Australia and New Zealand may consider scrapping their remaining Tri-Nations matches against South Africa if the Springboks insist on leaving their best players at home to keep them fresh for the World Cup.
Australian and New Zealand officials are furious that the South Africans have picked a weakened squad for their two away matches.
The three countries have organised an urgent telephone conference for later on Tuesday as the row threatens to develop into a full-blown crisis that could jeopardise the future of the southern hemisphere’s annual championship.
Australian officials are threatening to cancel the matches against the Springboks and organise an extra game against New Zealand unless the South Africans agree to change their mind.
However, they conceded that was unlikely to happen because of their existing broadcasting arrangement, and also because tickets for both matches — in Sydney on July 7 and in Christchurch a week later — have already been on sale for months.
”Australia and New Zealand are looking at whether it’s at all possible but I think the practicality is that it’s not the case,” Australian Rugby Union (ARU) spokesperson Brian West told the Australian Associated Press.
”There are so many contracts in place with stadiums, broadcasters and the rest. I don’t think it’s got legs.”
New Zealand Rugby Union chairperson Jock Hobbs said he was concerned the row would undermine the future of the game and follow the same route as soccer where most internationals are reduced to ”friendlies”.
Huge concern
”It’s a huge concern, a major issue,” Hobbs told the New Zealand Press Association.
”We’re talking about the integrity and meaningfulness of international rugby. It’s critical, it’s the very heart and soul of our game.”
South Africa coach Jake White has defended his selections, saying his players were all battling injuries brought about by playing five Tests in as many weeks, but the timing of their announcement has aroused suspicion in Australia and New Zealand.
Australia and New Zealand both sent full-strength teams for their Tri-Nations matches in South Africa this past fortnight and claimed they had received assurances from the Springboks that they would do the same for the return legs.
The row over international team selections has been intensifying ever since the game turned professional after the 1995 World Cup.
The IRB has already scrapped all inbound tours in the same year as the next World Cup, in 2011, but has been powerless to stop it this year as England, France, Wales and now South Africa opted to leave their best players at home and save them for the World Cup.
Meanwhile, prop Deon Carstens has become the third Springbok forward to withdraw from South Africa’s tour of Australia and New Zealand. He has been replaced by CJ van der Linde. — Reuters