TICKETS ON SALE TOMORROW FOR SYDNEY BLEDISLOE CUP TEST
Tickets go on sale tomorrow at 9am through Ticketek for the Bledisloe Cup Test against the All Blacks at ANZ Stadium, Sydney, on 11 September – a match that could prove critical to Australia’s goal of winning back the trans-Tasman silverware.
The Qantas Wallabies last won the Bledisloe Cup in 2002 and, with this year’s series to be determined over four Tests, need to win three of the matches to wrest the trophy from its New Zealand holders.
The first two Tests will be played in Melbourne and Christchurch, with the third in Sydney and the last in Hong Kong in October.
ARU Managing Director and CEO John O’Neill was in Sydney today with Qantas Wallabies prop Benn Robinson to outline the upcoming Bundaberg Red Tri Nations series, which incoporates three Tests against the Springboks and the first three Tests against the All Blacks.
The Qantas Wallabies are aiming to claim the Tri Nations title for the first time since 2001, while Mr O'Neill also explained the importance of retrieving the trans-Tasman silverware from New Zealand.
“Bledisloe Cup Tests are our jewel in the crown," he said.
“It is eight years since we won the Bledisloe Cup and we are making no apologies for saying we want to get it back this year.”
Robinson will return to the Qantas Wallabies squad after missing the Bundaberg Red Rugby Series Tests against Fiji, England and Ireland through injury.
I’m not the greatest rugby watcher, so I haven’t enjoyed having to sit out the June Tests, but the rehab from my arm injury has gone well and hopefully I’ll be able to get back for the Tri-Nations, and at least get in one of the Sydney Tests for the year," he said.
“Beating the All Blacks at ANZ Stadium in 2008 remains one of the stand out memories of my Test career. We haven’t been able to beat them since, although we’ve gone close a couple of times, which highlights how difficult it is to take them down.
“There was only one point in last year’s game in Sydney – there’s never generally much between the two teams; but you have got to get everything right on the night if you are going to beat them.
“I enjoy the rivalry. You always know what you are going to get playing the All Blacks.
"The games are always played at express pace with plenty of ball movement as both teams like to shift it around.
“Up front, they always try to test you out in the set-piece, but their forwards are pretty athletic and clever players too, so it’s not just about brute strength.
"I’m motivated by the challenge they provide because they’re generally always the number one ranked team in the world, which means that we are testing ourselves against the best.
“We’ve led at halftime in a few of the more recent games we’ve had against them. The key for us now as a team is to kick on and close out the deal.”
Qantas Wallabies coach Robbie Deans said: "The traditional trans-Tasman rivalry is arguably at its strongest in rugby union, because New Zealanders expect their team to win every time it plays in that sport.
“To beat the All Blacks, you have to leave no stone unturned in your preparation, and take your chances on the night."
Platinum tickets – the best seats in the house – are $164 for the All Blacks Test in Sydney, with gold category tickets at $144.
Silver have been set at $114 for adults and $57 for children.
A family package in silver (two adults and two children or one adult and three children) will be available at $257.
Bronze tickets are $89 for adults and $45 for children with family packages available at $200.
The Qantas Wallabies home matches in the Bundaberg Red Tri Nations are as follows:
· July 24 – QANTAS WALLABIES v SOUTH AFRICA at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
· July 31 – QANTAS WALLABIES v NEW ZEALAND at Etihad Stadium, Melbourne
· September 11 – QANTAS WALLABIES v NEW ZEALAND at ANZ Stadium, Sydney
The full Bundaberg Red Tri Nations draw is as follows:
July 10 – New Zealand v South Africa in Auckland
July 17 – New Zealand v South Africa in Wellington
July 24 – Qantas Wallabies v South Africa in Brisbane
July 31 – Qantas Wallabies v New Zealand in Melbourne
August 7 – New Zealand v Qantas Wallabies in Christchurch
August 21 – South Africa v New Zealand in Johannesburg
August 28 – South Africa v Qantas Wallabies in Pretoria
September 4 – South Africa v Qantas Wallabies in Bloemfontein
September 11 – Qantas Wallabies v New Zealand in Sydney
