Why the Wallabies will win multiple Bledisloe Cups before 2027
After more than 20 years of Bledisloe Cup pain, angst and frustration, there finally appears to be a golden light at the end of the tunnel for the Wallabies.
For Australian rugby supporters, this tunnel has appeared never-ending – but each and every year, thousands of gold-wearing fans pack out stadiums in their droves.
Inspired by promotional clips of John Eales kicking that famous match-winning penalty in Wellington, and Radike Samo’s stunning try in Brisbane, a nation masked by a sense of optimism holds their breath.
Looking to rewrite history by ending decades of agonising defeats, the Wallabies and their fans dare to dream of Bledisloe Cup glory.
But time and time again, year after year, the All Blacks continue to stamp their authority over their neighbouring ‘big brother.’
Fans in their early twenties have never seen a Wallabies captain hoist the prestigious Cup in triumph. Some may have even grown up questioning whether it’s even possible.
But there’s hope.
Change is coming, and it’s impossible to ignore any longer.
While it’s easy to focus on the here and now – with New Zealand continuing to dominate the Bledisloe Cup and Super Rugby Pacific – a changing of the guard awaits.
The Junior Wallabies stunned the ‘Baby Blacks’ with an incredible 34-26 win in Wellington on Monday.
But calling it an upset doesn’t fit the bill – it’s not an adequate description anymore. That was the latest in a series of inspiring performances from the Australians.
Coming up against a New Zealand Under-20s side which boasts genuine star power, including All Blacks Sevens talents Payton Spencer and Cody Vai, the Australians came to play.
Spurred on by captain Teddy Wilson and hat-trick hero Ronan Leahy, the Junior Wallabies avenged last year’s disastrous defeat to New Zealand during the Oceania Championship.
Teddy Wilson 😍
Get used to this. We’ll be seeing much more of the Junior Wallabies captain in the years to come. Can play. pic.twitter.com/sQ7wjPOemC
ADVERTISEMENT— Christy Doran (@ChristypDoran) May 29, 2023
But with some of the same players in the squad, including skipper Wilson, coach Nathan Grey has transformed this team – and they’ve still got so much development left, obviously.
Best of all, they did it with an under-strength side. The likes of Tom Lynagh and Max Jorgensen are unavailable due to their Super Rugby Pacific commitments, and Darby Lancaster has only just returned from Sevens World Series duty.
Without arguably their best players, they beat New Zealand on their own track.
Incredible.
This team would be frighteningly good at full strength, and the rugby community will get to witness such top-tier potential at the World Championships in South Africa later this year.
Before that forgettable loss on the Sunshine Coast last July, the Junior Wallabies won their most recent trans-Tasman clash a few years earlier in 2019.
With future Wallabies Angus Bell, Lachlan Lonergan, Harry Wilson, Fraser McReight, Mark Nawaqanitawase and Noah Lolesio in the starting side, Australia ran away with a convincing 24-nil win on the Gold Coast.
To beat New Zealand in rugby is one thing, but to hold them to zero is a completely different ball game. Looking at Test level, the All Blacks haven’t been held to naught since the sport turned professional in ’95.
It’s unheard of.
The New Zealanders, which included future Crusaders star Cullen Grace, were left stunned. There’s a photo online of the players standing in sheer disbelief – the match hadn’t gone to plan for them.
Later that year, the Australian Schools and U18s ended a long-lasting drought against their New Zealand rivals with a four-point win in Hamilton.
That team included current Reds centre Josh Flook and Force flyhalf Reesjan Pasitoa – both players are gifted with talent, and could very well be Wallabies sometime in the future.
But by far the most intriguing member of this team is Sydney Roosters flyer Joseph Suaalii, who has signed with Rugby Australia from 2024. Suaalii will soon be back, and will certainly be both ready and eager to haunt New Zealand once again.
The takeaway from these results is simply this: the Junior Wallabies are better than their New Zealand counterparts, and they have been for quite some time.
Even the Wallabies are getting closer – losing to the All Blacks in a controversial Test at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium last year.
It isn’t all doom and gloom for the national team anymore.
But let’s go one step further.
These results only matter if these young players can back it up at Super Rugby level and beyond, and so far at least they’ve shown plenty of promise.
As well as the six aforementioned Test stars who played in the 24-point win over the Baby Blacks in 2019, one-Test Wallaby Ben Donaldson was also on the bench.
Donaldson, along with the other six players, are certainly in the mix for the coveted Rugby World Cup squad under coaching guru Eddie Jones later this year.
But beyond these seven players, who alone cannot reverse the unwanted trend of lacklustre performances against New Zealand, there are plenty of emerging stars lighting it up.
Rebels playmaker Carter Gordon has been one of the form players of Super Rugby Pacific this season, and his younger brother Mason was among the standouts during Monday’s Junior Wallabies victory.
Brothers Mason and Carter Gordon share an “unbelievable” connection which is incredibly exciting for the future of Australian rugby.@FinnMorton5 ✍️ spoke with Mason at #JuniorWallabies training on Tuesday.#SuperRugbyPacific #MelbourneRebels #Wallabies https://t.co/wxofZXkpHF
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) May 24, 2023
As Mason told RugbyPass just last week, the pair have an “unbelievable connection” – there’s no doubt that they can be the Australian version of the Barrett brothers.
If they only had a brother who plays lock, then the set would be complete.
Along with the Gordon brothers, the Rebels have also signed Australian sevens star Darby Lancaster.
Since the Vancouver Sevens earlier this year, 20-year-old Lancaster has certainly been one of the best players in the Australian team – if not the best at times.
Lancaster will be a Wallaby within two years, and a good one at that – at least that’s this journalists’ opinion.
Then there’s the likes of Tom Lynagh, Rob Valetini, Len Ikitau, Jordan Petaia, Max Jorgensen – the list goes on and on and on. These are genuine world-class talents.
On top of all that, including the forwards who formerly starred for the Junior Wallabies, don’t forget about the code war Down Under.
Suaalii has put pen to paper with Rugby Australia, and Brisbane Broncos enforcer Payne Haas could be on the way as well. Whether or not they’re the only ones remains to be seen.
Call it the Eddie Jones factor.
Players want to play under him, there’s no doubt about that.
Everywhere the new Wallabies coach goes, he tastes some level of success.
Jones coached the Wallabies to a World Cup final in 2003, and did the same for England 20 years later – beating the All Blacks en route to the decider both times.
But more impressively, the 63-year-old coached Japan to probably the most famous upset in the history of the 15-player game. No one will soon forget the Brave Blossoms’ famous win over South Africa in Brighton at the 2015 World Cup.
With a mastermind coach at the helm, and a golden generation of emerging rugby talent to choose from, then there’s no doubt that the Wallabies can achieve drought-breaking success in the next few years.
The 2027 Rugby World Cup on home soil is just around the corner, which is incredibly exciting for the sport in Australia. Cast aside as nothing more than a fallen giant by many, the Wallabies appear set for a golden tomorrow.
That seemingly never-ending tunnel of pain and despair won’t last forever.
What awaits on the other side might go beyond what some Australian rugby fans could’ve believed was ever possible.
Comments on RugbyPass
Sorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
1 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
2 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to commentsRyan Coxon has been very impressive considering he was signed by WF as injury cover whilst Uru has been a standout for QR, surprised neither of those mentioned
2 Go to commentsIt’s the massive value he brings with regard team culture/values, preparation, etc. Can’t buy that. I’m hoping to see the young locks get their chance in the big games though.
10 Go to commentsAll good, Gregor, except that you neglected to mention Sam Darry amongst that talented pool of locks. In fact, given Hannah’s inexperience and the fact that Holland won’t be eligible until next year, Lord and Darry might be the frontrunners this year, to join Barrett, Tuipoluto, Va’ii and possibly Whitelock. In fact there might be room for all of them if Barrett played 6 (like Ollie Chessum).
10 Go to commentsHis value is stabilizing the ship 20 - 40 minutes out from the final whistle plus his valuable experience to the underlings coming through.
10 Go to commentsWhat is criminal is she acts like it's no problem her actions have have cause the Italian player to lose her playing career, lose salary, if she did this in day to day life she would be in jail, she is a complete thug!!!
3 Go to commentsCorrect me if i’m wrong but the sadas have to win all games running into the finals yeh nah?
1 Go to commentsDon’t like Diamond but the maul is a joke, the sight of a choke tackle creating a maul then players in offside positions flopping on it killing the ball but then getting the put in? Banal.
3 Go to commentsHopefully Tabai Matson returns to Crusaders as head coach next season.
1 Go to commentsstorm in a teacup really. Penalty only so play on as the try was scored. Now the real question is: why was Maitland allowed to pass the ball off the floor? That is illegal but refs never pick it up.
1 Go to commentsWhen Beauden Barrett signed his contract before the 2023 RWC to play in Japan in 2024, it was NOT part of a sabbatical agreed to with NZRU prior to his signing, as was Ardie Savea and Sam Cane. Barrett changed his mind after the fact and negotiated his return to NZ Rugby and he was given permission to be eligible for All Black selection straight away once he signed a new contract to return to the Blues in 2025. Therefore, why would anyone argue against Whitelock returning to the All Blacks straight away after his season is France is finished if he signs a new contract with NZRU which includes a Super Rugby contract in 2025? If Barrett can, Whitelock should be allowed too.
10 Go to commentsThe All Blacks will select 5 locks this season. Scott Robertson will most likely want to select 2 veteran locks who can start right away in 2024 and 3 young promising locks who he would like to be pushing hard for selection in the starting XV in two years time- 2026. Scott Barrett is a world class lock. Who would you rather start beside him this season against England, South Africa, Ireland, and France- Sam Whitelock or Patrick Tuipulotu? I would choose Whitelock over Tuipulotu all day, every day.
10 Go to comments