There are so many “unknowables” in this historic Bledisloe Cup clash in Hong Kong, the first ever offshore Bledisloe, between the Qantas Wallabies and those blokes from across the ditch, predicting a result is extremely difficult – at best.
First up there is no current form – the last time the two teams played was against each other in Brisbane in September, a match won by the All Blacks by a measly 4 points.
Usually before a Bledisloe you’d have some kind of a form guide as both teams would have prepared with some hits out against European nations before the biggest Tests of the year.
But this time it’s the other way around – the Asian Bledisloe is first up before both squads depart on their end of season European jaunts.
The Wallabies haven’t played – either together or separately – for months and even then it was in club finals around the country so it is very hard to say how they’ll come up for this one.
Super coach Robbie Deans has, as those who have been at any recent Wallabies training sessions can attest, been working his squad extremely hard so fitness will not be an issue but as for ‘match fitness’ that’s another question.
On the other side All Blacks coach Graham Henry does have a squad that just finished playing in the Air New Zealand Cup, New Zealand’s domestic provincial competition, but he would not have been overjoyed by the form of his Wellington All Blacks last weekend as they went down to a Dan Carter-less Canterbury 7-6 at home in a dour final.
For both squads there is an air of experimentation as well.
For Deans it is a necessity rather than a whim with no less than six prominent Men of Gold unavailable due to injury or playing overseas. Take Wycliff Palu (injured), Rocky Elsom (overseas), James Horwill (injured), Lote Tuqiri (injured), Dan Vickerman (overseas) and Hugh McMeniman (injured) out of any team and you have to be on the backfoot.
But on the plus side those players coming in – Mark Chisholm, Dean Mumm, Richard Brown and Drew Mitchell (either playing their first Test of the year or starting their first Test) - will be jumping out of their skins to take on the All Blacks.
And they will be out to do everything they can to retain their spots for the rest of the tour.
The All Blacks have a comparatively settled look and are at virtual full strength, save fullback Mils Muliaina who decided to skip the Test to stay at home with his new-born son, but have chosen to gamble by bringing Stephen Donald in at flyhalf and shifting Carter to inside centre.
Carter is the best flyhalf in the world but how he will go at centre against our own Captain Courageous, Stirling Mortlock, is open to conjecture.
If Wallabies fans would want anybody to be marking the Kiwi superstar it would be “Snorky” who will give his all and more as he does every time he pulls on the gold jersey.
And there are other unknowns : how will both teams react to the hot steamy conditions for one ? They must suit the Wallabies more than the All Blacks. Not too tropical in New Zealand at last look.
And the unfamiliar ground ? Who will adapt best to that ? And the crowd – who will they support ? Many Wallabies and Kiwi supporters have travelled to Honkers for the big match but which colour will the locals choose to throw their voice behind ?
But despite all this in the end it may come down to a very familiar battle – the best openside flankers in the world - our own dual John Eales Medallist George Smith, up against the finest in black, and their captain, Richie McCaw.
Whoever wins this titanic tussle just might put their team on the road to victory. It’s worth tuning in just to see these two great scrappers battle it out.
The word from inside the camp is the man set for a big one this Saturday is flyhalf Matt Giteau, who freed from the need to cancel out Carter could excel on the big stage.
A moment of brilliance or two from ‘Gits’ and the Wallabies could be home.
If they are to win this one and tie the Bledisloe up for the season at 2-all, the Men of Gold must start well. With the injuries and new faces in the line-up if they get behind, the All Blacks may be very hard to peg back.
According to the bookies the Wallabies don’t start as favourites for this one but that’s exactly as Deans and Mortlock would like it. The Men of Gold have greatly enjoyed their spell in Hong Kong and let’s hope they’re enjoying it even more come Saturday night.
The plaudits are flooding in for the ARU and NZRU on their initiative in taking the Bledisloe to China and boosting the image of our great game on the world stage. Before the game has even been played the Hong Kong adventure is already a success – and just wait till kick off!
Wallabies captain Stirling Mortlock and All Blacks captain Richie McCaw shake hands in front of the Bledisloe Cup during a pre-match gala dinner at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong, China.
Qantas Wallabies:
15. Adam Ashley-Cooper (Brumbies), 14. Peter Hynes (Queensland Reds), 13. Ryan Cross (Western Force), 12. Stirling Mortlock (Brumbies) (captain), 11. Drew Mitchell (Western Force), 10. Matt Giteau (Western Force), 9. Luke Burgess (NSW Waratahs), 8. Richard Brown (Western Force), 7. George Smith (Brumbies), 6. Dean Mumm (NSW Waratahs), 5. Nathan Sharpe (Western Force), 4. Mark Chisholm (Brumbies), 3. Al Baxter (NSW Waratahs), 2. Stephen Moore (Queensland Reds), 1. Benn Robinson (NSW Waratahs).
Replacements:
16. Adam Freier (NSW Waratahs), 17. Matt Dunning (NSW Waratahs), 18. Phil Waugh (NSW Waratahs), 19. David Pocock (Western Force), 20. Sam Cordingley (Queensland Reds), 21. Berrick Barnes (Queensland Reds), 22. Lachie Turner (NSW Waratahs)
All Blacks:
15 Isaia Toeava (Blues), 14 Hosea Gear (Hurricanes), 13 Conrad Smith (Hurricanes), 12 Dan Carter (Crusaders), 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu (Chiefs), 10 Stephen Donald (Chiefs), 9 Jimmy Cowan (Highlanders), 8 Rodney So'oialo (Hurricanes), 7 Richie McCaw (Crusaders)(captain), 6 Jerome Kaino (Blues), 5 Ali Williams (Crusaders), 4 Brad Thorn (Crusaders), 3 Neemia Tialata (Hurricanes), 2 Andrew Hore (Hurricanes), 1 Tony Woodcock (Blues).
Replacements:
16 Keven Mealamu (Blues), 17 Greg Somerville (Crusaders), 18 Anthony Boric (Blues), 19 Adam Thomson (Highlanders), 20 Piri Weepu (Hurricanes), 21 Ma'a Nonu (Hurricanes), 22 Cory Jane (Hurricanes).
Australia
Nickname: Qantas Wallabies
National Emblem: the Wallaby
Home Union: Australian Rugby Union
Founded: 1892
Current IRB Ranking: 2
Coach: Robbie Deans
Captain: Rocky Elsom
On the web:www.qantas.com.au
New Zealand
Nickname: The All Blacks
National Emblem: A Silver Fern
Home Union: New Zealand Rugby Union
Founded: 1892
Rugby World Cup Record: Champions 1987, Finalists 1995, Semi-finalists 1991 (3rd), 1999 (4th), 2003 (3rd), Quarter-finalists 2007
Current IRB Ranking: 1
Coach: Graham Henry
Captain: Richard McCaw
On the web: www.allblacks.com
Contested by the Wallabies and the All Blacks, the Rugby teams of Australia and New Zealand.- The two countries have played Rugby against each other since 1903. The trophy was introduced in the early 1930s.
- The Cup is named after a former Governor-General of New Zealand, Lord Bledisloe, who held the post from 1930-1935.
- Bledisloe offered the Cup to the New Zealand Rugby Union in 1931, after that year’s match between the two countries which New Zealand won 20-13. The physical trophy was on hand for the first match of the 1932 series, won 22-17 by Australia.
- Bledisloe Cup games have been responsible for the two biggest crowds in the history of world Rugby – 109,874 for the “Match of the Century” at the Olympic Stadium in Sydney in 2000, and 107,042 at the same venue the previous year.
- Hong Kong was the first neutral venue for a Bledisloe Cup match , when it hosted the historic encounter in 2008.
- New Zealand has held the Bledisloe Cup since 2003.
- The longest either team has consecutively held the Cup is 28 years for New Zealand (1951-1978) and five years for Australia (1998-2002). .
- New Zealand has won the Bledisloe Cup 36 times to Australia’s 12.
- There have been 117 Bledisloe Cup matches. New Zealand has won 81 , Australia has won 32 , with 4 draws.
- The Cup Weighs 21.6 Kilograms (9kgs Cup and 12.6kgs Base)
- The Cup is silver with a wooden base.
- The Cup is valued at approximately AUD$220,000. The silver in the Cup alone is valued at AUD$126,000. But its real value to rugby followers in both countries is beyond measure.
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