Covid-19 scares have sent shockwaves through the Rugby Championship ahead of this weekend’s clashes on the Gold Coast.
Wallabies coach Dave Rennie concedes the Queensland Government’s “constant” changing of Covid-19 regulations has caused “a bit of frustration” during the Rugby Championship.
The Wallabies have been in the Sunshine State since early this month and are preparing for one last game against Argentina this Saturday.
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Ahead of its clash on the Gold Coast, the Australian side has reverted to bubble conditions on the back of a Covid-19 outbreak in southeast Queensland, and after staying at the same Townsville hotel as a man who tested positive.
Rennie lamented the change in protocols meant the Wallabies were unable to engage with fans in the same way they did leading up to the Bledisloe Cup clash in Perth.
“What we’ve found, it’s been a bit of a frustration. In Western Australia we were able to do a lot of community engagement, but it’s been difficult to do that because of the Queensland regulations,” he said.
“It changes constantly.
“Last week, or the week before, there was a couple of cases in Queensland. We had a couple of days where no one was in and no one was out (of the Wallabies bubble). It’s been a constant, we adjust based on the expectations.”
The Wallabies have moved swiftly to adapt to the Queensland Government’s new protocols.
“We’re pretty much in a bubble now. We’ve been in a hotel, we’ve been wearing masks everywhere. Now we’re pretty much locked down,” Rennie said.
“We can train here but we’ve all been tested today (Thursday). We’ve had regular testing throughout. We’re doing everything we can to ensure the game goes ahead and we’re following all of the protocols.”
On Thursday, Rugby Australia confirmed Saturday’s Test would proceed at Gold Coast’s Cbus Super Stadium at 75 per cent crowd capacity, in accordance with the Queensland Government’s new health directives.
The first 75 per cent of those to purchase tickets will be permitted to attend Saturday night’s Test, with other ticketholders to be contacted regarding refunds by Friday afternoon.
“It is going to be disappointing for people but we have to take the health advice. The health advice is to move to stage two. Stage two says 75 per cent capacity, that’s what it will be,” Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said on Thursday.
Australia is set to come up against a depleted Argentine outfit – six Pumas breached coronavirus health orders by travelling to Byron Bay and were stopped as they attempted to re-enter Queensland on Wednesday night.
Sebastian Cancelliere, Joaquin Diaz Bonilla, Felipe Ezcurra, Pablo Matera, Santiago Medrano and Santiago Socino will all miss Saturday night’s game, as will manager Lucas Chioccarelli and video analyst Rodrigo Martinez, who also went on the unsanctioned trip.
Rennie said his side was not concerned by the changes to the Argentine side that the breach will force.
“It’s no change to us at all,” he said.
“We’ve got a massive focus on us. Whoever ends up in front of us, we’ll deal with.”
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