Suncorp Stadium to host opening Wallabies Test of new era in 2020 as Ireland come to Brisbane
Suncorp Stadium will be the venue when the Wallabies kick off their 2020 campaign against Ireland. But it will be the clash a little over three months later that is sure to please the Queensland faithful the most.
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The rebirth of the wobbly Wallabies under their new coach is booked for Suncorp Stadium, which will also host a Bledisloe Cup blockbuster next year.
The Irish will offer a stern challenge for Michael Cheika’s successor when they open a two-Test series in Brisbane on July 4.
Bigger still is confirmation that the All Blacks are heading to Suncorp Stadium for an October 17 showdown next year.
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The Test has the potential to be a Bledisloe Cup decider at the ground where the Kiwis have their tightest contests anywhere in the world.
The 2020 opener against Ireland will be the lift-off of a new era in every sense.
Kiwi Dave Rennie is frontrunner to become head coach by then although a potentially fractious review and coaching selection process is still to be navigated.
Whoever is in charge will be guiding a side minus decade-long fixtures Will Genia, David Pocock and Sekope Kepu.
World Cup quartet Samu Kerevi, Adam Coleman, Christian Lealiifano and Bernard Foley will also be out of the picture at overseas clubs.
The deflating early exit from the Rugby World Cup in Japan also paints July 4 as an exciting glimpse into the future with boom youngster Jordan Petaia playing his first Test on home soil at his home ground.
Equally, livewire Queensland halfback Tate McDermott may have a Wallabies’ bench role, at least, to play by then.
It’s a rapid return for Ireland’s crowd-pulling men in green who drew three bumper turnouts on their 2018 Test tour.
The All Blacks will pump another full house of 52,500 fans into Suncorp Stadium.
“Fellow World Cup quarter-finalists Ireland and the All Blacks in the third Bledisloe Cup match are good gets for local tourism operators,” Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones said.
“The Queensland Government supports major events like the Wallabies because they attract visitors and create jobs in the local tourism sector.”
The Wallabies triumphed 25-20 when they wore the indigenous jersey for the first time when the All Blacks were tripped up on their 2017 visit to Brisbane.
The Wallabies have won two and drawn another in the six Tests against the All Blacks since 2006 when trans-Tasman combat returned to the rebuilt Suncorp Stadium.
The three losses have all been by four points or less which emphasises the positive energy and fast conditions felt by the players as well inside a sold out stadium.
On no other rugby stage in the world are the All Blacks pressed so close so consistently although the Springboks have beaten the Kiwis three times at Johannesburg’s Ellis Park since 2000.
“The Wallabies have a strong record at Suncorp Stadium, and it is no wonder that it is one of the favourite venues for our players with the strong crowd support,” Rugby Australia chief executive Raelene Castle said.
Those snapping up full season Queensland Reds’ Ruby memberships will be the big winners.
The Ruby deal covers eight Super Rugby home games and two Tests but the big reveal on just who the international visitors are magnifies the appeal.