Aisle be Back: All Blacks v Australia 1.0

• By Kevin McCarthy

The Bledisloe these days is not seen as a genuine contest. Australia will sneak the odd win in three, but there is never a moment in recent times when the trophy is sitting on the line, winner takes all.

But the matches remain popular – Wellington, the second match –  is sold out.  Sydney, I’m not sure, but you’d imagine a daytime game will bring out a wider audience.

For the All Blacks it’s a bit like a mid-season tune-up; certainly, Scott Robertson will be hoping to iron out some misfires.

For Australia, it tends to throw up the nagging question of the steady decline in their standing as a top rugby nation.

And for both countries, there’s a sense that we’re increasingly playing in our own pond, with a diminishing exposure to different styles of play.

The gaping sore continues to be the absence of South Africa from Super Rugby. Having trekked to Europe, maybe there’s no going back.

So, what does New Zealand want. Well. It certainly needs much better relations with Australia and to have an active role in Australian rugby getting back its mojo. ANZAC if you like.

As for South Africa in the equation, well, the talk of returning to tours  is a positive – but only if Australia doesn’t feel like its been left on the outer. Which seemingly, it does. Why not Australian tours to the Republic and here, and vice-versa, integrated into Rugby Championships.

I don’t actually think its irrefutable that the All Blacks are suffering from a lack of exposure to South Africa – and that in turn, the Boks are growing their game through playing in Europe.

After all, did the All Blacks lose those last two tests because they couldn’t match up to the Bok pack? Probably not. Indeed, our front row stocks are probably the best seen for ages.

And with typically four end of year Northern test matches, and inbound tours here, it’s tough to argue that we are in fact in a slowly deflating bubble of our own.

There’s no doubting the complexities that individual countries face with their own games – let alone trying to manage international relations.

But it’s about time that we need to seem some prospect of the game turning around its problems, rather than indulging in zer0-sum battles.

Amid all that, there will some rugby this weekend. I expect the Wallabies to be better than we anticipate, and that South Africa might just drop the ball in Argentina. Well, here’s hoping, as always.

+++++++++++

A cracking Shield challenge and yes, I’m happy to see Tasman seeing off a staunch Wellington bid.

Sunny day, a biggish crowd, some great tries. And a match that people cared about.

The sort of fan magic that surely is worth trying to bottle.

+++++

All Blacks match-day 23 (Test caps in brackets)

1.    Ethan de Groot (26)
2.    Codie Taylor (91)
3.    Tyrel Lomax (38)
4.    Scott Barrett (74) (Captain)
5.    Tupou Vaa’i (32)
6.    Wallace Sititi (3)
7.    Sam Cane (98)
8.    Ardie Savea (88) (Vice Captain)
9.    Cortez Ratima (6)
10.  Damian McKenzie (54)
11.  Caleb Clarke (23)
12.  Jordie Barrett (64) (Vice Captain)
13.  Rieko Ioane (75)
14.  Will Jordan (35)
15.  Beauden Barrett (130)

16. Asafo Aumua (12)
17. Tamaiti Williams (12)
18. Pasilio Tosi (1)
19. Sam Darry (4)
20. Luke Jacobson (22)
21. TJ Perenara (85)
22. Anton Lienert-Brown (77)
23. Sevu Reece (28)

Unavailable due to injury: Fletcher Newell (calf), Ruben Love (quadricep)