England's dirty tactics over threatening to deny the All Blacks a match against the Barbarians at Twickenham in November look set to blow up in their face and persuade New Zealand Rugby to reject an offer to play Eddie Jones all-conquering Six Nations team at the same venue on the same day.
New Zealand Rugby officials would not comment last night after the Daily Mail newspaper revealed Barbarians insiders have condemned England's RFU for threatening to veto their historical match against the All Blacks in London on November 4.
The Mail reported that the RFU and its chief executive Ian Ritchie have been condemned for 'deceitful and underhand' conduct amid escalating tensions over their efforts to arrange a match between England and the world champions at Twickenham which would replace the Baa Baas game which is marked to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the unique organisation.
But insiders said the RFU's tactics have upset NZR as well as Barbarians officials and is likely to convince them to stand their ground and reject the England overture for a grudge match between the world's top two ranked rugby nations. The RFU was already failing to offer a strong enough financial deal for NZR to change its mind anyway, and Ritchie's threat will only have shored up that position.
It was the Daily Mail who earlier this week revealed England's governing body was desperately trying to convince the All Blacks to agree to a fixture at Twickenham instead.
The Mail claimed Ritchie is threatening to veto the Barbarians match which New Zealand Rugby had provisionally agreed to. The RFU own Twickenham.