Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Ian Foster hits back: 'Those headlines came out without any facts behind it'

New All Blacks head coach Ian Foster. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

All Blacks coach Ian Foster has hit out at reports suggesting several players are considering pulling out of this year’s Rugby Championship for family reasons.

ADVERTISEMENT

Reports emerged yesterday that a group of key All Blacks players told New Zealand Rugby that they don’t want to leave their families for up to 10 weeks to play in the competition, which could include spending Christmas in quarantine.

Among the players named were first-fives Richie Mo’unga and Beauden Barrett, halfback TJ Perenara and winger Sevu Reece.

Video Spacer

John Plumtree on how the All Blacks are planning to take back line out supremacy off the Northern Hemisphere

Video Spacer

John Plumtree on how the All Blacks are planning to take back line out supremacy off the Northern Hemisphere

Both Mo’unga and Perenara recently had newborn babies, while Barrett and Reece are also expecting their first children.

The reports came after Sanzaar announced that Australia will host the Rugby Championship in November and December, with the All Blacks due to play the Wallabies in two Bledisloe Cup tests in New Zealand in October.

While dates for the Rugby Championship haven’t been confirmed, reports suggest All Blacks players could be forced to spend Christmas in quarantine due to New Zealand’s 14-day quarantine rules.

Speaking to Newstalk ZB, Foster denied claims that some of his players were set to skip the four-team competition – although he did admit discussions were being held with players about the issue.

ADVERTISEMENT

“I read that report yesterday and it was pretty frustrating that those headlines came out without any facts behind it,” Foster said. “Are we in trouble? No, we’re not in trouble. Are we having conversations with players? Of course we are.

“We’re trying to be responsible employers and talk to a whole lot of players. This is all new to everyone, taking players away for nine weeks where you can’t get back and it’s becoming increasingly obvious it’s going to be hard to bring players over later.

“So it’s a big chunk of time and we’re just working in through with players.”

Foster said he had spoken to the players named in the reports and insisted it wasn’t true.

“I’ve had no player at all, and I’ve spoken to the players who were noted in the articles. I’ve spoken to all those players and I haven’t heard anything like what has been reported. Right now, people just want to know what the facts are and we’re gathering them up at the moment.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CFEaxn1Av3v/

ADVERTISEMENT

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern confirmed that the New Zealand Government will change quarantine rules to allow the Wallabies more time to prepare for the Bledisloe Cup in New Zealand.

Ardern said the director general of health, Dr Ashley Bloomfield, had advised that the Wallabies would now be able to start training after three days and as a full squad after six days, with previous protocols restricting the team to training in limited bubbles.

The Prime Minister also said she spoke to her Australian counterpart Scott Morrison last night to ensure the two Bledisloe Cup tests would go ahead, following claims from Wallabies coach Dave Rennie that the team may boycott the first test if they weren’t allowed enough time to prepare.

Foster said he was “thrilled” with the change in quarantine rules to allow the Bledisloe tests to go ahead.

“Very thrilled with that even though we’re bitterly disappointed we’re losing the Rugby Championship but we’re finished sulking about that,” Foster said. “We’re looking forward to it and now can’t wait to sort out these Bleds. A little bit of water to go under the bridge but today’s news is positive.”

Foster also responded to Rennie’s threat to skip the first test altogether, saying there’s now no excuses for Australia not to play both tests.

“He’s come out strong based on information about the quarantine. We listened to that. But at the same time we were busy talking hard with the Government about relaxing it.

“Now I think we’ve achieved that, when you look an equitable situation which is about giving two teams a fair chance at preparing. To basically have 13 free days to prepare for a test match, in an international sports world is huge.

“Really, I don’t think there’s any excuse for them not to come over and play in that weekend.”

New Zealand was confirmed to host two Bledisloe Cup tests after missing out on the hosting rights for the Rugby Championship due to restrictive quarantine protocols.

Foster admitted losing the Rugby Championship hosting rights to Australia was disappointing but refused to say New Zealand “blew it”.

“I wouldn’t say we blew it. It looks like it because we had it and then it went. While it’s frustrating, we’re fully aware there are a whole lot of variables in play and quite frankly life hasn’t been fair this year for too many people and we’ve just got to take that one on the chin.

“What we do need to do is make sure we do these two Bledisloes and in a fair way. I think what’s happened now with the quarantine has basically put us in a situation where we can offer the Aussies nine full days in quarantine preparing, four full days once they are out, which is about 13 days by my maths.

“When you look at our preparation for the first Bled, we’ve got a three-day camp, a four-day camp and a six-day lead-in – so we’ve got 13 days. Really can’t see any reason we can’t be playing on that weekend.”

No official dates have been confirmed for the Bledisloe Cup tests yet.

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

S
SK 23 minutes ago
How Dupont-less France tossed a grenade into Ireland's Grand Slam celebrations

I think France have made really good improvements. They have found several players on the bench and in the wider squad who are able to now operate at the level of their starters, they have power and devastation on the bench and can change the game. Their gameplan has also evolved and they are able to stay in the fight for longer. Fitness and conditioning seems to have become primary work ons. They have worked massively on breakdown where they forced so many turnovers and always slowed down Irelands ball. How many times did you see a French hand on the ball fighting the first and second cleaner tooth and nail for access before being shoved off of it? They become like a pack of rabid dogs on turnover and transitions, they counter so much better now and you can see elements of the Bordeaux and Toulouse game written all over the team. Its almost like a swarm when they counter. They have great alignment between the Top 14 and the national team and they have a group of players who are well versed in playing this style. You could see clearly in this game why both Galthie and Erasmus now fancy a 7-1 stack against Ireland. It is by and large to overpower them and demolish their breakdown. Irelands attack has devolved. Its now more metronomic than creative. It involves phase after phase of attritional attack and hordes of possession but it lacks creativity and purpose after the second or third phase. The Ireland attack of old kept teams guessing. You didnt know if they were gonna go wide or close in, you had to worry about the offload, the inside pass, the blindside and the hooker on the wing. Now it seems like they move the ball side to side while patiently waiting for the dam wall to break. They also lack pace and bite in the outside channels without Hansen and Lowe. Nash and Osborne were not on it and they struggled to contain the outside French backs who were incredible. France had more leaders that stood up, more grit and more power and it all proved too much for Ireland to handle.

100 Go to comments
N
Novelty Dmv Experts 2 hours ago
English rugby pundits and fans really need to get a grip

We are here to help everyone erase their criminal records , DUIs , bad driving records and other criminal records needed without any mishap .We have the Real registered drivers license, Illinois state id requirements, Illinois id requirements , what do you need to get your license Illinois  how to get a new drivers license illinois  ,  Fake Malaysian passport , credit card hack software, Fake UK Passports , Fake Bank Statement , Fake bank statement for loan , How To Get A Driver’s License in Ontario And British Columbia and good quality Fake Driver License will be verify from any other country with no problems involved, meanwhile with the camouflage quality Fake drivers License , non of your biometric details will be under the government system, but it can not be detected as fake with naked eyes. We also help people with DUI and other criminal records erased without any mishap , how to get your DUI erased is a problem which is solved here.

Now email us today at our E-mail address at: { qualitydocuments9@gmail.com }


Visit our website on : noveltydmvexperts.com


Thanks and waiting to Hear from you soonense for USA , UK , Canada which is unregistered. Real Estate License , How To Get A Fake Drivers License That Works From The DMV . Belgian driving license , Irish driver License , Fake drivers license nsw , How to spot a fake id Australia .With the Drivers License , all your biometric details as given from birth or How to Easily Order for a fake driver License online from the comfort of your home . Meanwhile in UK , you can easily obtain a Fake Driving Licence UK Online without any driving test.  Welcome to Novelty DMV Experts Best Producers of High Undetected Drivers License . We produce two types of documents qualities. Both real and fake drivers License . We also offer quality   Irish Drivers License  for Irish Citizens.

6 Go to comments
l
lucky tam 4 hours ago
Can 'great' Gibson-Park best 'freakish' Dupont in scrum-half clash for the ages?

Galaxy Ethical Tech is a company that specializes in ethical hacking and cybersecurity services, including the recovery of lost or stolen cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. If you've lost access to your Bitcoin due to hacking, phishing, or other issues, here's how Galaxy Ethical Tech might assist you: They will assess your situation to understand how your Bitcoin was lost (e.g., hacked wallet, phishing scam, lost private keys, etc.) You’ll need to provide details such as transaction IDs, wallet addresses, and any relevant information about the incident.Their team of ethical hackers will use advanced digital forensics tools to trace the movement of your Bitcoin.They analyze blockchain transactions to identify where the funds were transferred and attempt to locate the perpetrator. If your Bitcoin was lost due to forgotten passwords, corrupted wallets, or lost private keys, they may use specialized software to recover access to your wallet.This process often involves brute-force techniques or other recovery methods to regain access.If your Bitcoin was stolen through a phishing scam or fraudulent scheme, they will investigate the scammer’s digital footprint.They may work with law enforcement agencies to track down the culprits and recover your funds. Galaxy Ethical Tech uses blockchain analysis tools to trace the flow of Bitcoin through the blockchain.They identify patterns and connections that could lead to the recovery of your funds.If necessary, they collaborate with legal authorities and law enforcement agencies to take legal action against the perpetrators. This can include freezing accounts or seizing assets linked to the theft. After recovery, they may provide guidance on securing your cryptocurrency assets to prevent future losses.This includes setting up multi-factor authentication, using hardware wallets, and educating you on avoiding phishing scams. No Guarantees : Recovering lost Bitcoin is not always possible, especially if the funds have been moved through multiple wallets or mixed with other cryptocurrencies.Ethical hacking and recovery services can be expensive, so ensure you understand the fees involved before proceeding. Always verify the credibility of the company you’re working with to avoid falling victim to another scam. If you’re considering using Galaxy Ethical Tech or a similar service, ensure they have a proven track record and positive reviews from previous clients.

contact them via Email: galaxyethicaltech@mail.com Whatsapp: +15072712442 Telegram: Galaxy_ethical_tech

8 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ 25 Six Nations Memorable Moments: 5 to 1 25 Six Nations Memorable Moments: 5 to 1
Search