Bledisloe Cup Clash: All Blacks Look to Bounce Back from Record Defeat.

Tom Donnelly

The All Blacks face off against the Wallabies in the first Bledisloe Cup test of the year, seeking redemption after a record 43-10 loss to South Africa.
 

“I'm just trying to do a really good job here with the Wallabies and really enjoying it...”

The upcoming Bledisloe Cup match between Australia and New Zealand has taken an intriguing turn, with Australia's coaching staff boasting an unexpected Kiwi connection. Joe Schmidt, the Wallabies' coach, played a pivotal role in guiding the All Blacks to the 2023 World Cup final as a strategist and selector. Now, he's set to plot their downfall at Eden Park, a venue where the hosts have remained unbeaten for 31 years.

Schmidt's team is looking to break a 39-year losing streak at Eden Park, a feat that would be historic, especially given the presence of New Zealanders in key coaching positions. The Wallabies will be without Will Skelton in the starting lineup but will have him available for the second test in Perth. With the Bledisloe Cup on the line, both teams are set for an intense showdown.

Two of Australia's key coaches, Mike Cron and Tom Donnelly, oversee the Wallabies' set-piece. Cron is in charge of the scrum, while Donnelly coaches the line-out. Donnelly, a former All Blacks lock, worked with Cron's nephew Simon at Western Force before joining the Wallabies in July, replacing Geoff Parling.

Donnelly, a former Otago player, will face his home nation for the first time on Saturday. He expressed no mixed emotions about coaching against New Zealand, emphasizing his focus on the match.

“I suppose when you're in professional sports, whatever team you're involved with, you get emotionally invested in it pretty quickly,” the 43-year-old told reporters on Tuesday.

“I'm just trying to do a really good job here with the Wallabies and really enjoying it.

“Preparing to beat an opposition, nothing changes. Just go about my work and make sure that we prepare these boys as best we can so we turn up on Saturday and give a performance that we're really proud of.”

Australia currently tops the Rugby Championship standings, narrowly ahead of South Africa and New Zealand. A bonus-point victory over the All Blacks at Eden Park would not only break Australia's 39-year losing streak at the venue but also eliminate New Zealand from the competition with a round to spare.

The stakes are high for Australian fans, who would relish the opportunity to end the All Blacks' dominance in the Bledisloe Cup. New Zealand has held the trophy since 2003, casting a long shadow over Australian rugby. This year's match presents a chance for Australia to rewrite history and claim the cup for the first time in over two decades.

Landed 📍 Auckland, NZ

NEXT UP
🆚 All Blacks
🗓️ Saturday September 27 | 3:00pm AEST
🏟️ Eden Park, Auckland
📺 @stansportau | @channel9 pic.twitter.com/cwnAOKqHJV

— Wallabies (@wallabies) September 21, 2025

Major Challenges for the Teams:

Australia's Task: Win with a bonus point at Eden Park to knock the All Blacks out of the competition.

New Zealand's Goal: Retain the Bledisloe Cup for a 23rd successive year with a victory over Australia.

Recent Form: The All Blacks are looking to bounce back from a record 43-10 defeat to South Africa, while Australia aims to build on their momentum despite a recent loss to Argentina.

The All Blacks are set to welcome back four key players, including scrumhalf Cameron Roigard, who could help strike a balance between kicking and running games. Meanwhile, Australia will be without injured players Rob Valetini and Will Skelton, with Valetini ruled out of the Eden Park clash due to a calf issue.

With New Zealand the holders, Australia need to win at Eden Park and avoid losing the re-match in Perth a week later, or vice versa, to wrest back the trophy.

Wallabies winger Max Jorgensen was not even born when Australia last held the trophy in 2002 but he will hope to be a part of the team that wins it back, starting with his first Bledisloe test on Saturday.

For Jorgensen, talk of Australia's long drought was not a big feature of their preparations but he said playing better for longer was high on the agenda after slow starts in back-to-back tests against Argentina.

“It's ultimately about becoming an 80-minute team,” he told reporters.

“Putting in an 80-minute performance that we can really be proud of.”

The Wallabies will be without the services of France-based lock Will Skelton for their Rugby Championship match against the All Blacks at Eden Park, but he'll rejoin the team for the rematch in Perth. Skelton's absence will be felt in the upcoming clash, given his significant contributions to the team's set-piece and lineout. However, his return for the Perth match could prove crucial in Australia's bid to wrestle back the Bledisloe Cup.

Vital Details:

• Skelton's Availability: The towering lock will miss the Eden Park test but will be available for the October 4 match in Perth.

• Wallabies' Standings: Australia currently leads the Rugby Championship table on 11 points, one point ahead of South Africa and New Zealand.

• Bledisloe Cup Implications: A bonus-point victory for Australia at Eden Park could knock the All Blacks out of the competition with a round to spare.