Match Day Programme: Australia vs. New Zealand - Bledisloe Cup 1

After their first clash in 1903, the Wallabies vs All Blacks was intensified in 1931 with the introduction of the Bleisloe Cup. New Zealand have won their last five men’s Tests on the bounce against Australia including a 40-14 win when they met most recently (September 2022); though, the teams have alternated wins across their last six meetings in Australia with New Zealand winning 38-21 in their last such fixture (September 2021). Here today with your matchday programme.

Fixture: Australia vs New Zealand

Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia

Kickoff Time: 19:45 (Local), 10:45 (GMT)

Referee: Wayne Barnes

Head-to-head Played:

Played: 175

Australia Wins: 45

New Zealand Wins: 122

Draws: 8

Points for:

Australia: 2,536 

New Zealand: 3,867

Biggest winning margin:

Australia 21 (17 June, 2000)

New Zealand 37 (13 August, 2022)

Last Meeting: 24 September 2022 - New Zealand 40-14 Australia (Eden Park)

2023 Rugby Championship Results

Australia

L 43-12 (a) v South Africa

L 32-34 (h) v Argentina

New Zealand

W 12-41 (a) v Argentina

W 35-20 (a) v South Africa

Team News:

Australia: 20 Year Old Melbourne Rebels Fly-Half Carter Gordon will make his first start todau for the Wallabies in the in the number 10 jersey. Andrew Kellaway will also play his first Test of the year at fullback alongside Marika Koroibete and Mark Nawaqanitawase who are named on the wings, with the Wallabies set to wear their First Nations jersey for the first time in Melbourne this weekend.

New Zealand: Ardie Savea will lead the side for the fifth time in his career, featuring in a loose forward trio which has undergone one change. Skipper Sam Cane was withdrawn due to a neck strain sustained in the win over South Africa in Auckland. The All Blacks also return for a Test at the MCG for the first time since 2007. 

● Six of Australia’s last seven men’s Tests have been decided by a margin of five points or fewer on the day including three
games decide by just a single point on the day; though, the Wallabies have logged only two wins in that term (L5).

● Australia have lost their first two games of The Rugby Championship 2023 and will be looking to avoid a winless tournament
for just the second time in it’s history (incl. Tri-Nations) after losing all four of their games in the 2005 edition.

● New Zealand are on a nine-game unbeaten run in men’s Tests (W8 D1), holding their opposition to three points or fewer at
hakf-time in six of those nine games including their last three in a row; in fact, they’ve lost only once away from home since
the beginning of 2022.

● New Zealand will be looking to finish an edition of The Rugby Championship with a 100% win rate for the first time since 2017
(W6) after winning their first two games of the 2023 tournament; in fact, only once before have they won every game at The
Rugby Championship/Tri Nations in a World Cup year (W4 in 2003)