RUGBY UNION
BREAKING GROUND
As Perth hosts its maiden Bledisloe Cup Test at Optus Stadium this month,
we look back at other famous firsts for the trans-Tasman series
History was made last year when the Wallabies
and Wallaroos played back-to-back rugby
double-headers against New Zealand on both
sides of the Tasman. This month, it all happens
again with the Australian women’s team facing
New Zealand in curtain-raisers to the Bledisloe
Cup Tests on August 10 and 17.
Aussie captain Sharni Williams is seeking
to lead the Wallaroos to their first-ever victory
over New Zealand but, just like their male
counterparts, the Black Ferns are a more-than-
formidable opposition, boasting a 17-0 head-
to-head record over our women.
DOUBLE
TROUBLE
Waltzing Matilda in unison, the atmosphere
reached a level unseen on these shores
- a prelude to the Olympics the following
year. Wallabies fans also went home happy
when fullback Matt Burke’s 23-point kicking
masterclass helped the hosts to a 28-7
victory that also saw Australia retain the
Bledisloe Cup for the second year running.
They wouldn’t relinquish it until 2003.
2006: SUNCORP STADIUM, BRISBANE
Suncorp Stadium opened on the site of the
old Lang Park in 2003, with the Bledisloe
Cup making its debut at the redeveloped
ground in July 2006. In a heart-stopping
tussle between the two countries, New
Zealand beat the Wallabies 13-6 to retain
the trophy for the fourth consecutive year.
Despite the locals putting in a spirited final
20 minutes, the All Blacks repelled repeat
raids on the tryline and prevailed. The
Aussies had to wait until 2011 to finally taste
victory over the All Blacks at Suncorp.
1932: SYDNEY CRICKET GROUND
Australia and New Zealand first played
a rugby international in 1903, but it wasn’t
until New Zealand governor-general
Lord Bledisloe donated a trophy in 1931
that the famous series was born. The first
Bledisloe Cup match was played at the
Sydney Cricket Ground on July 2, 1932,
with Australia triumphing 22-17. However,
New Zealand won the next two encounters
of the three-Test series – at the Exhibition
Ground in Brisbane and again at the SCG
- to claim the trophy for the first time.
1946: EDEN PARK, AUCKLAND
The home of All Blacks rugby hosted
its first Bledisloe Cup Test in 1946, with
New Zealand sneaking home 14-10. Three
years later, Australia managed a rare win
at the Auckland ground, outgunning the
All Blacks 16-9, followed by an 8-3 victory
in 1955. However, in the 64 years since,
the Wallabies have endured a wretched
run at Eden Park in one of the greatest
hoodoos in modern sport. Australia hasn’t
succeeded there since 1986.
1991: SYDNEY FOOTBALL STADIUM
The Sydney Football Stadium opened
in 1988, but it was three years before it
hosted a Bledisloe Test. In August 1991,
the Wallabies notched up their first SFS
victory against the All Blacks, prevailing
21-12. The match is best remembered
for a stunning try to winger Bob Egerton
after he plucked a bouncing ball from
the arms of New Zealand’s John Kirwan.
In six Bledisloe Cup matches at the SFS,
Australia won four, with George Gregan’s
last-gasp 1994 try-saver on Jeff Wilson the
most enduring memory at the recently
demolished ground.
1997: MELBOURNE CRICKET GROUND
The Bledisloe Cup headed to Victoria for
the first time in July 1997, with more than
90,000 fans flocking to the Melbourne
Cricket Ground to see Australia take on
New Zealand. Unfortunately for the home
crowd, a first-half blitz by the All Blacks
saw them head into half-time leading
23-6. The Wallabies dug deep in the
second stanza, thanks to tries to George
Gregan and Jason Little, but the visitors
were too strong, winning 33-18.
1999: ANZ STADIUM, SYDNEY
Built for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games,
Stadium Australia – now ANZ Stadium –
first hosted the Bledisloe in 1999. A then-
world-record 107,042 people squeezed
into the stands and, when the crowd sang
WALLAROOS vs BLACK FERNS
LIVE Saturday August 10 at 4.30pm
BLACK FERNS vs WALLAROOS
LIVE Saturday August 17 at 2.30pm both on
FOX SPORTS MORE [507] available in the
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For adopted Western Australian Mhicca Carter,
the opportunity to represent Australia in her
hometown of Perth is one she is relishing. The
Wallaroos fullback was born in New Zealand
and emigrated eight years ago, so she has plenty
of emotion invested in this month’s twin clashes.
Foxtel AUGUST 49
BLEDISLOE CUP: AUSTRALIA vs
NEW ZEALAND LIVE Saturday August 10
from 7pm; NEW ZEALAND vs AUSTRALIA
LIVE Saturday August 17 from 5pm, both on
FOX SPORTS MORE [507] available
in the SPORTS pack