Sydney hoodoo haunts All Blacks

Published 20 August 2009 | By Swanie

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.

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