The fourth Bledisloe Cup Test is a good thing for rugby
Columnist By Spiro Zavos, 29 Oct 2009 Spiro Zavos is a Roar Expert
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- All Blacks, Bledisloe Cup, Rugby Union, wallabies
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New Zealand's Dan Carter, right, is tackled by Australia's Nathan Sharpe during the Bledisloe Cup rugby match in Sydney, Australia, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2009. New Zealand won the match 19-18 and retain the Bledisloe Cup.(AP Photo/Rob Griffith)
There have been disparaging comments from the usual suspects in the British rugby media suggesting that the Bledisloe Cup Test in Tokyo is a commercially-oriented nonsense. Nonsense to that, I say.
Whenever Australia plays New Zealand at rugby, it is a good thing for the game, for supporters of the teams, for the lucky people who get to watch it live or on television, and for spreading the rugby gospel around the world.
Ever since 1903, the Wallabies and the All Blacks have been smacking into each other on the rugby field in contests that have stirred the tribal blood of their supporters in both countries.
What’s the problem with having four of these intense contests?
In 1962 there were no fewer than five Bledisloe Cup Tests played, two in Australia (NZ 20-Australia 6, NZ 14-Australia 5) and three in New Zealand (NZ 9-Australia 9, NZ 3-0, NZ 16-Australia 8. )
The scorelines indicate that the Wallabies got better (at least at contesting Tests with the All Blacks) as the series split over two-nations continued.
The next year, 1963, the Wallabies indicated how much the stern contests had toughened them up when they defeated England convincingly at Sydney 18 – 9, and then by winning two Tests, back-to-back, in a four Test series in South Africa.
These victories in the second and third Tests of the 1963 tour of South Africa, at Capetown and Johannesburg, represent one of the finest achievements of a Wallabies touring side. No All Blacks side had managed to achieve the back-to-back victories until 1996.
It is not being far-fetched to say that the fact of very frequent Tests between Australia and New Zealand has been a key factor, the key factor perhaps, in Australia and New Zealand being top tier rugby nations for over 100 years.
The playing numbers in New Zealand and Australia are a fifth of what they are in England and South Africa, yet both the nations have been more than competitive against their numerically-superior opponents.
More often than not, New Zealand rugby has been the engine that has pushed the Australian game forward.
But from time to time, and more frequently in the last 30 years, great Wallaby sides (1984-86, 1991-1994, 1999-2001) have forced the All Blacks to lift their game to stay in the game.
An example of this was last year’s defeat of the All Blacks by the Wallabies at Sydney, in the first Bledisloe Cup/Tri-Nations match of the year and Robbie Deans’ first time as Wallaby coach in these tournaments.
The Wallabies thrashed an All Blacks side that tried to run the ball from inside its own 22 before establishing any forward dominance. The All Blacks coached learned from the thrashing and the team went on to win the Tri-Nations and complete a Grand Slam on their European tour later in the year.
Now it is the Wallabies who have do the learning.
They have not defeated the All Blacks since that Sydney triumph. When Deans was asked in Tokyo to explain some of his selection decisions (George Smith on the bench, Digby Ione on the wing, Ryan Cross at centre, Matt Giteau at first five-eighths), he said they had to find a way of defeating the All Blacks.
The touring ethic, playing in other countries, is part of the zen of the rugby union game.
NSW was the first provincial side in the world to tour another country, New Zealand, in 1882.
The only team so far included in the IRB’s Rugby Hall of Fame is the 1888/89 New Zealand Natives side which played 107 matches in New Zealand, Australia, and the United Kingdom.
In 1904, Te Aute College sent a rugby team to Sydney, the first schoolboys side to tour another country. This side won all its matches (including a defeat of St Joseph’s at Hunters Hill) and played so expansively and skilfully that it has been suggested that the famous Joeys style is derived from the Te Aute system.
The fourth Bledisloe Cup Test in Tokyo is entirely in this touring spirit.
Two of the best sides in the world are taking their games to the rugby community in Japan to give these stalwarts the chance to see players like Richie McCaw and Matt Giteau, who they have idolised from afar.
At the main press conference with the two teams and their coaches, there were over 200 media persons. The conference went on for over 90 minutes (questions and answers had to be translated) provoking the laconic Deans to remark after one short reply took some time in translation: “I didn’t realise I was so verbose.”
It is expected that the 40,000-seat stadium will be close to full, despite the astronomical prices being demanded by the organisers of the event, Dentsu, the world’s biggest advertising agency.
All this publicity and the Test itself will raise the profile of rugby in the region in the run-up to the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan, and help bring more youngsters into playing the game.
And not only in Japan.
The 13th biggest rugby franchise in the IRB nation, apparently, is Malayasia, where there are 35,000 players.
The NZRU is bringing over Sir Peter Snell, the Olympic champion in 800m and 1500m at the Tokyo Olympics in 1964, to mark the occasion, which in rugby terms is an epoch event in spreading the gospel in Asia.
Bring it on!
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October 29th 2009 @ 9:38am
Stash said | October 29th 2009 @ 9:38am | Report comment
I went to the Hong Kong game last year – and the truth is that it wasn’t a great game – BUT what a fantastic atmosphere leading up to it!! Lots of expats flying in – bars were jumping – Hong Kong press were lavish with their rugby coverage (as opposed to football for a change).
The build up was great for the expats and we were all amazed that a Bledsloie was going to occur in the city
The teams were visible and out there in the city.
The streets were packed and traffic blocked – the sight of Hong Kongers dressed up in Black – yelling out “All Backs” (typo on purpose here) was classic – and kinda weird – but something that I had never expected to see in this neck of the woods – and is valued.
It was a great advertisement for rugby (Chinese businessmen asking about the rules!!! go figure…)
While purists may say that they get to feast well of the table (in Australia and New Zealand) and say they don’t want anymore NZ/Aus tests – I beg to differ.
People in other countries deeply appreciate being able to actually go and see these top tier nations battling it out – in the full knowledge that it won’t happen again in their land.
Great incentive – detractors sit down – its great for the promotion of rugby
October 29th 2009 @ 9:40am
Hansie said | October 29th 2009 @ 9:40am | Report comment
The 4th test is a purely commercial venture. The Bledisloe Cup is too important to be used purely for commercial gain. To add some meaning to the contest, the better way would be to move one of the Bledisloe Cup matches during the tri-nations offshore. The clash would retain meaning and spread the gospel. If the two teams really are so committed to spreading the gospel, they’d be prepared to give up a home game every other year.
October 29th 2009 @ 10:12am
Conor said | October 29th 2009 @ 10:12am | Report comment
The respective Unions might be there for the money, but the teams are still there to play, and to win, and a game between the wallabies and all blacks is something i dont ever want to pass up
October 29th 2009 @ 10:13am
Ziontrain said | October 29th 2009 @ 10:13am | Report comment
I think this game is just exhibitionist rubbish for the japanese. Im telling you now it will have ZERO intensity like last years HK test and is actually an insult to Bledisloe encounters IMHO. I really hope this will be the last of them and that it goes back to a 3 match series. As hammer has pointed out a 4 match series also makes it dam near impossible for the Wallabies to win the Bled back. For the record the AB’s should still win.
October 29th 2009 @ 10:40am
Sam Taulelei said | October 29th 2009 @ 10:40am | Report comment
“the British rugby media suggesting that the Bledisloe Cup Test in Tokyo is a commercially-oriented nonsense. Nonsense to that, I say.”
Spiro I don’t understand where you’re coming from as it’s clearly only a commercial venture and both Steve Tew and JON acknowledge this without explicitly stating so.
Both countries have similar problems with generating revenue. NZ is a rugby stronghold and the All Blacks are the most visible and widely known team however commercially NZ is too small a marketplace to leverage the All Blacks commercial appeal with sponsors. Australia is a larger market but rugby struggles against competition from rival codes and the Wallaby brand is not as strong.
The only way the NZRU and ARU can raise more money through their biggest cash cow is to play offshore tests and split the proceedings.
It has nothing to do with the touring spirit from yesteryear or for spreading the gospel of rugby. If that was the case then this goodwill rugby ambassador gesture would take it to places where the financial gains aren’t as important however the original location for this 4th Bledisloe was intended to be Denver, Colorado. Other future venues for 4th Bledisloe Cups are New York and London.
Does the gospel not extend to poorer nations?
October 29th 2009 @ 1:27pm
Rusty said | October 29th 2009 @ 1:27pm | Report comment
excellently put as always Sam
October 29th 2009 @ 10:59am
ohtani's jacket said | October 29th 2009 @ 10:59am | Report comment
I think Kirwan put it best when he said Tokyo is a city that doesn’t stop for much.
The people who are excited about this game are rugby people. I stumbled upon an instore appearance the other day and most of the crowd were either rugby people or passersby. The All Blacks and Wallabies aren’t taking Tokyo by storm, but a lot of the players seem to be enjoying their first time in Japan.
Kirwan wanted to have a curtain raiser involving the Japan national side, but the groundsman refused to allow two rugby games to be played on the same day, so that idea was canned. A one-off like this doesn’t really help unless you find a way to build on it. Tokyo has plenty of international sporting events. I recently went to the final of the ATP men’s tennis event, and I can tell you tennis organisers in Japan are battling to get people to go to All Japan tournaments. It’s the same with this rugby Test. Will it boost crowds at the Top League? Probably not.
A word on the stadium — it has a 48,000 seated capacity.
October 29th 2009 @ 11:13am
MM Fike said | October 29th 2009 @ 11:13am | Report comment
My son lives in Tokyo and is going to the game. He is looking forward to it too so some people are happy about the match.
It will be the first time he has seen the Wallabies play the All Blacks.
If my memory is right he paid $130 for his ticket. I believe they have sold about half of the tickets and will be giving away a lot of tickets to students.
Interestingly all the tickets over $1000 sold out. At least that is what I heard.
I’m looking forward to the game but I’m a tad nervous about how we will go. We badly need a win.
Our locks worry me. They need to be in form.
October 29th 2009 @ 11:23am
ohtani's jacket said | October 29th 2009 @ 11:23am | Report comment
They sold out the two most expensive category seats — AUS $860 and $245 on the improved exchange rate. This isn’t that surprising given rugby’s connection to private Universities and big companies.
I paid $86 for a non-reserved ticket way up the back. I’m guessing they’ll fill these seats up paid or unpaid.
Enjoy the game.
October 29th 2009 @ 11:15am
ohtani's jacket said | October 29th 2009 @ 11:15am | Report comment
Another thing I wanted to point out —
The All Blacks are clearly the most famous rugby team in the world to Japanese people. Most of the rugby people here idolise New Zealand rugby. However, through their Adidas sponsorship and the fact that they’ve actually got a Japanese version of the All Black website, they’re doing a much better job of self-promotion than the ARU. This is stupid on the part of Australian rugby, because Australia is a far more desired overseas destination than New Zealand for Japanese tourists, working holiday makers and students.
October 29th 2009 @ 11:31am
Harry said | October 29th 2009 @ 11:31am | Report comment
OJ I’m surprised you let Spiro get away unchallenged with his comments that “It is not being far-fetched to say that the fact of very frequent Tests between Australia and New Zealand has been a key factor, the key factor perhaps, in Australia and New Zealand being top tier rugby nations for over 100 years.”
No doubts about NZ’s status – but for many many years Australia was not a top tierrugby nation – and I would argue we have only consistently been “top tier” between 1984 and 2004. The best thing Australian rugby has going for it still is we are right next door to one of the two greatest rugby nations on earth.
Anyway it seems Spiro’s main intent in this article is to make an early start in engaging in a fun month of hostilities with the UK rugby media. Job done I guess.
Re sport and the Japanese, my view is Japan v Australia in soccer is of far more interest to far more Japanese than an rugby match or rugby team … would be interested in your local perspective.
October 29th 2009 @ 11:57am
ohtani's jacket said | October 29th 2009 @ 11:57am | Report comment
Well, it’s time for another round of Spiro vs. the UK journalists I guess. I think the Wallabies and All Blacks have more pressing concerns myself.
Japan vs. Australia is in another stratosphere altogether. They got 66,000 to the International Stadium Yokohama earlier this year, not to mention free-to-air coverage. This All Blacks Test will be broadcast on one of the more famous pay TV channels and has some major sponsorship attached to it, but it’s bascially a week’s worth of publicity. I’d classify it as a medium size event.
October 29th 2009 @ 1:04pm
silver said | October 29th 2009 @ 1:04pm | Report comment
For a medium size event involving 2 international teams in a foreign country playing a minor sport is pretty good to me.
October 29th 2009 @ 11:17am
Terry Kidd said | October 29th 2009 @ 11:17am | Report comment
Well said Sam, I tend to agree. The game is purely a commercial venture because both unions need the cash, but having said that I’m still looking forward to it because ABs v Wallabies is still the biggest thing on my must watch list.
October 29th 2009 @ 12:12pm
JimC said | October 29th 2009 @ 12:12pm | Report comment
I think they should go back to 3 tests and ensure at least one per year is played in the afternoon at a three o’clock kick off time.
Rugby union watchers babble on about tradition but are seemingly happy to throw out some of the most important ones!
October 29th 2009 @ 12:35pm
JK said | October 29th 2009 @ 12:35pm | Report comment
Good point about the afternoon start, I know it’s been discussed before, but I can’t help but think about what it offers, I have’nt taken my kids to games mostly because of the time. Gimme Sat afternoon games either International or Tah’s and they’ll be there with me, that’s where the next gen are coming from.