From Sam Worthington with Stuff
Wallabies coach Dave Rennie has given his support to continued Super Rugby Pacific and has admitted surprise at Hamish McLennan’s trans-Tasman threat of leaving.
Provocative Rugby Australia president McLennan threw what Tim Horan called a “hand grenade” across the trenches last week threatening to return to national competition after a two-season SRP contract ended the year coming.
Rennie, a New Zealander, told reporters on Monday that his position had not changed.
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All Blacks coach Ian Foster and Wallabies coach Dave Rennie at Sky Stadium. (Getty)
Australia was not represented in Saturday’s SRP final, won by the Crusaders.
“I think I’ve made it pretty clear in the past, I think it’s good for both countries that we play trans-Tasman football,” Rennie said.
“I think the competition has been great this year and our teams have certainly been more competitive. I think it’s good for them, it’s good for us. I’d like that to continue.”
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Ardie Savea of the All Blacks and Michael Hooper of the Wallabies exchange words. (Getty)
When asked if McLennan’s threat had suddenly come out, Rennie said “yes.”
“I understand that Hamish is an innovative thinker and I guess from a commercial point of view we want a bigger part of the pie. So I understand his thinking.
“I’m not going to look at the situation of the crystal ball. I think that’s what a lot of New Zealanders will think: playing trans-Tasman games is good for us.
Hamish McLennan, President of Rugby Australia. (Getty)
“We just have to make sure that it is also financially beneficial. So I am supporting the continuity of the competition, but that is not my vocation … they have some of the best players in the world, as we have done. , so you want to be playing with the best players. That way we will improve and challenge ourselves. It’s important. “
On the other side of the Tasman, Sir John Kirwan, Mils Muliaina and Jeff Wilson put the boot on McLennan for the timing and nature of his threat.
In a move widely seen as a tactic to make more money from NZ Rugby, McLennan said last week that “all bets were void”.
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This provoked an angry response from the trio of former All Blacks to The Breakdown on Sunday, who saw it as a cynical and unnecessary negotiation tactic that would focus on newcomers to SRP Moana Pasifika and Fijian Drua.
“I think it’s all about talking. I’m also disappointed,” Muliaina said.
“Just because we talked about the Moana and the Drua … they finally get into a competition and Hamish comes out and says we’ll leave them. He’s the only one who thinks it’s going to happen. Even the Australian. Players, we need each other. to each other.
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“This competition has been great and hearing things like this the week of the final. That sucks.”
Kirwan said leaving Super Rugby would be “the dumbest political decision they could make”, and was very much in favor of Australian teams competing.
Wilson said New Zealand and Australia “needed each other” to turn Super Rugby Pacific into strong competition, but could not hide his frustration with McLennan’s comments.
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“I think this is just a power game, when it comes to trying to negotiate more funds for Australian rugby,” Wilson said.
“I am just happy to hear that.
“When you commit to something for a couple of years, you commit to the Moana Pasifika and Fijian Drua sides … how do you think Hamish feel now?
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“In relation to the fact that you’ve opened a door for them and you’re thinking, ‘Are we going to walk away from them now because we’re interested, or do we think it is?’ Let me give you an example: Australian netball is in the hole for $ 4 million – they left the trans-Tasman competition with New Zealand and have been worse off financially.
“There is a danger if you leave. To be fair, however, we also need them, and I come from where they come from … we have created something, they have committed to it and now they are talking. About leaving?
“I’m very disappointed with that because it tells me about our relationship.”
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