Provinces starting to rumble

By WYNNE GRAY

Culpability. Tough word to use, even tougher for provincial rugby chairmen to pin down when given just 30 minutes to digest the 56-page report into New Zealand's loss of World Cup hosting rights.

But yesterday there was a groundswell of provincial dissatisfaction about the NZRFU reactions to Sir Thomas Eichelbaum's report.

The provinces were asking: If the NZRFU board endorsed all the actions taken by chief executive David Rutherford and chairman Murray McCaw, was it right that just Rutherford took the chop?

On Tuesday, provincial officials were miffed with the treatment they received in Wellington, the haste with which they were asked to read, understand and decide on the report.

They had half-an-hour to dissect it before NZRFU president Lane Penn and alternating chairmen McCaw and Rob Fisher spoke. The provinces bought more time, promising to return with decisions on August 7.

But yesterday there was concern about Rutherford being the singular casualty.

The provinces were asking about the propriety of two chairmen, Fisher and McCaw, stepping down since the last World Cup, but remaining on the board.

Admissions of collective responsibility and errors of judgment by the board demanded further scrutiny.

Excuses about stability were not enough. If those nine men were competent they would survive a further provincial inquisition.

Rugby identities such as Jock Hobbs, John Drake, Bill Osborne and Chris Laidlaw have already been canvassed as the sort of people needed if there is a further cleanout.

That action appeared to be gaining momentum yesterday, with a special annual meeting able to be convened if seven or more provinces demand it. That would countermand the board's intention.

"The board has decided that rather than resign en masse, it is more appropriate for stability, continuity and good governance that the board election process is accelerated, with all members [including McCaw but not new members, Paul Quinn and Warwick Syers] putting themselves up for re-election over the next two NZRFU annual general meetings."

That scheme had not appeased every province yesterday.

"They should have asked themselves whether the provinces still have confidence in them," one official said. Another added: "A lot of guys feel only half-measures have been taken by the board."

And a third: "I would be very surprised if there is not a special agm."

There were also reservations voiced from Australian chief executive John O'Neill after Sir Thomas concluded: "Both the New Zealand and Australian unions played a part in the breakdown of relations between them."

After making written submissions about the World Cup, O'Neill was back in full vocal mode yesterday.

"Murray McCaw is no longer chairman, but he is still a director, whereas it is hard to conclude as you get into the guts of the report that that's an appropriate outcome," he said.

"We have some sympathy for David Rutherford because at least he's done the decent thing and offered up his resignation.

"Rob Fisher, of course, has been elevated to the chairman's role, which is a bit of a puzzle to us as well, but clearly the NZRU have made this appointment with their eyes wide open knowing what the landscape is like. We may well have a different view of the landscape.

"It's not a personal attack on Rob at all, but we have a different view about his involvement in the last 18 months or so than perhaps the opinion that was expressed in the report."

Fisher responded by stating he and O'Neill had sparred in the past, but had a good rapport. He said it was no place for Australia to tell New Zealand who they should elect as their chairman.

He intended a short-term stint as chairman and had responded to board members' lobbying. "I have been asked to steady the ship, start rebuilding relationships, and that is what I intend to do. This is not some sort of personal grandstand by me."

Other parts of the report, which have the provinces concerned about the accountability of the entire board, hinge on two areas. They are the revelations about the private boxes and Sir Thomas' view about the board's commitment to hosting the cup.

As far back as July last year it was apparent Rugby World Cup Ltd would seek 100 per cent of boxes and later in November, Pugh sent a memo to McCaw about the issue which McCaw "lost sight of" until the IRB council meeting of April 16.

The NZRFU, Sir Thomas said, consistently gave the impression it was not fully committed to the concept of hosting the World Cup.

The board was cautious and there was a perception it did not allocate enough resources to the project.