This one goes out to all the pure-hearted punters who thought diplomatic fuck-ups involving athletes were only happening at the Olympics: you’re wrong, but bless your soul for thinking the broader world of sports is squeaky-clean.
In a discovery that is deadset straight out of a knock-off James Bond novel, the All Blacks have revealed they found an honest-to-God listening device planted in their Sydney hotel on Monday.
The bug had been inserted into a chair at the InterContinental Hotel, with NZ Rugby chief executive Steve Tew saying it may have picked up on one of the team’s meetings before tonight’s Bledisloe Cup match against the Wallabies.
Tew said “if the device was working properly, and we don’t know that for sure, then they would have overhead that,” but “we don’t think it’s a catastrophic issue for the game tonight. We’re going to get on with it.”
His Aussie counterpart Bill Pulver flat out denied involvement with the listening device, saying “it is completely ludicrous” to think Australian Rugby Union has anything to do with it.
“I just think it’s a ludicrous concept that there are listening devices being placed in team rooms. I don’t know how that could happen.”
NZ Rugby haven’t pointed the finger at any party, and both squads have handed the investigation over to NSW Police. In a press conference this afternoon, Superintendent Brad Hodder said they don’t yet have a lead in the case.
As it stands, the Wallabies are getting flattened 3 – 42. If somebody planted the bug to gain a competitive advantage on the All Blacks – and that’s a bloody big if, considering how many other spy-worthy people have ever visited the hotel – their efforts have been utterly pointless.
Source: NZ Herald.
Photo: Brendon Thorne / Getty.
Photo: Brendon Thorne / Getty.
