Bledisloe espionage row escalates
Thu, 29 Jul 2010 08:50
Snap: The infamous 'spy' picture. (c) Getty/Gallo
There was an intriguing twist, on Thursday, to the ongoing espionage saga that erupted in the build-up to the Tri-Nations/Bledisloe Cup Test between Australia and New Zealand this Saturday.
The row erupted this week after a New Zealand-born photographer's release of an image revealing aspects of the All Blacks' tactical plan for Saturday's showdown with the Wallabies in Brisbane.
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Despite claims from the CEO of the New Zealand Rugby Union, Steve Tew, that there would be "no spiteful" reaction from his organisation, the NZRU has since banned photographer Scott Barbour from covering the remainder of the All Blacks' build-up to the Test in Melbourne.
Getty Images, which employs Barbour as a freelancer and is the NZRU's official photo agency, is also not allowed to send a replacement photographer to the team's remaining practice sessions this week.
While the NZRU has no power to deny Getty access to the Etihad Stadium - as the match is under the jurisdiction of the Australian Rugby Union - it has been speculated that the agency might well be banned from covering next Saturday's return trans-Tasman Test in Christchurch.
All Blacks assistant coach Steve Hansen has described Barbour's actions as "a breach of trust".
Barbour used a long-range lens to take the picture of a handwritten page held by coach Graham Henry, showing planned All Blacks' attacking moves from scrums and line-outs.
The picture, which was widely published and discussed by Australian media Wednesday, was easily readable after enlargement.
Hansen said New Zealand team management would express its disappointment to Barbour, after he "breached standard media protocols".
"It's disappointing the photographer has broken the unwritten rule, but you can't do much about it," Hansen said.
"With any breach of trust you take your time and talk about it. It's not the end of the world. We will deal with that in our own way."
All Blacks team manager Darren Shand confirmed that Barbour had been banned from team media opportunities this week. Negotiations between the NZRU and Getty Images were also continuing.
The NZRU Chief Executive, Tew, dismissed suggestions of legal action against the agency and confirmed their existing commercial agreement would be honoured.
However, he shared Shand's concerns, saying: "We think it is important to be open.
"But at international level the margins that separate the teams are so marginal that the smallest thing can make a difference."
Barbour, who started his career at the Christchurch Mail, won the prestigious award in the sport category at the World Photography Awards at Cannes, France, this year.
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