Sport
Ex-Australia rugby boss unloads on All Blacks legend for ‘absurd’ claims – Fox Sports
An Aussie strongman has finally hit back at Sir Steve Hansen, and he hasn’t missed.
The former All Black coach claimed last week that New Zealand owed Australia nothing as the two countries set about creating new competitions post-Super Rugby.
But Hansens lingering resentment over the 2003 World Cup co-hosting rights debacle has been torn to shreds by former Australian rugby boss John ONeill who said the great All Black coach should stick to his day job.
ONeill let rip with both barrels, inferring that one of Hansens best friends had to wear some of the blame for New Zealand losing the 2003 tournament. And he described the re-opening of this particular wound, so far down the track, as absurd.
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The influential ONeill has also advised Australia to go it alone in a bid to host the 2027 World Cup, rather than farm out some pool matches to New Zealand.
Current Aussie chairman Hamish McLennan has been diplomatic over Hansens belligerent words, but that was never ONeills style.
ONeill said the NZRU had stuffed it up in 2003, and a report by former New Zealand Chief Justice Sir Thomas Eichelbaum proved it.
ONeill said the great All Black coach should stick to his day job.Source: News Limited
Ill paraphrase the conclusions; the NZRU shot themselves in the foot, ONeill told the Sydney Morning Herald.
Rugby World Cup and the International Rugby Board had particular conditions about clean stadia and you either had to comply or lose the hosting rights.
Yes, the terms and conditions for hosting may well have been onerousbut in our language, like it or lump it. New Zealand Rugby through arrogance and hubris thought they could force the IRB and World Rugby to change the rules. They didnt.
Judge Eichelbaums words about me were that I did no more than act in the best interests of Australian rugby.
New Zealand Rugby at the time got rid of the board who stuffed it up. They got rid of the CEO
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