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.
58@grootblousmile –
Het ons al die 10000 merk geslaan?
60@trupisero – Fokkkkkkk… OK, sal nou-nou !
43@Pietman – Unfortunately where I live there is no such thing as Broadband. (Or almost any band for that matter).
IT infrastructure at the office is ok but it cost us a fortune to put in. Maximum speed I can get at home is 56k.
Quite miserable really but all part of living in darkest Africa.
61@trupisero – Laaaaankal, ons staan al op 11 259 Comments !!
@grootblousmile –
11260
@grootblousmile – COOOOOL BANNANANANANANAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
63@Scrumdown –
Where are you based?
@grootblousmile –
@58
Jy moet onse PRO dankie se, daar by Shell House, sy adverteer dat die biesies bewe !
GBS
Wie is Scrumsaam?
More almal, geluk aan die ouens wat die site op gerig het baie impressed met dit en ja nog n WP supporter om die bulls te pla maar ons almal is hier oor een ding en een ding alleen die game wat ons love RUGGA….
@Pietman – hehehehe wat sê sy?
69@Pietman – Scrumsaam se privaatheid is sy eie saak….
Welkom ook aan Boelie wat sopas geregistreer het en APPROVED is ! Jy kan maar blog !
@Scrumsaam – welkom en ons issie bang vir problems nie hehehehehe
@Scrumsaam – Welkom hier by ons!
Ons hoop dat jy ‘n goeie Vrystaat se ondersteuner is.
70@Scrumsaam – Dankie en welkom !
@Scrumsaam –
O hier is jy!
Welkom ou maat, pas vir GBS gevra, toe dink hy ek soek jou naam, maar ek wou eintlik weet of dit n nuwe blogger is wat ek so vinnig in die verbygaan gesien het, en of dit Scrumdown se Afrikaanse nick was.
volg rugby al lank en het altyd net gelees wat die ouens dink en het maar gedink ek kan die comments join siende dat almal so lekker gesels.@Pietman –
@grootblousmile – Boelie? Moenie Bollie praat nie.
@grootblousmile –
@69 GBS
Moes gewews het ‘WAAR is’, nie WIE is nie 🙂
@Pietman – ja nuut op die storie so sal maar leer soos ons aan gaan….
79@Pietman – Nee, is reg so Pieta… dis eintlik goed so want dit het gewys ons beskerm privaatheid hier…. no problems !!
@Scrumsaam –
Nee wat, rugby is rugby, praat maar saam.
Hier is n ongeskite spul ouens wat jou vinnig in die bek sal ruk as jy teen hulle ou spannetjie gesels, moet jou nie aan hulle steur nie!
So, kap maar net aan….en gooi jou storie.
@Scrumsaam – jippppeeeee! Nog WP maters.
Nou gaan ons hierdie Flou Bulle roer!!
@Pietman – sal so maak, teen die comments wat ek al gelees het en van ondervinding weet ek mense like om my span uit te haal maar dis als part of the plan eendag sal die Stormpies opstaan, moet maar net aan hou glo……
@isigidi – sal jou support al die pad ou maat.
84@Scrumsaam –
Julle voel al seker soos Job….hehehe
@isigidi – kan maar try hoor hehehehe, maar dis eintlik wat op die veld gebeur wat saakmaak 😉
@isigidi – 83, Flou Bulle?????
Wag tot ons warm raak, dan sal julle nie met ons kan huishou nie. 👿
@superBul – wag tot die kaapse wind waai dan sal julle nie, die S14 meer kan hou nie…..
@Scrumsaam – Aish siende laat almal so simpatiek met die WP is vanmore. Sterkte , julle better nou regkom daar is niks so lekker in SA as n regte Noordvs Suid Curriebeker finaal nie. Ons het dit jare laas gehad.
Hulle moet dit sommer n beste uit 3 reeks maak as ons die finals saam maak. Die land sal tot stilstand kom.
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