Bledisloe Cup II: The match that Australia need the Wallabies to win
“We all long for Eden, and we are constantly glimpsing it: our whole nature at its best and least corrupted, its gentlest and most human, is still soaked with the sense of exile.” – J.R.R. Tolkien.
What Tolkien is talking about is that absolute truth that we all long for a chance to write the wrongs of mistakes past. Only a fool lives without regrets, the discipline is to learn with them knowing that nothing is perfect in this rugby life.
It is the perpetual pursuit of perfection that drives all of us knowing we will fall short, but perhaps our effort is somewhat closer to ‘perfect’ than the other guys and in that effort, we may obtain victory and victories gifts of absolution and redemption from previous transgressions.
Both the All Blacks and the Wallabies will be seeking such redemption in the second and final instalment of the 2019 Bledisloe Cup this Saturday at the fortress of New Zealand rugby – Eden Park in Auckland, a venue the hosts have not lost a test at since 1994.
For New Zealand, the question of redemption is a plain and obvious one. Whilst the All Blacks’ greatest and most traditional rivals are the Springboks, the most enjoyable scalp to take for New Zealanders is that of the Wallabies.
Beating the Wallabies over the past 17 years has been like a permanent fixture a Kiwi can put in their diary. Like Aunty Dot’s birthday or the boys fishing trip away in September. It’s a given and you could just about set your clock by it.
But national pride was dented by the Wallabies in Perth last weekend. The All Blacks were not just beaten, they were flogged like a convict on his way to Botany Bay. The All Blacks must redeem themselves from such a lacklustre performance not befitting of the national expectation of those who wear the black jersey with the silver fern on the left breast.
New Zealand is embarrassed by the All Blacks performance as they don’t really rate Australia as a rugby nation as much as they may say it to be polite. Nor do they rate our coach Michael Cheika, full-stop.
This, coupled with such a limp performance days after the funeral of the great All Black Sir Brian Lochore, leaves the average New Zealander seething. Many a chilli-bin has been kicked in frustration since the final whistle on Saturday evening.
New Zealand needs the All Blacks to win this weekend to salvage their national psyche that has been affronted by the dominant runs of Allan Alaalatoa, the speed of Marika Koroibete, the grit and determination of Michael Hooper, and just about any word that has come out of Cheika’s mouth.
Deep down, New Zealanders overcome their ‘Little Brother’ insecurities and complex by wiping Australia all over the floor in the great game of rugby.
Yet this is all in jeopardy and even more. You see, if the Wallabies actually do the unthinkable and defeat New Zealand at Eden Park this weekend, it is the end of much for New Zealand rugby.
Obviously, the Wallabies win the Bledisloe Cup for the first time since 2002. It will also mark the first defeat at Eden Park since 1994 after a dramatic loss to a wonderful French side. Fortress Eden Park will simply become, Eden Park – home of Auckland and the Blues.
As the late Australian dual international and broadcaster Rex Mossop would say – ‘Big Deal’.
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Furthermore, it will be the first time the All Blacks have lost back-to-back tests since 2011, when they were defeated by South Africa in Port Elizabeth and then by the Wallabies in Brisbane a week later.
All this on the eve of Rugby World Cup 2019. These are not the types of records All Blacks coach Steve Hansen wants to be broken.
A loss would confirm that another golden age of New Zealand rugby, arguably their best, is potentially over. All at the hands of a ‘Clown Coach’ and his merry bunch of ‘Okkers’. The pain would be insufferable for them.
This is what is on the line for New Zealanders this weekend.
But why, some may ask, would the Wallabies be seeking redemption after they inflicted a 47-26 defeat of the world champion All Blacks at Optus Stadium on Saturday evening?
The Wallabies were superb last weekend, but they must redeem for so much more in the past. It is not a burden they chose to carry, but one that is required. The Wallabies are in a near ‘Christ-like’ situation. Victory over the All Blacks at Eden Park may indeed take a miracle of sorts, but what healing a victory over the All Backs could bring to the game back here in Australia.
A win for these Wallabies would not only redeem the pathetic losses this side has experienced, but it would unite the entire Australian rugby community, and for a time we can put our differences over Israel Folau to one side; we can put our differences over the governance of the game to one side; we can simply come together in a moment of pure elation that we once again can be proud of that green and gold jersey and those who are wearing it on the park in Auckland that day.
But it goes deeper than that.
It would not matter if you were a ‘toff’ from Mosman quaffing on Penfolds Grange, a ‘tradie’ from Caboolture knocking back a XXXX heavy or a ‘jackaroo’ from Jandowae gulping on a ‘Black Rat’ – all Australians would be off their feet with booze spilling from wine glasses, stubbies and cans alike knowing that the shame and pain is over, as some of our performances against New Zealand since 2002 have simply been that. Shameful and painful to endure.
There are Wallabies – great Wallabies – who never won a Bledisloe series or won a test at Eden Park.
The great Ken Catchpole, John Thornett, Peter Johnson, Phil Hawthorne, Mark Loane, Paul McLean, Tim Horan, Jason Little, Tim Gavin, Ofahengaue, Stephen Moore, Stephen Larkham, George Gregan, Joe Roff, Ben Tune, Owen Finnegan, and even the great George Smith never won a test at Eden Park.
A victory this weekend is not only a victory for the current Wallabies, but also for Wallabies of yesteryear.
Such a win will soothe the pain for the grassroots rugby person in Australia. For those who have saved their hard-earned and flown to places like Dunedin and Dublin to cheer on the Wallabies only to be let down time-and-time again.
It’s the small people, dare I say the forgotten people, of Australian rugby that not only need this win, they deserve this win for every sausage they have turned; For every jersey they have washed and for every child they have taught to pass to keep this game afloat in dark times.
These people have been the torchbearers of Australian rugby.
For the Peach’s of the Blue Giants; the Kate’s, Tully’s and Grammy’s of the Taylor Bridge Bull Sharks; for the ‘Beaker’s’ of the Maitland Blacks and the ‘Wombat’s’, Paul’s and Tom’s of the Byron Bay Rangers. For all the Jimmy’s, Dougo’s and ‘Aussie’ Bob’s who have held up countless third-grade scrums on a dusty patch at Rugby Park ‘somewhere’ and then the front bar of the local watering hole for even longer in the third half.
This match, this much-needed win, is about them and people like them just as much as it is about Cheika and his playing group.
A win will heal and redeem the Australian game. It will be as rain is for our drought-stricken farmers – life-giving and lifesaving.
Whatever the outcome at the final whistle, I hope the game has turned a corner my country. It was a great feeling waking up last Sunday morning knowing the Wallabies had won. I later went the famous Ballymore ground for the Brisbane club finals and bumped into a mate who summed it up perfectly: “Isn’t it funny how all seems right with the world when the Wallabies win?”
To my Kiwi mates and New Zealanders all, don’t fret if you do lose. Aunty Dot will actually turn 67 this year and the trout will be in the river regardless. But one thing I hope is that we see the return of the great test matches regularly where seconds and inches of heart skill and desire decide the fate of the game.
And regardless of who wins, when it is all over, we’ll always be mates as redemption can’t exist without it.
“Was it you or I who stumbled first? It does not matter. The one of us who finds the strength to get up first, must help the other.” – Vera Nazarian.
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Comments on RugbyPass
🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
27 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusades , you can keep going.
1 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
27 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
27 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
27 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
27 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
11 Go to comments