Bledisloe Cup: Sydney back in the mix for opener against New Zealand in four-match series

With Melbourne rapidly sliding out of the equation as host of the opening Bledisloe Cup clash with New Zealand because of its expanding coronavirus crisis, Sydney’s long wait could finally be over.

James O'Connor of the Wallabies runs the ball during the 2019 Rugby Championship Test between the Wallabies and All Blacks. Picture: Getty

Sydney’s long wait to host the Bledisloe Cup again will soon be over with ANZ Stadium likely to host the opening match of this year’s four-game series against the All Blacks now that the end of season tour to Europe is dead in the water.

The Daily Telegraph understands that if the series opener is moved from Melbourne, as now seems inevitable, it will take place in Sydney on October 10, with the second match in Brisbane a week later.

The remaining two fixtures against the All Blacks will be held in New Zealand in November and December as part of a full Rugby Championship with the Springboks and Pumas, but staged entirely in one single country.

Australia and New Zealand had both been vying for the right to host the Rugby Championship after Argentina and world champions South Africa were ruled out of contention because of their ongoing struggles dealing with the global pandemic.

However, SANZAAR have decided that New Zealand is the preferred option, pending approval from the New Zealand government and no second wave or coronavirus.

The pay-off to Australia is that the first two Bledisloe Cup matches will be held on this side of the Tasman in October, leaving both teams with enough time to quarantine in New Zealand before the Rugby Championships kicks off.

Sydney was not due to host a Bledisloe Cup match for years because of the planned rebuild of ANZ Stadium but the COVID-19 pandemic has put the Harbour City back at the front of the queue.

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The first two Bledisloe Cup matches will be held on this side of the Tasman.

Not only has the $800 million redevelopment been cancelled but the recent spike in new coronavirus cases in Victoria has raised fresh doubts about whether Melbourne can host any major sports events this year, including the AFL grand final.

Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium had been selected to host the first Bledisloe Cup match on August 8 — which has already been cancelled — and while the Victorian government still has first call for the rescheduled match in mid-October, their chances of being ready are fading by the day.

With Suncorp Stadium already pencilled in to host a Bledisloe Cup on October 17, rugby officials had been toying with the idea of playing the second Bledisloe Cup on Friday October 23 — combining with the NRL and AFL grand finals and Cox Plate to create the biggest blockbuster weekend in Australian sporting history.

But the constant uncertainty around COVID-19 has caused a rethink so the matches will almost certainly be flipped around, with Sydney getting the first game.

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WHY WALLABIES ARE LOCKED ON BLEDISLOE DISASTER

The Rugby Championship will take place over eight weeks with venues yet to be decided.

The Wallabies are now looking at playing eight Tests in 2020 — four against the Kiwis and two each against the Springboks and Pumas. The end of season matches away to Ireland, France, Italy and England will no longer proceed with a formal announcement expected soon.

The Rugby Championship will take place over eight weeks with venues yet to be decided though it is expected Australia will play one of two matches against New Zealand in Wellington.

“SANZAAR is well advanced in option planning with New Zealand Rugby, which in turn, is now seeking New Zealand Government approval. It is hoped that details on the TRC will be announced in the near future,” SANZAAR chief executive Andy Marinos said.

Marinos also dismissed speculation that SANZAAR was in danger of folding because of the ongoing talks to restructure next year.

Australia and New Zealand are in talks about creating a new trans-Tasman competition to start next year but will continue playing internationals against South Africa and Argentina.

“The SANZAAR Joint Venture is not being dismantled. The Member Unions remain committed to the long-term future as a Joint Venture,” Marinos said.

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New Zealand has been chosen ahead of Australia to host this year’s Rugby Championship, on the condition that there is no second wave of coronavirus.

The competition organisers SANZAAR said the final details are still being worked out but the only way the four-nation tournament could proceed was if it was held in one destination.

With South Africa and Argentina still in lockdown, Australia and New Zealand were the only viable options but SANZAAR said New Zealand was now the preferred choice.

“Having successfully restarted Super Rugby this year in Australia and New Zealand our focus is now on The Rugby Championship (TRC) that is set to be played in one central location,” SANZAAR chief executive Andy Marinos said.

“We have determined that New Zealand is currently the favoured option given the COVID stability within the region. Critical to this, however, is alignment with the New Zealand Government around its requirements for this to take place.

“SANZAAR is well advanced in option planning with New Zealand Rugby, which in turn, is now seeking New Zealand Government approval. It is hoped that details on the TRC will be announced in the near future.”

Marinos also dismissed speculation that SANZAAR would fold though he said talks were ongoing about the best way to structure Super Rugby in the future.

James O'Connor of the Wallabies runs the ball during the 2019 Rugby Championship Test between the Wallabies and All Blacks. Picture: Getty

Australia and New Zealand have both started their own domestic competitions and floated the idea of creating a trans-Tasman competition – or going it alone – while South Africa hopes to resume soon. Argentina has ruled out starting a domestic competition this year.

Marinos said any changes for next year and beyond would not mean not change SANZAAR’s role.

“The impact of COVID has forced a rethink on the Super Rugby competition and The Rugby Championship delivery in 2020. Due to the ongoing uncertainty over international travel for 2021 and beyond the Member Unions are also working on solutions past this year that will excite fans, broadcasters and deliver high-performance outcomes for the Unions,” he said.

“The SANZAAR Joint Venture is not being dismantled. The Member Unions remain committed to the long-term future as a Joint Venture.

“We all recognise the current challenges we face in trying to settle on any potential Super Rugby competition structures moving forward under the pandemic environment, however the restructuring of Super Rugby through reformatted competitions does not mean the dismantling of SANZAAR.

“There is a clear understanding that the value of the SANZAAR alliance and the pathway of Super Rugby to international rugby remains critical to the long-term success, development and competitiveness of the respective National Teams. Our record in cross-hemisphere matches and World Cup tournaments are evidence of this.”

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Originally published as Bledisloe Cup: Sydney back in the mix for opener against New Zealand in four-match series