Australia head coach Dave Rennie slams New Zealand for their decision to withdraw from Perth game

Australia head coach Dave Rennie has slammed New Zealand for their decision to pull out of the second round Rugby Championship game to be played in Perth on 28th August.

New Zealand Rugby earlier in the day announced that their team will not be heading to Australia following the 14-day quarantine period imposed by the Western Australia government with their home fixtures against the Springboks also cancelled.

NZR's decision to withdraw from the games was not communicated to Rugby Australia before they made the announcement public and Rennie, who himself is from New Zealand was furious over the lack of professionalism shown.

“Bloody angry. I just feel there’s only one of us who are interested in doing what’s best for the game,” the Wallabies’ boss told reporters. “It tells you more about them than us I’d say. I’m not surprised.

“I’ve had a couple of years now where I’m on the other side of the ditch. It’s been really disappointing the way they have conducted themselves over that period.

“It’s all about them without any concept of what it’s doing over here. New Zealand’s attitude of not honouring their commitments is really disappointing.

“We made a commitment to go there this year, they made a commitment to come here. They haven’t honoured that.”

With the Covid restrictions in Australia and New Zealand, the remainder of the Rugby Championship could be played in the United Kingdom and Rennie is hoping for more clarity.

“We’ll sit on our hands for a few days now, uncertain whether the Test will be put back another week and played here in Perth or be played somewhere else in the world,” he added.

“We’ll get clarity on what the Rugby Championship looks like and where it’s going to be held and whether that’s Brisbane or whether that’s South Africa or whether that’s in Europe, the games are able to take place on those dates.

“So the 11th or the 12th of September is the first one; New Zealand could have come here and played the game here knowing that we’ve got a Rugby Championship game a couple of weeks after that. So hugely disappointing.”