Wallabies v All Blacks Anzac Test ‘almost certain’ as Dave Rennie’s role revealed in NZR’s change of heart
New All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie and former NZ Rugby chief executive Mark Robinson.
A landmark Anzac Bledisloe Cup Test between the Wallabies and All Blacks is set to be given the green light, according to reports in New Zealand.
The clash will see the trans-Tasman rivals go head-to-head in the middle of the Super Rugby Pacific season.
Although nothing has yet been officially signed, the New Zealand Herald have reported that NZ Rugby are now keen on the idea, with it “almost certain” that the All Blacks will face the Wallabies in April next year.
Decision due in mid-May
The board are set to convene on May 14 when it will likely be given the go-ahead.
It will also mark a return to the three-Test Bledisloe Cup series, which was ditched in 2021, with the other two internationals due to take place as part of the Rugby Championship.
Initially proposed by Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh in 2024, it was initially rejected by the NZR, who were then headed up by Mark Robinson.
However, Waugh has persisted and last week had a positive outlook after being asked about whether an Anzac Test was still possible.
“We’re talking very constructively with New Zealand Rugby around exactly that concept. There’s no greater reflection and tribute to Anzac than Australia playing New Zealand,” he told Sport Nation.
“The AFL can’t do it, NRL can’t do it, but the beauty of rugby is that we can do that, so there are certainly some very constructive conversations around the concept and how we can bring that to life.
“We’ve obviously got the Wallaroos playing the Black Ferns on Anzac Day on the Sunshine Coast on Saturday, which is a great start.
“If we can run off the back of that into a bigger and better clash then I think everyone would really rejoice in that, and it’s a moment for our game to stand above all others.”
Dave Rennie’s role in change of heart
Robinson has since stepped down as NZR chief executive, which is one of “several factors” noted for the turnaround.
The governing body has seen a significant exodus of key individuals since the proposal was rejected. That includes a different head coach with Dave Rennie reportedly taking a different view to his predecessor Scott Robertson.
It is understood that Rennie believes an April international can aid their Rugby World Cup preparations, a tournament which takes place in Australia later that year.
Former CEO Robinson initially listed several concerns with the idea, most notably that it could struggle to be a commercial success.
“When we have gone and spoken to various groups, be it the Super Rugby clubs, the players association and various partners, we don’t see it as viable, at this stage,” he said.
“As part of that we looked at the model of doing this home and away, because if we were to move to what is effectively a three-Test series, playing every year away wasn’t something we thought was appropriate.
“And when you look at the financial model of doing it home and away, it’s vastly different to what the Australians are proposing with their model of funding.
“The reality of that, and how it looked long-term commercially, was another consideration. What we do we risk in Super (Rugby), in player welfare and in other commercial partnerships, by comparison? That was the equation we looked at and, at the moment, it doesn’t really stack up.”
The new team at NZ Rugby appear to disagree and seem to think that it is financially and logistically workable, with it potentially generating close to $10m according to the Herald.
