Gearing up for the ultimate dress rehearsal

James Mortimer

It isn’t quite a winner takes all clash, but the value of a win at Eden Park for both teams will be immeasurable as the Bledisloe Cup effectively is on the line, as is favouritism for both the Investec Tri Nations and World Cup.

With just two tests to be played this year against Australia, a win for the All Blacks will secure them their second trophy of the season and allow them to hold the Bledisloe Cup, even should the Wallabies square the ‘series’ in Brisbane.

Victory over the Springboks in Wellington locked in the Freedom Cup for the All Blacks.

With the South Africans returning home to Cape Town with no wins and conceding bonus points to their antipodean rivals, the winner of Eden Park will also be in the box seat to claim the Tri Nations.

Of course, there is the small matter of another match being played at Eden Park towards the end of October, with the reputation of the All Blacks Auckland headquarters imperative as the World Cup Final will be played their on October 23, not to mention the pool match between New Zealand and France on September 24.

Les Bleus were the last team to taste success against the All Blacks at Eden Park, winning 23-20 in 1994.

So for the All Blacks, upholding their carefully built records will be key.

Since 1921 they have only lost ten times at Eden Park (in 65 tests), and are unbeaten against the Wallabies in their last 11 test matches at the venue.

They also have remained unbeaten against Australia at home since 2001, and with the teams of the world invading New Zealand in September, maintaining a remarkable overall home record that has seen the All Blacks lose just 37 times in 107 years will be high on the agenda.

The World Cup may be the biggest trophy up for grabs this season, but two crucial crowns to Southern Hemisphere rugby supremacy will not want to be abdicated by New Zealand.

A win to retain the Bledisloe would represent the ninth straight series for the All Blacks, and their 40th overall, with this being the 52nd time the biggest cup in world rugby has been up for grabs.

The All Blacks will also be looking at going back-to-back in the Tri Nations, having won the title ten times in 15 years.

The Wallabies will look at breaking these streaks.

They have not held the Bledisloe Cup since 2002, and haven’t won the Southern Hemisphere’s premier tournament since 2001.

The momentum gathered by promising results last season and the Reds Super Rugby win were interrupted with a shock loss to Samoa, but there were more than enough glimpses of the Wallabies class with a 39-20 win over the Springboks.

The All Blacks went on further with a 33 point win over the South Africans, with Graham Henry’s troops posting a century of points in their two opening tests of the season.

It is the world’s number one ranked side hosting the second best, and the ultimate dress rehearsal for both teams heading into the World Cup should be one to savour.