentioned in commentary today that the SARU still haven't committed to this year's Rugby Championship tournament, and will make a decision announcement later this week. And they had the arrogance to play hard ball with NZR when they requested to facilitate the All Blacks players being home for Christmas. The SARU are a joke!

[Sandstorm]

It’s 2020. Everyone should be willing to miss 1 “birth/christening/Xmas/funeral with their families. It sux, but it’s the reality.

It’s not easy and - although it’s obvious that this is CC troll bait he’ll be chewing on until 2030 - most other reasonable people will make the sacrifice with little complaint.

[Jb1981]

Jake White has joined the growing list of coaches/ex players calling for South Africa not to participate in the Rugby Championship this year. There doesn’t appear to be a date set for them to make their decision but indications are that they will make the call this week.

[Jb1981]

There are reports on PR that Twitter says the Springboks have withdrawn.

[JPNZ]

There are reports on PR that Twitter says the Springboks have withdrawn.

Yep, everything I can see states they have made the choice to pull out. Wonder where this leaves RA and RNZ, just pull the plug already.

[Carter's Choice]

So having endured weeks of South African posters trolling NZR for making unilateral decisions, and for wanting their players home by Christmas, it appears that the SARU are intent on destroying SH Rugby because of their selfishness and arrogance? If they withdraw from the Rugby Championship there will be hell to pay!