Pressure on for heads to roll

By WYNNE GRAY

Rugby Union chairman Murray McCaw came home yesterday defending New Zealand's tactics in the failed bid to host the World Cup and still confident he could keep his job.

He doubted there would be a call for resignations at Thursday's NZRFU board meeting and believed he and chief executive David Rutherford would continue to head the organisation.

But the Herald understands a number of Northern Hemisphere countries have threatened to oppose New Zealand initiatives until there is a change in leadership. Already there have been significant cracks in the Sanzar alliance of South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

Sources say that as long as the pair remain at the helm of the NZRFU there will be repeat defeats like the 16-5 loss in the International Rugby Board vote on the World Cup.

There is sympathy for the work of the NZRFU's delegates to the IRB, Rob Fisher and Tim Gresson, but scorn for McCaw and Rutherford.

When the delegation arrived back yesterday, Fisher was long on words about his disappointment for rugby supporters here but short on explanations for the fiasco.

He wanted to comment about his roles, wanted to continue in rugby administration, but felt he had to report first to the NZRFU board.

"The mood of the [IRB] meeting throughout the week was one of concern for New Zealand rugby and the New Zealand rugby public, and people did not find it an easy decision to make," he said.

Former NZRFU chairman Eddie Tonks has warned that New Zealand has to repair transtasman alliances or risk being isolated in international rugby diplomacy.

Discussions about that standoff should feature at the Anzac Day board meeting of the NZRFU as members unpick the strategies involved in the World Cup debacle.

McCaw said the hosting rights loss would not greatly damage the relationship with Australia.

"While there have been some cross words spoken, fences have not broken down between us and the [Australian Rugby Union].

"Things have got tense - that happens in any partnership - but it is not going to take any marriage guidance counsellor to fix it."

However other sources suggest a very different international rugby landscape. Australia and South Africa are ready to ignore the NZRFU leaders and a similar attitude prevails in the Northern Hemisphere.

In the World Cup ballot, it is believed New Zealand managed to add only the two votes of Wales and one of Italy to the two it cast for itself.

McCaw said a review of tactics would have seen only small changes.

"All the big decisions, I am very comfortable they were right.

"We might have done a few things slightly differently but would the outcome have changed? I think not."