NZ Rugby boss Mark Robinson has hit back at claims from across the Tasman of a lack of consultation and notice over the decision to stop the All Blacks from flying to Perth.
The Wallabies were to host the third Bledisloe Cup test next weekend at Optus Stadium, but with New Zealand experiencing its first nationwide COVID-19 lockdown in more than a year, problems arose.
Western Australia's state government has confirmed that any arrivals from New Zealand would have to quarantine for 14 days, creating major doubt over the state of the Rugby Championship.
With the situation murky, NZR decided not to send the All Blacks, seeking more clarity on the situation, and angering Rugby Australia, SANZAAR and Wallabies coach Dave Rennie.
Rennie is "bloody angry" that the NZR pulled the pin, effectively postponing the Rugby Championship in the process.
"It's disappointing how it's been communicated," he says. "Our boys all found out through social media.
"NZ Rugby didn't even have the respect to consult RA [Rugby Australia] about their decision, so that's hugely disappointing. I'm not sure shocked is the right word, because I'm not surprised."
But Robinson denies there was no consultation with his trans-Tasman counterparts, telling Newstalk ZB senior All Blacks had discussed the issue with senior Wallabies players.
"It's a shame that couldn't get back to Dave and some of the people he's referring to," says Robinson. "I haven't read all of his comments, but my understanding of some reference to no consultation, that's simply not true.
"We had calls right through from sort of Wednesday, Thursday. We put something in writing on Thursday and then we spoke to them [Rugby Australia] before anything was released.
"I have real sympathy for Dave. I'd have thought there'd have been talking the days up to when this came a possibility, that there would have been communication within Rugby Australia to identify this as a possibility."
Robinson says the key for NZR and the players was clarification around when and where they would play, and how long they would be on the road for.
"We've got a touring party of over 60 people, potentially, about to be on the road for probably over 15 weeks, not able to get back into the country until the November 23 and then have two weeks of MIQ.
"We tried to give Rugby Australia as much time as possible until Friday afternoon to have quarantine tidied up with Queensland. That was unable to be achieved and therefore we weren't really able to get on a plane - which would have been today - at such short notice and be in a position to play that game in Perth.
"You're talking about four months where people are going to be away, so under that scenario, before we set off with no real understanding of when we might be able to come home, we think that pausing for the sake of a few more days is reasonable for our people at this time."
