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.
AB’s can’t afford to lose…..and they won’t!
Ozzie will be out of the Tri this weekend.
Heng, nou moet die naweek vinnig naderkom, ek is lus vir rugby!
1 @Pietman – I am not so sure Pete, last time out was the most disjointed effort I have seen from them in a long time and the Ozmob will not be easy at home.
Koos, dit gaan interessant wees, ek dink die AB’s gaan met een moewiese poging kom en die Ozzies blaas.
Hello Cosa!
4 @Pietman – Verseker Pete, ek weet net nie of hulle dit in hulle het die jaar nie.
@Koos –
Praat later, vrou jaag my aan, ek moet gaan ’empties’ wegry!
More almal. Net gou gistermiddag se aktiwiteite opgevang!
Howzit Cosa, klink my dinge het gewikkel gister!
Helloooooooo
Tight Head & Finchi, you have both been approved!
Start blogging, you’re welcome.
Ek het gaan lees op die Kortman se site. Wat ‘n spul!
@grootblousmile –
A great good morning to you GBS.
Congratulations to you, Pietman and all the other guys who have made this site possible!!
I feel honoured to be welcomed here!!
All power to your future!!
11@tight head – We specially wanted you here Tight Head, just to let you know….. we consider your rugby knowledge valuable…
@tight head – Welcome tightest.
This site proofes that the guys who started this, was not fooling around and is serious bout rugby.
Lots of good attitude bantering around and we have Pietipedia here as well!
Great to see a rugby brain like you here. I have no doubt that your input will be as valuable and contribute in same vein as other rugby bloggers on site, to the success thereof.
11@tight head – So, what do you think of the lay-out of our site…. considering that we are actually still busy developing certain stuff?
@grootblousmile – @isigidi – ek vermoed julle is bly dat tight head geregistreer het? 😆
Welcome Tight Head….
Scrumsaam, you have been Approved… start blogging !
@isigidi – @grootblousmile –
Many thanks for the warm wewlcome guys.
Like I say, I am very happy to be welcomed here amongst real rugby lovers and people with good rugby knowledge and experience.
I look forward to great discussion amongst us here.
Môre aan alle vriende.
Ek het gou vanmôre al gister se gebeure gelees, en nou dat ons bekend is gaan dit net beter raak hier. Ek is ook bly om al die nuwe ou bekendes hier te sien.
@Tripples – @grootblousmile –
I am seriously impressed with what you guys have done.
Thank you Tripples.
A tripple brandewyn en coke on GBS and his team here!!
@tight head – For Sure, GBS has been hitting the midnight oil to get everything up and running for us.
@tight head – Welcome here and i will hold thumbs for England in todays ashes decider. For us SAs it can mean another no 1 spot in World Sport. Good luck enjoy the blogging.
Something to put a smile on your face this morning.
ON JULY 20, 1969, AS COMMANDER OF THE APOLLO 11 LUNAR MODULE, NEIL ARMSTRONG WAS THE FIRST PERSON TO SET FOOT ON THE MOON.
HIS FIRST WORDS AFTER STEPPING ON THE MOON, “THAT’S ONE SMALL STEP FOR MAN, ONE GIANT LEAP FOR MANKIND,” WERE TELEVISED TO EARTH AND HEARD BY MILLIONS.
BUT JUST BEFORE HE REENTERED THE LANDER, HE MADE THE ENIGMATIC REMARK “GOOD LUCK, MR. GORSKY.”
MANY PEOPLE AT NASA THOUGH IT WAS A CASUAL REMARK CONCERNING SOME RIVAL SOVIET COSMONAUT. HOWEVER, UPON CHECKING, THERE WAS NO GORSKY IN EITHER THE RUSSIAN OR AMERICAN SPACE PROGRAMS.
OVER THE YEARS MANY PEOPLE QUESTIONED ARMSTRONG AS TO WHAT THE “GOOD LUCK, MR. GORSKY… STATEMENT MEANT, BUT ARMSTRONG ALWAYS JUST SMILED.
ON JULY 5, 1995, IN TAMPA BAY , FLORIDA , WHILE ANSWERING QUESTIONS FOLLOWING A SPEECH, A REPORTER BROUGHT UP THE 26-YEAR-OLD QUESTION TO ARMSTRONG. THIS TIME HE FINALLY RESPONDED.
MR. GORSKY HAD DIED, SO NEIL ARMSTRONG FELT HE COULD ANSWER THE QUESTION.
IN 1938 WHEN HE WAS A KID IN A SMALL MIDWEST TOWN , HE WAS PLAYING BASEBALL WITH A FRIEND IN THE BACKYARD. HIS FRIEND HIT THE BALL, WHICH LANDED IN HIS NEIGHBOR’S YARD BY THE BEDROOM WINDOWS.
HIS NEIGHBORS WERE MR. AND MRS.GORSKY. AS HE LEANED DOWN TO PICK UP THE BALL, YOUNG ARMSTRONG HEARD MRS. GORSKY SHOUTING AT MR. GORSKY.
“SEX! YOU WANT SEX?! YOU’LL GET SEX WHEN THE KID NEXT DOOR WALKS ON THE MOON!”
TRUE STORY
19@tight head – Yes, myself and Ed worked our butts off to get the site up and functioning well…. still a few fine-tunes to do….. but it works and refreshes fast
@tight head –
Jeez, at last, you sure took your time getting here, almost like the late Frans Erasmus….
Shame, old Domkrag got the moer in if the flyhalf kicked the ball out more than 20 meters, especially if it was out on the other sideline away from him….
But welcome TH, nice to have you.
We have been waiting on you big guy.
@Pietman –
Many thanks old friend.
Rum And Maple, you’ve been APPROVED !!
Start blogging at your new home !
@grootblousmile –
We must get Skim!
Spoke to Disa just now, he is on his way, from Bali, will join again soon.
22@isigidi –
djy hoefie te skree nie….
PS: The moonlanding never happened 🙂
What a pleasure not to have any socio-political nonsnese to wade through.
Rugby, Rugby, Rugby. I love it.
Anyone seen a weather forecast for CT on Saturday?
29@Scrumdown –
Welcome scrums. Weather — dunno — probably cold & wet.
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