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Kiwis take on IRB with 2015 boycott threat
Source: Agencies |
September 29, 2011, Thursday
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BOYCOTTS and breakdowns featured at the Rugby World Cup yesterday as the All Blacks threatened to sit out the 2015 tournament and France was urged by its defense coach to compete more effectively at the ruck.
On the field, Georgia won its first match of the tournament, defeating Romania 25-9 in its Pool B match in Palmerson North.
New Zealand Rugby Union head Steve Tew set alarm bells ringing at the International Rugby Board early in the day by saying the All Blacks could pull out of the 2015 event because competing in the current edition had led to a loss of more than NZ$13 million (US$10.3 million).
Tew said the deficit was a result of the IRB, which employs strict rules on advertising during the World Cup, forcing the curtailment of regular test matches and Tri-Nations internationals and thus preventing teams from showcasing their regular sponsors.
The IRB issued a statement saying it was committed to negotiating with teams to address the financial issues.
"I think you'd have a pretty good idea of how the country would respond, they wouldn't be too happy about it," said New Zealand hooker Keven Mealamu. "It would be devastating for us as rugby players to know we wouldn't be able to make it to the next World Cup."
Last place
Another team which could miss the 2015 tournament is Romania. Its loss to Georgia consigned it to last place in Pool B and will now have qualify for 2015.
Georgian flyhalf Merab Kvirikashvili kicked 17 points and openside flanker Mamuka Gorgodze scored the only try in a scrappy encounter where referee Dave Pearson took centre stage. The English official awarded 14 first-half penalties as the two sides repeatedly infringed at the breakdown, which, despite directives at the start of the tournament, continues to be ruled in consistently.
Georgia finishes its campaign on Sunday against Argentina which announced a strong lineup yesterday for the final Pool B match with Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino selected at fullback after his late try helped beat Scotland. Argentina, England and Scotland are in contention for a quarterfinal place from Pool B and rugby's oldest rivals will name their teams today for their eagerly awaited clash at Eden Park on Saturday.
Also, Russia's hooker Valery Tsnobiladze was banned for three weeks for head-butting Irish flanker Sean O'Brien.
On the field, Georgia won its first match of the tournament, defeating Romania 25-9 in its Pool B match in Palmerson North.
New Zealand Rugby Union head Steve Tew set alarm bells ringing at the International Rugby Board early in the day by saying the All Blacks could pull out of the 2015 event because competing in the current edition had led to a loss of more than NZ$13 million (US$10.3 million).
Tew said the deficit was a result of the IRB, which employs strict rules on advertising during the World Cup, forcing the curtailment of regular test matches and Tri-Nations internationals and thus preventing teams from showcasing their regular sponsors.
The IRB issued a statement saying it was committed to negotiating with teams to address the financial issues.
"I think you'd have a pretty good idea of how the country would respond, they wouldn't be too happy about it," said New Zealand hooker Keven Mealamu. "It would be devastating for us as rugby players to know we wouldn't be able to make it to the next World Cup."
Last place
Another team which could miss the 2015 tournament is Romania. Its loss to Georgia consigned it to last place in Pool B and will now have qualify for 2015.
Georgian flyhalf Merab Kvirikashvili kicked 17 points and openside flanker Mamuka Gorgodze scored the only try in a scrappy encounter where referee Dave Pearson took centre stage. The English official awarded 14 first-half penalties as the two sides repeatedly infringed at the breakdown, which, despite directives at the start of the tournament, continues to be ruled in consistently.
Georgia finishes its campaign on Sunday against Argentina which announced a strong lineup yesterday for the final Pool B match with Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino selected at fullback after his late try helped beat Scotland. Argentina, England and Scotland are in contention for a quarterfinal place from Pool B and rugby's oldest rivals will name their teams today for their eagerly awaited clash at Eden Park on Saturday.
Also, Russia's hooker Valery Tsnobiladze was banned for three weeks for head-butting Irish flanker Sean O'Brien.
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