Rugby

It’s been 24 long years, but maybe, just maybe, this is the year?

Ahead of the first Bledisloe Cup Test this weekend, the All Blacks have rarely looked so vulnerable.

Richie Mo’unga has torn his calf, while Fehi Fineanganofo is out with concussion, becoming the latest high-profile casualties ahead of Saturday’s Eden Park series opener.

The star NZ duo join Ruben Love, captain Ardie Savea, Luke Jacobson, Anton Lienert-Brown, Billy Proctor, Caleb Clarke, Ollie Norris and Patrick Tuipulotu on the sidelines.

MORE: Rugby star pulls off RIDICULOUS intercept… with his foot

The Wallabies meanwhile arrive in Auckland with confidence and genuine form following a stirring 42-38 win over the Springboks in Perth despite being reduced to just 11 players at one stage, a result that stretched the unbeaten run of new head coach Les Kiss to five Tests.

Of course, history may well have other ideas.

Australia last held the Bledisloe way back in 2002 when several members of the current Wallabies squad weren’t even born while captain Harry Wilson was just two years old.

The All Blacks have won the last 11 tests between the sides.

Then there’s Eden Park of course, a bonafide rugby graveyard where the Wallabies haven’t tasted victory since 1986 and have saluted just four times from 34 attempts since 1931.

Away from Auckland the Wallabies have recorded several individual match victories since 2002 — the last coming in 2020 — but it’s never been enough to wrest the trophy back from across the Tasman, such is the pressure of the current annual two-Test format.

A split means New Zealand keeps the Bledisloe, so once again in 2026 the Wallabies must win both.

The task is steep. But there are signs this year might just be different and All Blacks coach Dave Rennie, a former Wallabies coach himself, will be well aware of the stakes.

Is this Australia’s best chance to topple the All Blacks in a generation?

The injury toll, the Kiss-fuelled momentum and a home Rugby World Cup looming next year suggest it might be.

If Australia can’t strike now, with New Zealand this short-handed, the next opening may be a long way off.

Australia face the All Blacks at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday 10 October. Kickoff at 5:10 p.m. (AEDT), 7:10 p.m. (local time).

Rugby

Comments