New Zealand’s visit to Milan on Saturday will be the most lucrative and popular match in Italy’s rugby history. However, Dan Carter, the All Blacks fly half, will miss the match having been suspended for a dangerous tackle last weekend.
The San Siro stadium, home of football rivals AC and Inter Milan, will be packed with 80,000 supporters, while gate receipts in excess of €5 million (about £4.5 million) testify to the extraordinary pulling power of the All Blacks. They are a box-office sensation.
However, while the Italian union will be delighted that their gamble in taking the game to Milan has paid off handsomely, New Zealand will not receive a penny from the fixture because it is part of the official November international window. That means the host union keeps the revenue and has only to meet the touring team’s costs.
This has often been a bone of contention for the New Zealand union (NZRU), which argues that it brings its best players north on tour, in turn boosting crowds in Europe. It feels that gesture is not always reciprocated — often largely because of injury — when teams such as England and France head south in June. This seriously affects domestic income with fans not wanting to pay for what they perceive to be second best.
But it is not all bad news for New Zealand. They will hit an estimated £3 million jackpot — their guarantee from the gate — from the three games that fall outside that IRB matches this autumn. Those were in Tokyo against Australia a fortnight ago and against Wales last Saturday at the Millennium Stadium, while they face the Barbarians in a potential classic at Twickenham next month. The financial bonanza will be welcome for the less than well-endowed NZRU, which cannot hope to match the economic might of the northern hemisphere.
Advertisement
Carter was banned for a week for his high tackle on Martin Roberts in the 19-12 win at the Millennium Stadium after a hearing in London. It was chaired by Judge Jeff Blackett, the RFU’s disciplinary officer. The hearing was told that Carter had apologised and had been embarrassed by the challenge that led to him being booed by the Welsh crowd.
Blackett accepted that the challenge, while high, had not involved a swinging arm, was not premeditated or malicious and may have been legitimate had the diminutive Wales scrum half not started to fall when off balance. He also noted that Carter had a good disciplinary record and had never been sent off.
New Zealand have until today to appeal, but may decide to accept the punishment and leave Carter to concentrate on the game against England in 11 days’ time.
The All Blacks are now ensconced in Italy, whose former coach, John Kirwan, the former All Blacks wing, believes the San Siro factor could inspire the home team to a first win over New Zealand in 11 attempts.
Kirwan, now in charge of Japan and who is married to an Italian, said: “It’s going to be a fantastic atmosphere and the boys are going to be ready to play. The Italians will play like men possessed.”
Advertisement
Italy have hosted four previous internationals against the All Blacks, at smaller venues in Rovigo, Bologna, Genoa and Rome. Until this weekend’s fixture, the biggest crowd for a rugby match had been 45,000 at Rome’s Olympic Stadium when Italy met South Africa in 1995.
Outside football, the magnificent San Siro had previously sold out only for concerts by entertainers such as Madonna and Bruce Springsteen as well as a boxing world title bout in 1960. It is now a triple-decked cathedral to football in a nation where the sport is akin to a religion.
Whether a miracle happens on Saturday remains to be seen.