![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/static-assets\/images\/newsletter\/sport\/sport-135x135.png\")
<\/p>\nMike Catt was left bemused by a question from New Zealand media <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Ireland have laughed off bizarre suggestions that they have been spying on the All Blacks ahead of their Rugby World Cup quarter-final in Paris.<\/p>\n
During an eve-of-match press conference at the Stade de France on Friday morning, Ireland assistant coach Mike Catt was asked by a journalist from New Zealand whether they had sent a team photographer to watch the All Blacks train. <\/p>\n
\u201cDid you have a photographer at the All Blacks training session yesterday? Is that something you\u2019d normally do?\u201d questioned the journalist. A slightly bemused Catt then laughingly replied: \u201cI\u2019m sorry, I wasn\u2019t a part of that, so…\u201d <\/p>\n
In the days leading up to a match, teams will generally have a \u2018media vision access\u2019 portion of their training session \u2013 often just 15 minutes \u2013 open to accredited media, including photographers.<\/p>\n
Ireland\u2019s largest dedicated sports photo agency Inpho have a number of accredited photographers covering the World Cup and they often work closely with the Irish team during tournaments, although are an independent agency and would be perfectly entitled to attend the open section of the All Blacks\u2019s training.<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2023\/10\/13\/00\/newFile.jpg\")
\n![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2023\/10\/12\/17\/newFile-6.jpg\")
\n![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2023\/10\/12\/10\/20413f9020b17d40f2f37a5c4bc4d429Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNjk3MTM1MDMy-2.47601631.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Following Catt\u2019s response to the question, Ireland\u2019s media officer said: \u201cI don\u2019t know. The agency could have been there working.\u201d The World Cup official in charge of the press conference then also clarified the regulations around media vision access, stating: \u201cThe rules say yes, as long as they\u2019re standing with the rest of the photographers, they can [be there at training].\u201d<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2023\/10\/13\/12\/SEI175699372.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Parts of team training are open for media to view, photograph and record <\/p>\n
Ireland enter Saturday\u2019s quarter-final against New Zealand in the unusual position of being favourites, as they look to win a World Cup knockout match for the first time in their history.<\/p>\n
This incident isn\u2019t the first \u2018spygate\u2019 story in the tournament\u2019s history, with then-England coach Eddie Jones accusing the All Blacks of spying on his side ahead of the 2019 semi-final between the sides. Jones said the England security team became aware of someone using a long-lens camera to film their entire training session from a window of a nearby apartment block in the run-up to the last-four clash.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was definitely someone in the apartment block filming but it might have been a Japanese fan,\u201d Jones said at the time. \u201cI don\u2019t care, mate. Everyone knows what everyone does so there are no surprises in world rugby any more. We knew [we were being filmed] from the start, it doesn\u2019t change anything, we love it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jones also made similar claims when coach of Australia at the 2003 World Cup, again ahead of a semi-final against New Zealand.<\/p>\n