Jack Tame: This Bledisloe clash doesn't feel like much of a contest

Saturday Morning with Jack Tame

Off the top of your head, where do reckon the Wallabies currently sit in the World rankings?

Sure, they’re behind us. They’re behind South Africa, of course. But they’re also languishing behind Scotland, behind Italy, would you believe.

According to World Rugby, the Wallabies of September 2024 are the ninth best national team in men’s rugby today. They only just squeak in ahead of Fiji.

When I was a kid, the Bledisloe felt like the biggest thing in rugby outside of a World Cup. It probably wasn’t, of course. Tests with South Africa were at least comparable, I guess, and Lions tours had their prestige. But I would get so worked up for Bledisloes because they always felt like anyone could win.

I still remember epic Bledisloe clashes. The John Eales era. George Gregan and that tackle, Jeff Wilson spilling the ball as he dived for the line, the Wallabies just holding on for Bledisloe glory.

But what happened? New Zealand Rugby’s had its issues, but arguably no country that plays rugby has experienced anything like the decline that Australia has experienced. Those epic Bledisloe clashes of the past are becoming ancient history. It’s 22 years since Australia last held the Bledisloe - we now have an elected Member of Parliament who has never seen the Wallabies win it.

And get this: according to the Australian Sports Commission, rugby is the country’s ninth-most-popular sport by participation. Aussie Rules has four times as many kids who play. Basketball is five times more popular. Rugby loses out to rock climbing and badminton.

There are a range of things that have likely contributed. The private school rugby culture in Australia has isolated the sport from a huge slab of the population. Concern over head knocks will have impacted participation. The domestic rugby competition was hollowed out and ultimately scrapped, which means the Super Rugby teams are the only real professional options for young players. The AFL has 18 teams. The NRL has 16 Australian teams. Super Rugby will now have just four. It’s telling that a city of five million couldn’t sustain a side. How many people in Melbourne didn’t even know the Rebels were a thing? And as a TV entertainment product, sorry, but the Brumbies vs the Force rarely compares to the thrill of the NRL.

All of this is not to diminish this evening’s game. And I’m certainly not hoping for a Wallabies win. But ultimately, it’s in our interests for Australian rugby to somehow work its way back into something akin to the force of the past. New Zealand rugby needs better competition from across the ditch. We need the spectre of potentially losing the Bledisloe! Maybe I’ll eat my words, but as much as I’ll enjoy the game this evening, right now... it doesn’t feel like all that much of a contest.

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