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New Zealand Prime Minister weighs in on possibility of hosting Rugby Championship

By AAP
(Photo by Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images)

New Zealand Rugby and the government are in talks to ensure the All Blacks can play test matches this year despite COVID-19 border restrictions, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Monday.

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New Zealand is slated to host Australia, Argentina and South Africa in the four-nation Rugby Championship in November and December.

But that has begun to look unlikely because of logistical difficulties in finding secure locations for the visiting teams to train while in quarantine.

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News that six members of the Argentina team have tested positive for COVID-19 is also likely to complicate efforts to stage the annual tournament.

New Zealand is more hopeful that a Bledisloe Cup test series against Australia will go ahead.

But that is also complicated by border restrictions and by localised outbreaks of the coronavirus in both countries.

Australia has suggested staging matches in Queensland but that currently would require the All Blacks to quarantine for two weeks in Australia and a further two weeks on their return to New Zealand.

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The same restrictions would apply if the Wallabies travel to New Zealand.

“There have been some discussions of whether we could play host for a tournament,” Ardern said.

“It’s something we have been exploring and seeing whether we can facilitate that within the current arrangements.

“We do have tight arrangements at the border that we need to uphold. (The health ministry) need to be happy with everything.

“It’s not just down to us. We are doing enough to make it a real possibility. We have kept the door open and in good faith gone through through the protocols but ultimately we are not the only ones making that decision.”

New All Blacks head coach Ian Foster on Sunday named a 35-man test squad, aware that it is still not certain that they will play a Test this year.

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Foster said he remains optimistic.

“There’s a lot of different spreadsheets, a lot of people smarter than me coming up with options,” Foster said. “Right now our plans are really clear.

“We think within a week we’ll have more certainty. We’re extremely hopeful of some tests with Aussie and after that we’re not too sure.”

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Bull Shark 3 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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