Australia coach Dave Rennie hopes a relaxation of New Zealand biosecurity rules might see the All Blacks home for Christmas.
NZ Rugby has protested against the Rugby Championship schedule that will see the All Blacks play their last game against the Wallabies on December 12, consigning players and staff to quarantine over the Christmas break.
Rennie, who arrived in New Zealand with the Wallabies on Friday to prepare for next month's Bledisloe Cup tests, says the solution probably lies more with governments than rugby officials.
"I know there is talk of a bubble opening up between New South Wales and New Zealand," Rennie says from his Christchurch quarantine hotel.
"If that comes in before Christmas happens, then it will be a non-issue, and they will be able to go straight home to their families and that's what we want.
"It has been a tough year for everyone. The All Blacks will be away for a long time, but so will everyone else."
New Zealand's Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), which manages the quarantine and isolation process, was not immediately available for comment.
The Wallabies have been isolated from each other since they arrived in New Zealand, although they have an area where they can venture outside, provided they wear masks and socially distance.
They have just one more day of total isolation and pending tests for COVID-19 on Monday, they should be able to begin training together on Tuesday.
Rennie says they would hold just light training to test the fitness of players like Rob Simmons, James Slipper and Jordan Petaia, but added that all 44 players should be available to play the first Bledisloe Cup test in Wellington on October 11.
Reuters
