All Blacks player 'barged in door' to say not keen on Christmas isolation - Foster
All Blacks coach Ian Foster said one player in the squad 'barged in his door' and made it clear he had no intention of being in quarantine at Christmas, highlighting the tension the team is under amid a standoff over Rugby Championship fixtures.
New Zealand Rugby are at loggerheads with Rugby Australia, South Africa Rugby and southern hemisphere's governing body SANZAAR over the Dec. 12 finish for the Rugby Championship that will be held in Australia.
NZR said they had not agreed to the fixtures, with a Dec. 12 finish meaning the All Blacks would still be in a 14-day quarantine over the Christmas break upon their return to New Zealand.
"I've had one player that has barged in my door and said 'I'm not playing at Christmas'," Foster told radio station Newstalk ZB.
Foster did not identify the player, but NZR have said they would support anyone who chose to withdraw from the squad because they did not want to spend up to 10 weeks away from their family.
"It's a tough one for the players," Foster added of the dispute that is clouding the southern hemisphere championship between New Zealand, Australia, Argentina and world champions South Africa.
"They got given some dates, the dates changed, we've basically said through our players' association and the union to sort it out and get real clarity on the dates."
All Blacks captain Sam Cane said last week the players were not happy about the possibility of being in quarantine over Christmas, but would leave it to administrators to sort out.
Foster will assemble his squad in Wellington on Monday as they build up to next Sunday's first Bledisloe Cup test against Australia, who are in quarantine in Christchurch until Saturday.
The match will be the first international rugby game played since March, when the coronavirus pandemic forced administrators to put competitions on hold.
(Reporting by Greg Stutchbury; Editing by Shri Navaratnam)
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Finau is not leaving a lot of room for error that’s true, but he committed to 3 out of four tackles when the player had the ball so that’s all legal. (And incredibly entertaining)
Go to commentsThings I want to pay attention to this series. 1) Nothing against the other teams in 6 nations, but apart from Irelands loss to england, I dont feel they got tested, So I think this might be tight. 2) Rassie wants to build depth, and would rather do it before a world cup, but I am sure deep inside, he will be reminded that we have not beaten Ireland in years. 3) Will our new coaches plans be sound abd organised in time for the Ireland series? Remember our warm ups might only see our second or third string players available (When are we going to have one universal calander year?) 4) I see Ireland have moved on from Sexton, but what will Farrels plans be for SA? I am sure he will go for a full strength squad. 5) I think the test for the springboks will be the Durban game, it will be in winter, so not too hot for the Irish,no altitude, and it rains allot, might remind them of home. Loftus, if the springboks play the right game, I feel altitude like with most games before, can cause some challanges. 6) Off topic, but who is both Anxious and excited about what the Abs are coming with? A whole new coaching team and different style of play.
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