Wallabies the losers in rugby union schedule shuffle

Kiwi quarantine measures will give the All Blacks an advantage over the Wallabies if the Bledisloe Tests are played in NZ.

Dave Rennie could start his Wallabies coaching career at a massive disadvantage

The Wallabies will face a massive disadvantage in their build-up to playing the All Blacks if the two Bledisloe Cup Tests planned for southeast Queensland are switched to New Zealand next month to compensate for The Rugby Championship moving to Australia.

Friday is the day SANZAAR will decide the fate of The Rugby Championship. The present plan involves staging the tournament as a mini-World Cup in New Zealand in November-December involving South Africa, Argentina, New Zealand and Australia. But that could change dramatically if it becomes apparent that no crowds will be permitted at NZ grounds.

In that event, SANZAAR is expected to decide to relocate the Rugby Championship to Australia, primarily in NSW, although at least one Australia-NZ Test would be played at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, as contracted. But if the tournament is moved, the October 10 and 17 Tests – currently scheduled for Suncorp – might be transferred across the Tasman to ensure NZ does not entirely miss out on international rugby.

It’s messy and ugly and it may be about to get even worse for the Wallabies.

If the opening two Bledisloes do take place in New Zealand, the Wallabies will be forced to go into quarantine for two weeks, after leaving the day after the September 19 Super Rugby AU final. It is hardly ideal timing, robbing the grand final sides of their traditional “Mad Monday”, but it will mean the Wallabies squeeze in more training time before taking on the All Blacks.

Under NZ Government regulations, the first four days are spent in virtual isolation with players effectively locked into their hotel rooms. After that, there is a staged release. Initially, players would only be able to gather in small groups, then groups of 10 and only towards the end of the quarantine period would they be free to train as a team.

Meanwhile, the All Blacks would be able to train every day without restriction.

Under the existing arrangements, the Wallabies and All Blacks would both go into a bubble in preparation for the October Tests in southeast Queensland, the Wallabies at Sanctuary Cove, the All Blacks likely to be based at Noosa. It is an even-handed solution.

But if SANZAAR decrees that The Rugby Championship is to be staged in Australia, meaning the opening two Bledisloe are moved to New Zealand, Dave Rennie will be presented with a massive disadvantage at the start of his Wallabies coaching career.

There is no suggestion the Wallabies would refuse to abide by any biosecurity demand the NZ Government issues, but given that all of the Australian Super Rugby teams have operated inside a bubble since the start of the competition on July 3, it looms as an onerous burden.

Still, with the financial survival of Australian rugby dependent on the Bledisloe Cup series and The Rugby Championship going ahead, it may well be that the Wallabies simply have to suck up their disappointment. Unless, of course, Jacinda Ardern does the unexpected and cuts the All Blacks’ first and possibly only 2020 opponent some slack.

Australia is probably the least of SANZAAR’s concerns at the moment, with six members of the Argentina side having returned positive COVID tests. That was six out of around 50 players tested on arrival at the Pumas’ training camp, which sends a daunting message about the extent of the pandemic in Argentina.

Given that Argentina needs to play in The Rugby Championship in order for broadcasters to meet in full their final instalment of the $57 million they owe to Australian rugby, it would not surprise if the Pumas were evacuated from Argentina and isolated in either NZ or Australia — presuming either country will have them.

South African Petrus du Plessis has been confirmed as the Wallabies scrum coach. As controversial as a foreigner might be, there is widespread acceptance that du Plessis is an outstanding appointment. He was appointed subject to a visa being issued, entry approval being approved and on condition the 2020 Rugby Championship goes ahead. And on top of all those stipulations, his employment in 2021 is conditional on the international season proceeding.

Although he is travelling on a UK as opposed to South African passport, it is not known when he will arrive. Rugby Australia will not start paying his wage until he makes an appearance.

Meanwhile, Rennie has insisted he sees no problems with Taniela Tupou’s scrummaging last weekend for the Reds, despite the fact Brumbies coach Dan McKellar and captain Allan Alaalatoa believed he was deliberately collapsing the scrum.

“Personally, what he did on the weekend, there are no issues,” Rennie told The Australian. “There might have been one scrum where his feet are gone and maybe he should have been penalised, but outside of that I think the ref got it right.

“Big tightheads who can set low, they are bloody hard to shift. I think maybe in his younger years there were some issues around his scrummaging technique, but he has improved heaps and he is a very powerful man who generally gets it right most times.”