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

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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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:07):
You're listening to the Saturday Morning with Jack team podcast
from News Talks at me.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
So, off the top of your head, where do you
reckon the Wallabies currently sit in the world rankings. Sure,
they're behind US, Okay, they're behind South Africa obviously, but
they are also languishing behind Scotland. They're languishing behind Italy.
Would you believe Yeah? According to World Rugby, the Wallabies
of September twenty twenty four are the ninth best national

(00:35):
team in men's rugby. They only just squeak in ahead
of Fiji. And it's funny because you know, when I
was a kid, the Blederslow felt like the biggest thing
in rugby outside of a World Cup. Now it probably wasn't.
It was probably me being an excitable kid and thinking,
oh New Zealand versus Australia, blah blah blah. Teests with
South Africa were at least comparable, and Lions tours had

(00:59):
that special prestige. But I would get so worked up
for bledders Lows because they always felt like any team
could win. I still remember epic Blederslow clashes, the John
Eels era, George Gregan in that tackle, you know, Jeff
Wilson spilling the ball as he dived for the line.

(01:19):
The Wallaby's just holding on for Blederslow glory, But what
happened New Zealand. Rugby has had its issue. World rugby
has had its issues, but arguably no country that plays
rugby has experienced anything like the decline that Australia has
experienced over the last twenty or twenty five years. Those

(01:40):
epic Blederslow clashes of the past are very much of
the past. It's twenty two years since Australia last held
the bleders Loow. We now have an elected member of
Parliament in New Zealand who has never seen a Wallaby's
team win it. And get this. According to the Australian
Sports Commission, rugby is now Australia's ninth most popular sport

(02:03):
by participation. Ossie rules has four times as many kids
who play basketball, is five times as popular as rugby
by participation. But not only that, rugby loses out to
badminton in terms of participation, Rugby loses out to rock
climbing in terms of regular participation. There are lots of

(02:26):
things that have probably contributed to it. Right, I always
reckon the private school rugby culture in Australia has probably
isolated the sport from a big slab of the population.
Concern overhead knocks will have impacted participation. The domestic rugby
competition was hollowed out and ultimately scrapped, which means that
the Super Rugby teams are now the only real professional

(02:48):
options for young rugby players. And get this, the AFL
has eighteen teams, the NRL has sixteen Australian teams plus
the Warriors. They'll have that team in Papu and New
Guinea soon too. Super Rugby will now have just four
Australian teams, So no domestic competition and just four teams
in Super Rugby. You know, maybe fewer teams is good,

(03:09):
maybe it's bad. I just think it's I think it's
telling that a city of five million people couldn't sustain
a side. How many people in Melbourne didn't even know
that the Melbourne Rebels were a thing. And you've got
to say that as a TV entertainment product. Sorry, but
the Brumbies versus the Force rarely compares to the thrill

(03:30):
of the NRL. Now, all of this is not to
diminish this evening's game I'm excited, of course I am,
and I'm certainly not hoping for a Wallaby's win. But
ultimately it is in our interest for Australian rugby to
somehow work its way back into something akin to the
force of the past. New Zealand rugby needs much, much

(03:53):
stronger competition from across the ditch. We need. The specter
of potentially losing the bleder is low. And look, maybe
I will eat my words, maybe I will be blushing
come this time tomorrow. But as much as I will
enjoy with the game this evening, right now, it doesn't
feel like all that much of a contest.

Speaker 1 (04:14):
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