- Wallabies are in best position to end 23 years of Bledisloe Cup pain
- Have a golden chance to end Eden Park hoodoo against Kiwis
- Millions of Aussies will not be able to watch because of kick off time
The Wallabies have their best chance in over 20 years to taste Bledisloe Cup success, but organisers have been lashed at a scheduling decision that will mean millions of Aussies cannot watch it.
The prized trans-Tasman Cup has been in New Zealand’s keeping for 23 years with Australia requiring a win in Auckland on Saturday and at least a draw in Perth in a fortnight to wrest it back.
Eden Park has proved a graveyard for visiting Wallabies teams who have gone without a win there since 1986, while the All Blacks also hold a 51-Test unbeaten record there against everyone else.
But after breaking an even longer drought with their Rugby Championship victory at Ellis Park in Johannesburg this year, the Australians believe it could finally be the time.
New Zealand, meanwhile, enter the Test on the back of a record 43-10 loss to South Africa in Wellington earlier this month, heaping pressure on coach Scott Robertson.
It sets up a tantalising clash at Eden Park, but the match has been scheduled to kick off at 5:05pm – right in the middle of the AFL Grand Final.
The Wallabies and All Blacks will compete in the first Bledisloe Cup clash on Saturday at 5:05pm
The Bledisloe will clash directly with the AFL Grand Final between the Brisbane Lions and Geelong Cats
Australia has not won the Bledisloe Cup in 23 years and has a shocking record at Eden Park
New Zealand rugby fan Mark Philpott runs the social media channels Inside Rugby With Mark, and he lashed the decision by organisers.
‘Lesson 101 on how NOT to promote rugby in Australia,’ he posted.
‘What absolute twit scheduled the Bledisloe and the AFL gf at the same time today?’ another footy fan asked.
Another fan page added: ‘NZ Rugby scheduling the Bledisloe at the same time as the AFL GF is one of the worst scheduling decisions I’ve seen.’
‘Can’t wait to ask the pub in Melbourne if they can swap the AFL grand final for the Bledisloe,’ comedian Tim Hewitt posted, tongue firmly in cheek.
‘The Bledisloe being on at the same time as the AFL GF is peak rugby union,’ yet another footy fan posted.
The Bledisloe Cup match doubles as a Rugby Championship fixture, the Wallabies narrowly leading the four-nations tournament with two rounds to play.
Coach Joe Schmidt said the Wallabies would take the Bledisloe over the Rugby Championship trophy, which Australia last claimed 10 years ago.
‘I think if you gave them a choice, (the Wallabies) would take the Bledisloe over the Rugby Championship,’ Schmidt said.
‘Just the tradition of it; it’s older and more ingrained than the more modern Rugby Championship, as much as they certainly want to go after that and they’re in good position to do it.’
Wallabies skipper Harry Wilson says his team is excited rather than daunted by the challenge of getting one hand on the Bledisloe Cup trophy with a history-making win at Eden Park.
‘I think if we can get the job done, it will be massive for us,’ Wilson said.
‘It’s something which really excites us – history against us.
‘There’s a lot of belief that we can do it and it’s going to be an almighty challenge, which is something we can’t wait for.’
