For a brief period, around the end of the nineties, rugby became a game of the people. No longer was it a sport or a spectacle for only doctors, lawyers, optometrists, merchant bankers and those who spend their winters tanning and drinking on the French Riviera. When the game turned professional and when George Gregan laid “That Hit” on All Black winger Jeff Wilson, it became a game for everybody, a sport on the rise. When John Eales held the World Cup trophy aloft- the same day Australia chose to remain part of the old Empire- Australia accepted rugby as a fair and equally loved member of the national sporting fraternity. With every Bleidsloe Cup clash, a hero was crowned and a legend born. Australia took men the likes of Toutai Kefu, John Eales, Matt Burke and Stephen Larkham and made them icons, holding them up for all to see.
But in recent times, the game has slipped away from the punters. Mired in technicalities and shamelessly signing rugby league players hurt the game and sent it back into a state of aloofness. The passion and the meaning of a rugby test has seemingly diminished. The kids have stopped caring.
But it is not too late. Rugby can still be a game for one and all. It just has to bring back the flair and the pride that sent Australia into a rugby frenzy every time the Wallabies took the field. And the best forum to do this is the Bledisloe Cup, an event that has engendered as much national pride as an Ashes win or a Socceroo World Cup run. If rugby can take the Bledisloe Cup back to the people with entertaining winning rugby, the people will return- yelling and screaming in a sea of gold- enmasse, taking the game back into their heart.
This Saturday, in the burning depths of that least-traditional of rugby grounds Suncorp Stadium, the Wallabies stand toe-to-toe with the All Blacks again. They do this is an attempt to salvage the Bledisloe Cup, which has rested firmly in the hands of New Zealand since 2002. A win on Saturday night, and the Wallabies will win the chance to earn back the trophy. A loss, an rugby sinks even further. Australia has very little time for aloofness. But it has less time, in this day and age, for losers.
Leading the charge will be long-term Captain and Bledisloe Cup icon George Gregan. With his position seemingly cemented now John Connolly is calling the shots, he is playing smarter and better. He is free to play to win now. With a sharp backline that includes the likes of the incomparable Steve Larkham, the elusive Matt Giteau and the hard running Lote Tuqiri, the Wallabies lose nothing out wide. They match-up very well to against an All Black backline that contains names like Carter, Muliaina and Rokocoko. From fifteen to nine, the match-up looks most even.
But the game won’t be won out wide. It will be one up front, in the heart of play, where the hard work is done and advantages grinded out. It will be up to the likes of big Rodney Blake and the iron head Nathan Sharpe to get on top of stars like Woodcock, Mealamu and Williams. If the Wallabies don’t do this, the test match and the Bledisloe Cup is lost again. Flying high after dominating South Africa, the Wallabies are confident they can win the battle of wills up front. And I concur. The Wallabies are aware of how important victory is on Saturday night. They realise the importance of the occasion.
The $3.01 being offered by Pinnacle Sports looks a super bet. Bet that and the plus seven, and you should be in the money. Expect a tough, dour struggle that may just end in the revitalisation of Australian rugby. Victory now and flair tomorrow.
