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.
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.”
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.
“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
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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
Goodness. When are the All Blacks and New Zealand commentators going to stop complaining about how they could have won and just try to win next time 😂. In South Africa if you lose you get up and try again. Get over it.
75 Go to commentsHonestly, it doesn’t matter a whole lot. RSA has a ton of experienced talent in its leadership group. I am more interested in who is the new 8 man/8 men and the younger props. The captain may change but the system does not
1 Go to comments“See you in the final” can mean whatever you want it to mean. To me it means that 12 Irish rugby players are a bunch of poeses. See y’all in Pretoria.
124 Go to commentsBen, you are one of the most arrogant and self opionated rugby critics I have ever come across (next to Keohane). I hoped that after SA beating the best ranked teams in the world on their way to the WC (something not done before) that you might have the grace to admit that this is a special team that deserved the accolades coming their way. You have no humility and as has been been already pointed out, merely a troll to attract audience numbers. Count me out in the future.
75 Go to comments‘War of independence’. Such a grand name for a few skirmishes. Where were all the great battles of this ‘war’ ? Smith got goosebumps as he was being emotionally manipulated, another mushroom.
1 Go to commentsFor all those disputing the veracity of Etzebeth’s very public recollections of the Irish players’ comments, I have one question: should we be holding our collective breath in anticipation of a barrage of strenuous denials from the Irish squad? Then again, perhaps not…
124 Go to comments> If the game of rugby is to grow globally, then the rugby Sth Africa play needs to be exterminated. Their performances at World Cup ‘19 & ‘23 were the antithesis to what the game should be. If the World Cup final is the grand spectacle of the game, please no more having to endure the drudgery and insipid ‘style ‘ of play harking back to pre WWII days, where the soulless rugby of the Bok reflected the mindset of a nation. > Gotta agree with Ben Smith, “ the Springboks took the trophy by default, with what might be the most unimpressive escape of all time “.
75 Go to commentsI think Rassie should bring in some new guys and give them a go in these irrelevant games. It’s a chance to blood some guys that might otherwise not get a chance and see if they’re up to it. As for the who’s number 1 dispute? Don’t care. As long as the trophies are brought home, that argument isn’t important. Champions don’t fuss about the could’ve, would’ve, should’ve. They just do, and that for me makes SA and NZ the top dogs. Followed by Ireland and occasionally England.
225 Go to commentsThis is like the “catches win matches" saying in cricket. If ABs were pragmatic and kicked for goal instead of hunting tries, I reckon they win that game with ease. Instead, nearly 6 months later; we have World Rugby's official mouthpiece celebrating their Almost Won the Rugby World Cup trophy. Fine Victory Gentleman! Well-earned!!
75 Go to comments“…the All Blacks nearly won…” is the only phrase you need to concern yourself with relative to this “journalistic” piece. Enjoy your Almost Won the World Cup victory…
75 Go to commentsAw common. Stop winging. There were no errors by officials. It is all recorded. Whose fault was the Cane red card? Or the Savea knock? Maybe the selectors who insisted on making a very average player their captain should be blamed. Something had to give way.
75 Go to commentsThe latest ‘Ireland are arrogant’ attack from one of the two most arrogant rugby nations on earth.
124 Go to commentsWaawaawaaaaaaaa
23 Go to commentsHow does this guy still have a job?
75 Go to commentsSorry bok you can't beat facts, we heard you all crowing how great you thought you were..lol ! We all watched the game, cheatsabeth cheating cost abs a try, only a penalty considering it was cynical and a professional foul, doesn't matter who wrote this because thats how it happened, but you go enjoy your gifting of the cup,
75 Go to commentsCan we talk about the context of how this particular journalist continues to make a living and gets published? Controversy for clicks. Shame on all of us for engaging with these irrelevant opinions.
75 Go to commentsAn astounding article !
75 Go to commentsFrance didn’t lose against New Zeland in 2011, but against Joubert…
75 Go to commentsHahahaha knew the “journalist” just by seeing the headline. Not wasting my time reading it as I know it's just another toxic manifestation of the boks living rent free in this babies head.
75 Go to commentsWhen you read those facts, you can say safely that the game was handed to the Springboks by the ruling mistakes made by the Referee and TMO. Perhaps that is why South Africans were/are so “noisey” about the win….this behaviour perhaps concealing that they realise luck played a big part in the result. Certainly not a good look for the IRB going forward…pretty shoddy sadly.
75 Go to comments