Coach Ian Foster has hit out at the Government, with the All Blacks now likely to spend a prolonged time in Australia for the Rugby Championship.
Foster made his feelings clear at training camp, with the next couple of months looking like they'll be much more complicated than he'd hoped they would be.
He's frustrated, because another Rugby Championship will probably be played almost entirely across the Tasman, with the COVID-19 travel bubble about to be suspended for several weeks.
Last year, New Zealand sought to host the entire Rugby Championship, before SANZAAR went in favour of Australia, due to easier quarantine protocols.
"It's pretty frustrating that, a year later, we're dealing with the same problem, that we can't come up with creative solutions on how to get sports teams into this country."
They WILL have the first two Bledisloe tests in New Zealand, but even the Wallabies are predicting the rest of the competition will happen on their home turf.
"Yeah, it's pretty obvious it's looking that way," says Wallaby Tom Robertson.
The Australians arrive in Auckland tomorrow, with the first test scheduled for Eden Park on August 7 - but where the second test will take place remains up in the air.
Wellington’s Sky Stadium a week later is the preferred option, but a beer festival is booked on the same date.
"You've got the beer fest," quips Foster. "That would be an interesting dynamic."
Perhaps not surprisingly, if this became a competition, the Wallabies back themselves.
"Oh, I back myself in a boat race mate," says Aussie loose forward Pete Samu.
But first would be a race to find a venue for the Bledisloe Cup and Rugby Championship.
Wherever they end up playing, the All Blacks are vaccinated and ready to go.
