"It's business as usual".
New Zealand Rugby professional rugby performance manager Chris Lendrum said earlier this week planning for the Springboks’ games in Dunedin and Auckland was continuing, despite the pause in the transtasman travel bubble creating some uncertainty around the schedule.
If the travel bubble pause is extended beyond eight weeks, it is likely the home games against South Africa will have to be played in Australia.
‘‘At the moment there is no change to the plans and we are looking forward to hosting the match here,’’ Davies said.
‘‘We are in an environment where every day it is a challenge. But we are guided by [New Zealand Rugby] and we have every confidence in them.’’
The All Blacks hosted Fiji at Forsyth Barr Stadium early this month. The game attracted a crowd of 15,000 and Davies estimated the economic value to the city was between $4million and $5million.
A test against South Africa was likely to be worth twice that, so there is a lot at stake.
Yesterday, the New Zealand Government granted the Australian team an economic exemption to enter the country for the Bledisloe Cup in Auckland on August 7.
The exemption allows quarantine-free travel for the Wallabies.
‘‘Decisions on the other games are dependent on ongoing discussions between New Zealand Rugby and Rugby Australia,’’ Minister of Sport and Recreation Grant Robertson said.
The Wallabies have been in their own bubble and will travel from their base in Queensland to Auckland on Friday morning.
They will have to fulfil all normal obligations for travel, including negative pre-departure tests within 72 hours of their travel.
- Additional reporting The New Zealand Herald
