All Blacks get armed guard escorts for foray into Argentina
‘Bug gate’ in Sydney heightened intrigue levels but security and safety measures have long been paramount on any All Blacks tour.
The All Blacks continue to wait for feedback from New South Wales Police on their findings from the investigation into a listening device that was uncovered in a team hotel room before the opening Bledisloe Cup test in August.
Manager Darren Shand, who led an advance party of five to Buenos Aires, said it was business as usual in regards to security. Overt risks were more of a concern than covert ones.
‘‘We’re just waiting to see where this all goes to before we make any decisions on whether we make it policy,’’ Shand said about whether the team hotel would be swept for bugs.
"We didn’t really have a policy around that in the past so we’re building our understanding in that area at the moment and waiting for this investigation. We’ll then sit down and decide what’s the best way forward.
‘‘We’ll just have our normal training security monitoring the entry and exit of people and have access to the fans at appropriate times. The general safety element is more important there.’’
Before any tour, the All Blacks undertake major reconnaissance to ensure their every move away from home is mapped out and safe. This trip is no different.
As with previous ventures to the Argentine capital, eight fully armed special forces guards will escort them in a motorcade to and from trainings – batting away local drivers if they get too close to the team bus. New Zealand Embassy contacts are close at hand; even the player’s mid-week day off is scripted to avoid dangers.
‘‘That’s certainly an area we have to know well and be in a position to provide the players with information on arrival in terms of their safety. We’ll have the same level of police support which is pretty high,’’ Shand said.
‘‘One of the risks when you go to countries regularly is complacency. When you’re in a high profile team you need to be conscious of those things and having some good solid basic rules around what to do when things go wrong.
‘‘Most of the security work is done before. Contingency around safety and all the processes around that we have to take to a different level now because of the way the world is. There’s a huge amount of work that goes into that prior to going and we then manage that on the ground over there.’’
Security is only one part of the equation. No surprises, no excuses, is the All Blacks’ mantra.
Home or away, little changes for this team. They expect the same look and feel whether it be in London, Buenos Aires or Christchurch.
Strength and conditioning trainer Nick Gill joins Shand in the advanced party to assess training fields and gyms. Nutritionist Katrina Darry works with the hotels around food needs. James Iversen, covering for Chalky (Kevin) Carr, on this trip, is responsible for organising and unloading four tonnes (250 pieces) of gear.
An IT expert sets up systems in the downtown hotel so when the team and management arrive, everything is essentially as it always is.
‘‘We don’t like surprises so as much as you can correspond by email and phone it’s good to get on the ground, meet the people and walk through everything. It takes away a lot of the heat during the week because you know what you’re going to get,’’ Shand said.
‘‘Preparation is about everything so being able to provide the coaching team the knowledge they can just rock up and it be as it normally would wherever we train is the responsibility of the operational team. We’re on the road all the time but want to be able to deliver same product.’’
Few would argue that same product is functioning exceptionally well at present and this meticulous planning is just another cog in the well-greased machine.