When the news broke on Friday that New Zealand had lost the hosting of the Rugby Championship to Australia it was interesting to see the spin from the Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern:
Ardern insisted at a press conference shortly before the announcement that “Sanzaar politics” was to blame for the decision.
Nice one Cinders, blame SANZAAR.
Except the woman who has claimed that she has never told a lie in politics and never would, has been busted selling so many ‘pork pies’ that Megan Woods created a tsunami of saliva as a result.
Both SANZAAR and NZ Rugby have poured Ardern back into her bottle:
Tense negotiations to bring the Rugby Championship to New Zealand were harpooned by the Government’s unwillingness to negotiate — with officials making only one concession in almost three months.
This, and not “Sanzaar politics” as suggested by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, led to Australia being awarded the hosting rights to the tournament, says New Zealand Rugby chairman Brent Impey.
“This came down to the quarantine regulations being too restrictive for the championship,” Impey told the Weekend Herald.
“The situation in New South Wales is that all teams have to undertake the 14 days quarantine period, during which they can train at full capacity while in quarantine.
“They’ll need to have testing during and after the quarantine period, as well as having daily wellness examinations to make sure there are no signs of illness.
“If they do seem ill, they’re isolated and tested, and once a negative result is returned, they can join the group.”
According to Impey, in all the weeks since July, there was just one government concession over quarantine conditions.
Impey elaborated in an interview today that back in July New Zealand was the “clear favourite” at a Sanzaar level.
“A few months ago New Zealand was the only option. When you boil it all down [the lost bid] it’s one thing. It’s quarantine,” Impey told Martin Devlin on Newstalk ZB.
Originally, government officials demanded that throughout the 14 days of lockdown after squads from South Africa, Australia and Argentina arrived in New Zealand, they would never train in groups bigger than 15 players.
After several meetings and phone calls, it was finally agreed that in the last six days of the 14 days in quarantine, the size of the training group could be increased from 15 to 25, Impey revealed.
“The New Zealand situation was that on days one to three there had to be individual isolation. Then, following a negative test, from days four to seven, they could form bubbles of 15 that can train inside the bubble. Then, after a second negative test, they could expand the bubble to 25 from days eight to 14.
So, the whole shebang was scuttled by arbitrary and illogical quarantine rules, not internal politics of SANZAAR.
The Government’s intransigence has cost retailers, hospitality venues and the voting public and the Prime Minister lies to say it is all the fault of SANZAAR.
Elections can be won or lost on the result of All Blacks games, this should cost the Jacinda Ardern government big time.
The “COVID Queen” has cost Kiwi supporters live rugby games. Thanks a bunch, Jacinda.
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