NZ `forced' to play Irish

DAVID MOFFAT, chief executive of the New Zealand Rugby Union, said yesterday, that they were, in effect, being forced into playing Ireland at Lansdowne Road on November 29th on the insistence of the Four Home Unions. "We would prefer to play the Barbarians," said Moffat. The All Blacks will also play England (twice) and Wales on the tour.

While Ireland was not originally on the All Blacks' schedule, last November Ireland surrendered one of their fixtures against Australia so that Wales could play the Wallabies. At the time it was agreed that Wales would, in return, surrender one of their fixtures against New Zealand so that Ireland could face the All Blacks with the Welsh and Australians using their good offices to arrange that.

That exchange was accepted six months ago and the Welsh have honoured their commitment and the Four Home Unions have given total and unreserved support to it. However, Moffat said: "We wanted to play against the Barbarians, but the Four Home Unions have insisted that the match against Ireland goes ahead. It was an extremely fraught situation that we must now accept."

Martin Murphy, the administrative officer of the IRFU said yesterday: "Mr Moffat is entitled to express his views. But the agreement goes back to last November and the international against the All Blacks goes ahead as ratified and agreed by the Four Home Unions."

Philip Browne, secretary of the IRFU, said: "We understood since last November, at the time of the exchange with the Welsh Union, that the match between Ireland and New Zealand would go ahead. It was just a question of finalising a date. There were negotiations on that issue and the Four Home Unions hold the ultimate authority in relation to all incoming tours."

Syd Millar, one of Ireland's representatives on the Four Home Unions, said: "I am surprised at Mr Moffat's comments. The problem arose because of the two internationals England will be playing. That is why the Barbarians fixture has been surrendered, not because Ireland will be playing New Zealand. The accord the Five Nations signed some months ago also dealt with incoming tours and a fair and equitable distribution of fixtures for those tours. The agreement we made last season with the Welsh about their match against Australia was specifically on the understanding that we would get the match against the All Blacks if it could be agreed."

There is nothing new in touring teams trying to have itineraries, changed to suit their own purposes. Last season the Australians wanted to play England instead of playing the Barbarians, but the Four Home Unions stood firm on that issue.

The All Blacks play Wales on November 15th, England at Old Trafford on the 22nd, Ireland at Lansdowne Road on the 29th and England at Twickenham on December 3rd.