Vote against NZ wrong, says top Australian

Rod McGeoch

The Australian who delivered the Olympic Games to Sydney has ripped into the Australian Rugby Union over its failure to back New Zealand's bid for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

Rod McGeoch, who was recruited to New Zealand's successful bidding team, told the Herald last night that the ARU vote for Japan could rupture relations between the two countries.

"To me it's like the underarm incident - it'll go away, but it's so unnecessary ... It's not helped the sentiment between the two countries.

"The New Zealand Rugby Union believed if they didn't win this time they might never win it. Not being able to count on your partner, I think, is very disappointing."

Mr McGeoch said the ARU had the right to vote as it pleased, "but as Robert Louis Stevenson said, you have to dine at the banquet of consequences".

Yesterday, he sent a scathing letter to ARU chairman Dilip Kumar over its vote last Friday in Dublin.

"The position that the ARU has taken exhibits political naivety at a breathtaking level because it shows a misunderstanding of the consequences of the vote having regard to all of the circumstances," wrote Mr McGeoch.

In August, Mr McGeoch gave a presentation at what he called a "historic meeting" of the boards of the ARU and the NZRFU.

"I reminded everybody about the importance of the relationship," he said.

NZRFU chairman Jock Hobbs and chief executive Chris Moller had "absolutely eyeballed" the ARU delegates and asked, "Have we got your support?"

Therese Walsh, NZRFU general manager of corporate services, said the ARU gave no assurances, but the union was "extremely disappointed that the ARU chose not to support us".

"We have a long-standing relationship [with the ARU] which we consider to be very strong, but obviously we will want to discuss this matter."

ARU spokesman Strath Gordon said last night that the letter had been received.

"I would understand [the NZRFU's] disappointment, naturally, but I think we've been honest and up-front and explained our position."

He said the ARU had publicly stated that it would not decide whom it would vote for until the final day.

"Australia went to the hosting vote with both Sanzar partners putting their hands up for the job. It was a difficult situation."

Mr Gordon described the relationship between the New Zealand and Australian unions as "terrific".

"We don't always agree on everything. It would be a miracle if we did.

"Both parties accept that as the nature of any partnership, and the relationship is mature enough for it to continue."

Mr McGeoch, who was recruited after leading the bid for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, said voting for Japan would have been justified if the International Rugby Board had asked all its members to vote that way in the interests of the game.

"Plainly, no such message was delivered or requested by the leadership [of the IRB]. The votes say it all and in those circumstances, for Australia to fail to support New Zealand is beyond my comprehension," his letter continued.

"It was even put to me, presumably somewhat facetiously, that I would be the only Australian welcome in New Zealand.

"That is, to put it mildly, an extremely disappointing outcome which in the circumstances before you was totally avoidable."