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Blues boss admits Super Rugby season could be over
Blues chief executive Andrew Hore admits his franchise’s historic double header with the Warriors at Eden Park next Saturday is almost certainly off due to the coronavirus, a pandemic which has also put Super Rugby’s immediate future in doubt.
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According to Patrick McKendry of the New Zealand Herald, the new travel protocols announced by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Saturday are likely to put paid to the Blues’ match against the Brumbies, which was to be held on the same day as the Warriors’ NRL game against the Raiders, another side from Canberra.
Israel Dagg, Ali Williams, Mils Muliaina and Angus Ta’avao join Kirstie Stanway for another episode of The Kick-Off
Given all travellers to New Zealand, except those coming from the Pacific Islands, must now self-isolate for 14 days, Hore said the writing was on the wall as far as a big day for his franchise and Eden Park is concerned. Making it more difficult to accept will be his side’s form; they went to the top of the table following their excellent 43-10 victory over the Lions, their fourth consecutive win, and now their season is in a state of flux.
“It certainly makes it challenging,” Hore said. “It’s not like a businessperson who maybe flies into the country and takes the risk and goes to a meeting – it’s pretty public when these teams arrive and leave. You’ve got to say there are some serious questions over it now. Obviously the Warriors right now are based in Newcastle.
“People are having to take stock. We’ve looked at all the permutations that could occur and we have to do the right thing and make sure we set an example for the nation.”
Later in the interview at Eden Park, Hore, who is waiting to hear more news from Sanzaar, Super Rugby’s organisers, suggested an altered season was a fait accompli. “You love momentum like this, don’t you? For all the hard work that everyone is putting in, to stop now is a shame but it is life and we just have to get on with it. We have to adapt fast.”
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Super Rugby did issue a statement some hours later outlining its current position. “Following the recent New Zealand Government directive today, that all travellers returning to New Zealand will have to self-isolate on their arrival for 14 days – including New Zealand residents – SANZAAR is now reviewing the full impact on the Super Rugby tournament.
“The tournament is seven rounds into its 18 round regular season. SANZAAR will not be making any official comment on the tournament and the future staging of the remaining matches at this point in time.
“SANZAAR will issue a statement on the full impact of the ongoing covid-19 crisis and its impact on Super Rugby 2020 once the executive committee has determined an appropriate course of action and all stakeholders have been informed.”
For Blues coach Leon MacDonald, who had watched his side put six tries past the Lions, this is a time of great uncertainty but he and his players intend to attend training on Monday morning as usual. “It’s uncharted territory for everyone this coronavirus, isn’t it?” MacDonald said. “We’ll plan like we’re playing initially until we get told otherwise. We don’t know what to expect, everything has snowballed really quickly.
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“When the NBA shut down it got real then. Borders are being shut and all sorts. We’ll just be watching the news like everybody else and wait for information. We’ve got the Brumbies and a bye so who knows what it will look like next week. It would be a huge shame for everybody [if the season stopped]. A lot of hard work has gone in by every team.
“Maybe we go internal and play our local derbies for the next month or so and get those out of the way, who knows? There are there options I’m sure but common sense says we need to do the right thing and get this thing done and dusted.”
Welsh rugby boss fesses up regarding delayed call-off #WALvSCO #SixNations ?https://t.co/bsD0zxngfU
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 13, 2020
Midfielder Rieko Ioane, who scored two tries in a power-packed performance, said: “We don’t know what the future holds but we’ll get back to training and Monday hopefully and prepare for a tough Brumbies side. It will be tough to wind it back up if there is a stop but I’m sure Leon and Tana [Umaga] would have a plan around that.”
The developments took the shine off the Blues’ victory. Not only did they occasionally burst into flame on attack, they were perhaps even better when they didn’t have the ball.
“There’s lots to be happy about,” MacDonald said. “Obviously [the performance after] losing our captain [Patrick Tuipulotu] who has been immense, Ofa [Tuungafasi] on All Black leave and a late injury to Karl [Tu’inukuafe] – there were some big men lost against a pretty big pack. For our young guys to step up and not concede a maul try was pretty impressive and our scrum held its own as well.”
WATCH: Leon MacDonald joins The Breakdown to give an inside look at the Blues camp in 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
pure fire
1 Go to commentsA very well thought out summary of all the relevant complications…agree with your ”refer the Cricket Test versus 20/20 comparison”. More also definitely doesn't necessarily mean better!
1 Go to commentsMust be something when you are only 19 y.o and both NZ and France want you. Btw he wasn’t the only new caledonian in french U20 as Robin Couly also lived in Noumea until 17. Hope he’s successful wherever he chooses to play.
7 Go to comments“Several key players in the Stade Rochelais squad are in their thirties” South Africans are going to hate the implications of that comment!
5 Go to commentsI know Leinster did a job on La Roche but shortly after HT Leinster were 30-13 ahead of them and at a similar time Toulouse were trailing Exeter. At 60 mins Leinster were 27 ahead but after 67 mins Toulouse were only 19 ahead before Exeter collapsed. That’s heavier scoring by Leinster against the Champions. I think people are looking at Toulouses total a little too much. I also think Northhampton are in with a real chance, albeit I’d put Leinster as favourites. If Leinster make the final I expect them to win by more than ten and with control.
5 Go to commentsHey Nick, your match analysis is decent but the top and tail not so much, a bit more random. For a start there’s a seismic difference in regenerating any club side over a test team. EJ pretty much had to urinate with the appendage he’d been given at test level whereas club success is impacted hugely by the budget. Look no further than Boudjellal’s Toulon project for a perfect example. The set ups at La Rochelle and Leinster are like chalk and cheese and you are correct that Leinster are ahead. Leinster are not just slightly ahead though, they are light years ahead on their plans, with the next gen champions cup team already blooded, seasoned and developing at speed from their time manning the fort in the URC while the cream play CC and tests. They have engineered a strong talent conveyor belt into their system, supported by private money funnelled into a couple of Leinster private schools. The really smart move from Leinster and the IRFU however is maximising the Irish Revenue tax breaks (tax relief on the best 10 years earnings refunded at retirement) to help keep all of their stars in Ireland and happy, while simultaneously funding marquee players consistently. And of course Barrett is the latest example. But in no way is he a “replacement for Henshaw”, he’s only there for one season!!! As for Rob Baxter, the best advice you can give him is to start lobbying Parliament and HMRC for a similar state subsidy, but don’t hold your breath… One thing Cullen has been very smart with is his coaching team. Very quickly he realised his need to supplement his skills, there was talk of him exiting after his first couple of years but he was extremely shrewd bringing in Lancaster and now Nienaber. That has worked superbly and added a layer that really has made a tangible difference. Apart from that you were bang on the money… 😉😂
5 Go to commentsNot sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
25 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
2 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
5 Go to commentsTrue Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
25 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
11 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
80 Go to commentsPot Kettle, the English and French teams have done it for years.
25 Go to commentsHas virtually played every minute of previous games. Back row of Li Lo Willie , Grace and Blackadder would be the 1. Crusaders issue is a very average 1st 5 who cannot run. Kicking in general play is also below par They need to put Yong Kemara in. He must have so.e talent for them to bring him down from Waikato. Hoehepa would struggle to play in so.e club sided
11 Go to commentsI hope this a good thing making all these changes!
3 Go to comments