England threat to veto Baabaas
THE plot thickens as the proposed All Blacks v England showdown for world rugby supremacy at Twickenham in November remains in the balance.
The UK’s Daily Mail reported earlier in the week that England’s Rugby Football Union were locked in negotiations with their New Zealand equivalents over a match between Steve Hansen’s No 1-ranked All Blacks and Eddie Jones’ back-to-back Six Nations champions England on November 4.
New Zealand are said to be demanding half the profit from such a massive match-up, which could fall at around the $5 million mark. England, of course, would like to drive a harder bargain. NZR boss Steve Tew is staying tight-lipped but given it’s a potential fixture being driven by demand in the north he will no doubt dig in for the best deal possible.
As it stands now the two leading sides in the international game are not scheduled to meet next until November of 2018.
But with England on an irresistible roll, having equalled the All Blacks’ record of 18 consecutive victories by a tier-one nation, and with the chance to own the mark outright if they can complete a second straight Grand Slam in Ireland today, there is a clamour for them to measure themselves against the back-toback world champions and No 1 side in the world.
However the Daily Mail is now reporting that the RFU has been condemned for being ‘‘deceitful and underhand’’ over attempting to over-ride a scheduled All Blacks-Barbarians 125th anniversary match-up at Twickenham on the November 4 date with their own clash.
The Mail claims that RFU chief Ian Ritchie had threatened to veto the All Blacks-Baabaas game on November 4, provoking the angry response from Barbarians insiders. The RFU’s official line was that they only became aware of the proposed Barbarians v All Blacks game a few weeks ago and have simply made tentative inquiries about whether England could participate instead.
But the Mail says the Barbarians insist they had sought permission last November for the game to be played, and had been given approval, including an agreed stadium hire fee.