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Wallabies-All Blacks is not the only option for an ANZAC day fixture
By Ben Smith
The potential Wallabies-All Blacks ANZAC Day clash was shot down months ago as concerns over the logistics of a mid-season Test ended hopes of a rep fixture on the memorial day.
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But while a Bledisloe clash is dead in the water, it’s not the only option available to fill ANZAC day with some representative rugby union. The commercial intrigue is too high to leave the public holiday empty.
The recently completed Super Rugby W and Aupiki seasons, culminating in a cross-Tasman fixture between the Blues and the Waratahs, means the women’s players are no longer competing at club level.
A Wallaroos-Black Ferns Test on ANZAC Day fills the void for the elite women’s players, while bringing to the table an ANZAC flavour. As either a standalone game or as part of a double-header, this option should be viable.
The Pac Four series kicks off the week after with USA-Canada, with the Wallaroos and Black Ferns starting their campaigns on May 10.
Despite a shorter preparation, surely this fixture could have been played on ANZAC weekend.
If Rugby Australia is keen to put the Wallabies on the field and the All Blacks are not, how about the Maori All Blacks?
The Maori All Blacks rarely get to play, with just two fixtures in 2024, none in 2023 and two in 2022. The fixtures are sporadic, with no anticipation or build-up.
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A Wallabies Test against the Maori All Blacks as an annual fixture on ANZAC Day would no doubt be a success, with the Maori All Blacks more than capable of a competitive game.
The likes Shaun Stevenson and Quinn Tupaea are Maori All Blacks who are trying to find their way back into the All Blacks. A chance to play the Wallabies in a mid-season Test would be a great way to prove their case. Many emerging uncapped players with Maori heritage would be able to test themselves.
Another alternative is to explore a completely new match up reviving rep teams of old.
In July the British & Irish Lions will play an AUNZ composite XV made up of Australian and New Zealand players. This team first played in 1989 during that year’s Lions tour and will be revived.
This unique composite side does not have the same eligibility rules as the All Blacks or Wallabies, opening the door for overseas-based players to join.
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An ANZAC Day clash for the AUNZ XV would be a perfect fit and be a vehicle for ex-Super Rugby players to play rep rugby again in this part of the world.
In 2004 a Pacific Islanders squad made up of Fiji, Samoans, Tongan and Cook Island players toured Australia and New Zealand in the famous red, white and blue strip adopted as a heritage jersey by Moana Pasifika this year.
The likes of Brian Lima, Sereli Bobo, and future All Blacks Sitiveni Sivivatu and Sione Lauaki played for the Pacific Islanders.
The Pacific Islanders against the AUNZ XV on ANZAC Day would be an interesting concept.
Could players such as Joseph Manu, Aaron Smith, Quade Cooper line up for the AUNZ XV opposite Israel Folau, Lima Sopoaga, and Apisalome Vota in the Pacific Islanders team?
Players of that calibre certainly would draw the interest of all rugby fans in the Southern Hemisphere. Negotiations would have to be had to get Japan-based players available with the League One season in full swing.
Nonetheless, Super Rugby Pacific players could potentially fill the void also if the SANZAAR went all-in on a mid-season representative weekend.
A representative fixture on ANZAC Day is possible without a Bledisloe Cup clash, if the unions are prepared to explore other avenues to make it happen.
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It should be Aussie Vs NZ day.
All SR games, and Black Ferns Vs Wallaroos.
Epic. May as well throw a Kiwis Vs Kangaroos game in as well.
Same venue?
Honestly do people actually watch women’s rugby?
Our Ladies need more tough meaningful fixtures like they do in the NH. This would be a good starting point.
Would love to see the ladies in action. This match would certainly be competitive and could easily include match ups between NZ and Aussie mens teams on both sides of the Tasman ( SRP).
Really great idea with a Womens ANZAC clash.
The other obvious option I’ve seen suggested but largely ignored is to line up the mens super rugby draw to have 4 NZ teams and the 4 Australian teams clash that weekend, 2 games in Aus and 2 in NZ. (Moana and Drua can have their own pacific clash that weekend too). The country with most wins are overall winners that year. If its 2 all it goes to points differential, imagine the drama of a last minute try to win the ANZAC weekend for your country. No extra matches or stand-down periods and it would strengtern the super rugby rivalries. With improved Aussie teams the Aus vs NZ rugby rivalry is heating up again too, cash in on it!
Rugby doesn’t need more games, it needs a higher % of games that matter, with something at stake. ANZAC bragging rights in Super Rugby are just that.
Heck a Black Ferns, Wallaroos clash could even be the decider with the prime time spot, (to make it an odd number of games with a guaranteed result) wouldn’t that be great?
We already have that every year Toko man.
I don’t really feel your NZ v Aus Table idea, that’s not what it’s about. It’s not about us v them, it’s about both teams being able to celebrate together, fans share stories etc.
If there is some desire for that type of concept, I’d be inclined to think it would be better to ahve a host city/stadia for the weekend, and fans pick/vote for an anzac team, and the country with the most selections can celebrate harder and take the kudos that year.
Love the last two paragraphs though!
That’s not too far off what Super Rugby does already for the ANZAC weekend, so it wouldn’t be difficult to make an event out of it. They already try to pitch an Australian side against a NZ based team, for example, the Reds vs Blues is starting to become an annual SRP tradition, and there’s also Chiefs vs Force, and Highlanders vs Brumbies, with the Waratahs getting the bye this ANZAC weekend. And there’s also the Pacific match between the Drua and Moana Pasifika on the Saturday
A womens game would be fantastic, Australia would absolutely love it and fill out the stadium.
A Maori AB game would pose exactly the same problems. You could make it mens A sides so that overseas players are available, but currently it is outside any WR window to my understanding, so it would need to be done by WR. Bringing back All Blacks and overseas Wallabies would be one other way to make it a spectacle a lot of fans would want to see.
Love the idea of a womens test match on ANZAC day/weekend.
Would be happy if it was in either country and then then alternate it.
Rugby needs something that weekend of an international flavour.