By DUNCAN JOHNSTONE in Sydney – Stuff.co.nz
The Sydney factor looms large over Saturday’s pivotal Tri-Nations and Bledisloe Cup test and it’s an ominous one for the All Blacks.
Despite its close proximity to New Zealand this magnificent city hasn’t been kind to the All Blacks since the advent of the professional game.
New Zealand have played 10 tests in Sydney since 1996 and have only won three of them with the Wallabies claiming the other seven, including the 2003 World Cup semifinal.
Nine of the matches have been played at what is now called ANZ Stadium, a ground that has had various guises since it was opened in 1999 after being purposely built for the 2000 Olympics. The All Blacks have lost six of their nine tests there.
This will be the 50th test played between the Trans-Tasman rivals in Sydney and not surprisingly New Zealand fare better overall in the 106-year history of clashes here, winning 29 tests, drawing two and losing 18.
But Australia in general hasn’t been an easy venue for the All Blacks since the Tri-Nations was introduced in 1996.
Saturday night sees Australia host its 15th trans-Tasman clash in Tri-Nations history with both sides having previously won seven games each. The All Blacks have a 2-1 win-loss record in Melbourne and are 3-nil in Brisbane during that period.
All Blacks coach Graham Henry has found Sydney an awkward venue during his tenure, losing twice and having just one win. He is 3-3 on Australian soil. Both statistics are well down on his remarkable winning ratio of 84 percent in all tests.
Wayne Smith has had an even tougher time in Sydney, either in charge of the All Blacks or in his current role as assistant – his record is two wins and four losses at ANZ Stadium.
So Richie McCaw’s side will have to beat history as well as a highly motivated Wallabies team who will have last year’s record 34-19 performance in Sydney to boost their confidence.
All Blacks v Wallabies in Sydney in professional era:
1998: lost 14-19
1999: lost 7-28
2000: won 39-35
2001: lost 26-29
2002: lost 14-16
2003: won 50-21
2003: lost 10-22 (World Cup semifinal)
2004: lost 18-23
2005: won 30-13
2008: lost 19-34
Sydney’s place in the Bledisloe Cup record books:
Biggest Australian winning margin at all venues: 21 (28-7) at Sydney, 1999
Biggest Australian winning score at all venues: 34 (34-19), Sydney, 2008
Most points conceded by Australia at all venues: 50 (21-50), Sydney, 2003
Most points scored by Australia at all venues: 35 (35-39) at Sydney, 2000.
@Scrumdown –
Overcast/cold, but no rain at Newlands.
Btw, where did you boys get the link to this site?
30@trupisero – Guess that’ll even it up a bit.
WP have impressed me this year.
There “weak” front row look ok with a couple of decent locks behind them.
How we (the GLRU) let Anton van Zyl go still mistifies me. No contract. Super administrative management.
31@Pietman – Ek het al ‘n hele klompie nuwe bloggers vanoggend APPROVE, dit gaan jolig hier…. elders gebeur NIKS
31@Pietman – Was looking in on that other website trying to sort the decent comments from the nonsense when the subject came up about “that other lot that are banned”??? and someone mentioned that you had all opened a new site, so here I am.
Just try to make sure the sh1t stirrers are kept away please. A lot of the goings on on the “dark side” really peed me off.
Too many agendas and not enough Rugby.
Thanks guys.
32@Scrumdown –
How the GLRU still manages to keep any decent players mystifies me.
As for Jake & his winning ways — proof will ultimately be seen by the end of the CC and methinks he may have to change his company name.
The fall from grace since the mid-90’s is spectacular and the blame rests squarely on management.
29@Scrumdown – Yes, this IS a wonderful site…. the rugby discussions are good…and when all the rugby is talked out, we just have fun !!
34@Scrumdown –
Don’t worry – the webmonsters here have some decent controls to keep the trolls away.
Jis jis
As die Lions weet hoe bliksems koud dit innie Kaap is sal hulle eerder punte afgee en by die huis bly!!
36@grootblousmile –
Net te veel bulle 🙂
34@Scrumdown – The SHITSTIRRERS have to get past ME, Ed, Koos, SuperBul as WEBMONSTERS….. so all Time Zones are covered.
In addition, our SECURITY FEATURES built in here are much tighter than on Voldy’s site….
38@KingPaul –
hehehe…same result, less effort!!
Waar braai ons die naweek? Nettie se Swellendam nie.
@trupisero –
Ja,maar 50% van doe Lion supporters blog al hier, so die Bulls het taamlik om intehaal!
@Scrumdown –
You must visit during the games, then we really have a ball here!
@superBul –
Many thanks Superbul
@trupisero –
And we have to get rid of the photo of that ugly old fukker on the right.
Jeez GBS, kan jy nie eerder `n mooi girl se foto opsit nie?
Guppie_Lover, you’ve been APPROVED !!
Start Blogging !
32@trupisero – I can’t see it being a very successful year for the Lions to be honest.
They’re lacking class in some key areas. Some selections really mystify me. The replacements last week really seemed to make a difference, but none of them (Derrik Minnie for example) got the nod to start this week.
Maybe that’s why I anly administer and others coach. (sometimes!)
@trupisero –
hehehe
Ek is besig om bietjie uit te vind van lekker braai spots hier innie Wynland, maar die naweek dink ek nie ons gaan kans sien vir buite braai nie!!
Blog jy van jou blacberry af?
@KingPaul –
nee – innie office — doen so bietjie admnin
45@trupisero – Grrrrrrrr
Man, ek wag vir my Kleinboet om my so paar Demo Ads te design, sodat ek daai SPASIES behoorlik kan vul !
Laat vir ons ‘n Advertensie opmaak vir julle Maatskappy en ek plaas hom gratis vir ‘n ruk !!
Bel my vir afmetings…. toe man !
47@Scrumdown –
Minnie should start – made a good impression last week.
Then again, JW doesn’t rate Brussouw which takes my view of him down a couple of notches.
@grootblousmile –
GBS@50
Ons moet minder garings oopmaak, net drie of so per dag, ek kan nie orals byhou nie, asb!
More almal, GBS en almal wat betrokke was by die oprig van die blog…moerse dankie… dit lyk kookwater.
Het regtig begin gatvol raak vir die ander blog en die gehalte het regtig ‘n dip gevat die laaste rukkie.
@Scrumdown –
I see we now have a Scrumsaam as well 🙂
Check users on-line…
@Rum And Maple –
Kry ek nou lus vir pyprook….maar my twak is op.
Welkom broer!
Tight Head is here, this site now has its token / quota Sharks supporter. 😆
56@Loosehead –
Gaan kuk in die mielies 🙂
52@Pietman – Jy moet vinniger lees en meer click !!
Moet se, my smile is byna 2 keer nek-om soos ek dit geniet hoe die mense dit hier geniet en bystroom….
Ons is nou AMPTELIK ook oor die 50 besige bloggers hier…. dit na minder as 20 ure in die “openbaar” !!
@Pietman – Ha, ja. dis lekker om hier te wees en nie afhanklik van daai ander mannetjie se blog te wees om rugby te gesels nie.
En dan kan die trolle ook nie alles vir almal kom opvoeter nie…
50@grootblousmile –
Bel sal fokkol help nie – jy sal `n ding vir my moet stuur wat die size klaar het.
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