Blues: Double-header ’unlikely’ under coronavirus restrictions
BLUES boss Andrew Hore concedes next week’s proposed cross-code double-header at
Eden Park is now highly unlikely to go ahead under latest coronavirus restrictions, though says the decision will ultimately be made by organisations higher up the chain than his franchise.
And his high-flying coach Leon MacDonald has called for Super Rugby bosses to consider playing derby games over the next period if international travel is indeed ruled out, as would seem likely now.
With Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s announcement yesterday around a 14-day selfisolation period now mandatory for all visitors to New Zealand, it would appear Super Rugby, as it is set up, is in an untenable position.
Next Saturday, the Blues are due to host Australia’s Brumbies in a cross-code promotion at Eden Park that includes the NRL’s New Zealand Warriors coming up against the Canberra Raiders.
Hore, speaking to media after the Blues’ 43-10 victory over the Lions at Eden Park yesterday, said there remained plenty of uncertainty around Super Rugby’s immediate future under the playing field now imposed by the coronavirus pandemic. He said further meetings scheduled for coming days would hopefully clear that up.
However, he was prepared to concede that next week’s matches now had to fall into the seriously doubtful category.
‘‘It certainly makes it challenging with that 14-day turnaround,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s not like a business person perhaps who flies in and takes a risk and goes to a meeting. It’s pretty public when these teams arrive and leave.
‘‘You’ve got to say there are some serious questions over it now. The Warriors right now are in Newcastle. We’ve got to take stock now. We’ve been looking at all the different permutations that could occur, then we’ve got to do the right thing and make sure we set an example for the nation.’’
Ultimately, that call will be made, he said, not by the Blues, or Warriors, but by Sanzaar and New Zealand Rugby.
‘‘One of our greatest advantages is we are a crossborder competition, and with that, things like this do have a major impact. We’ll have to adjust accordingly as a business.’’
MacDonald conceded that at a time like this, sport had to take somewhat of a back seat to more important concerns.
‘‘It’s uncharted territory for everyone this coronavirus,’’ he said. ‘‘We’ll plan like we’re playing, initially, and when we get told otherwise, we’ll . . make a plan. We don’t know what to expect; it’s all happened so quickly.
‘‘Once the NBA started shutting down, it got real.’’
When asked how much of a shame for his surging side it would be for the competition to shut down now, MacDonald came up with a solution that might just have some legs.
‘‘It would be a huge shame for everybody,’’ he said. ‘‘Who knows? There are other ways. Maybe we go internal and play our local derbies for the next month or so and get those out of the way, and see what happens after. There are other options, for sure. But common sense says you need to do the right thing and get this thing done and dusted.’’
The surging, buoyant Blues await further developments. Meantime they have a fourth straight victory, and first home success for the season, to celebrate.