Rugby World Cup: Wallabies v England, Australia not worried about Pommy spies

THE Wallabies have laughed off an alleged spy scandal involving England that hit the front page of the London tabloids yesterday.

THE Wallabies have laughed off an alleged spy scandal involving England that hit the front page of the London tabloids yesterday.

Recycling a Daily Telegraph story about the Wallabies chasing off a camera-toting onlooker from their Bath training venue nine days ago, the Sun newspaper splashed with a story “For Your Tries Only” and said Australia were furious at England attempting to spy on them.

The article said the Wallabies had made a complaint but coach Michael Cheika said yesterday: “I don’t know anything about it”.

Cheika expressed surprise at the sudden controversy and said although there was a long history of suspected espionage in Test rugby, he isn’t worried about prying eyes.

“We don’t even know what we’re doing so how is anyone watching us going to know what we’re doing.

“There’s a long list of people who have seen people with a camera here or there over here. It is what it is. If that’s what it is, that’s what it is. I’m not worried about it.

“We’re not really sure what we’re doing so I don’t think they’ll be able to pick what we’re doing either. But I heard about it (the Sun article) and we’ve got to have a bit of a laugh.”

The man chased off was carrying a long-lens camera but Wallabies staff were not able to ascertain if he was a spy or a prying media photographer. As with all teams, the Wallabies’ training sessions at Bath University were behind a tall hessian screen but the interloper was on a vantage point where he could see over the fence.

Spying rows are quite common in international rugby, and coaches go to elaborate lengths to avoid being watched.

Clive Woodward had his meeting rooms swept for listening bugs in Australia in the 2003 World Cup, and teams regularly change training venues late when visiting South Africa expecting the first venue will have hidden cameras set up.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen is one of the more cautious.

He accused Australia of spying in 2008 in Brisbane when a TV crew shot footage of a closed session, and the Kiwi coach has not only added an even taller fence at his training sessions in England at this World Cup, the All Blacks reportedly booked out all hotel rooms overlooking their training venue so they couldn’t be used by rival spies.

There are rumours that military-style hidden surveillance is even used by some nations to get an early look at set-piece moves being used in training.

Originally published as Rugby World Cup: Wallabies v England, Australia not worried about Pommy spies