Midweek club games ‘on’ for All Blacks’ tour
As flaggedin Sunday News back in June, Graham Henrys Grand Slam-chasing team will be the first since the 1997 All Blacks to play midweek.
USA Rugby boss Kevin Roberts - the man who masterminded a five-year partnership between New Zealand and the Americans announced by NZRU boss Steve Tew last week - let slip that the games were on when being interviewed on Friday.Sunday News understands the All Blacks will play Munster on November 19 while the Stade Francais clash has been approved to help mark the clubs 125-year anniversary.The All Blacks already have games confirmed against Australia in Hong Kong - likely to be played on November 1 - Scotland (Nov 8), Ireland (Nov 15), Wales (Nov 22) and England (Nov 29).Negotiations with a Welsh and English club are on-going as the NZRU look for a $15 million cash bonanza from the nine-game tour.It is understood Henry will select a record 40-45 players for the tour.The game against Munster - European champions in 2006 - is a coup for tour organisers as it comes 30 years after the provinces famous 12-0 win against Graham Mouries Grand Slam-winning All Blacks.Tew refused to be drawn on these latest developments but issued a statement saying: As we have said all along and reiterated this week we are working on a number of possibilities and until we have final agreement on these it would be totally inappropriate to comment further.Meanwhile, Roberts said he could organise a touted game between the All Blacks and Ireland in New York at Giants Stadium to tie in with the All Blacks return from Europe in December.I can tell you for sure that we havent fixed a time in 2008 but I can also tell you we have the power and relationships with the NFL and Major Soccer League that if we were required to move very quickly we could, Roberts said.The only rugby team the Americans have heard of is the All Blacks. They couldnt tell you who won the World Cup or where the Springboks come from but they could tell you about the mythology of the All Blacks.So an All Blacks vs Ireland game would be a real spectator event. The media would like it and wed be delighted to host that and handle all the marketing.Wed make a big thing about it and I think players from both teams would like the trip.If you talked to Jerry Collins and Rodney Sooialo, theyre fatigued about going to South Africa three times a year, its boring for these guys. But if you say theyll go to New York theyd love the experience.For them, the chance of coming to the US and spending four or five days here isnt bad. So wed be pretty excited about it.
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Sunday, February 3rd, 2008 at 12:02 am under