An 'outside the square' Bledisloe Cup idea can be a win for Aussie rugby

The Wallabies and All Blacks could face each other on Anzac Day in the coming years. (Getty Images: Matt King) Link copiedShareShare articleThe AFL and NRL have worked hard to achieve the status they enjoy as the pre-eminent football leagues on the domestic stage. Of course, soccer and rugby union have far greater international presence, but their local competitions trail the AFL and NRL by some margin in terms of popularity. The number of marquee events the AFL and NRL offer helps consolidate their footing, with the annual Anzac Day matches among those prominent on their respective calendars. The Collingwood vs Essendon (AFL) and St George Illawarra vs Sydney Roosters (NRL) fixtures attract massive crowds and strong TV viewing figures. Rugby may soon have its best chance to compete in this space, should the proposed Anzac Day Bledisloe Cup Test between the Wallabies and All Blacks get the green light. It is not Rugby Australia's (RA) fault such an event has failed to materialise, as it has backed the idea for a few years. New Zealand Rugby (NZR) has been the stumbling block, but its official position could change as early as this week. NZR has recently expressed support for an Anzac Day Test and it is expected to discuss the proposal further at a board meeting on Thursday. The All Blacks show off the Bledisloe Cup after their victory in Auckland last year. (Getty Images: Phil Walter) Given the rivalry between Australia and New Zealand in rugby, the code is well-placed to stage an annual Test that encapsulates what Anzac Day means to both countries. It may also provide rugby with a "State of Origin moment", meaning a sporting event that has the potential to establish a national footprint. The NRL's State of Origin has moved beyond its heartlands of NSW and Queensland by sparking Australia-wide interest. Last year's series decider, played in Sydney, attracted a national total TV reach of 5.657 million. The total TV national average audience was 3.904 million viewers. To steal a quote from former Australian prime minister Paul Keating, "they are a beautiful set of numbers". Granted, State of Origin's TV figures would likely be out of reach for an Anzac Day Bledisloe Cup Test. But rugby needs to be aspirational and such a match is an ideal opportunity to achieve greater national appeal on an annual basis. As NSW Waratahs coach Dan McKellar said last week: ""Rugby union needs to grow, it needs to think outside the square." The Wallaroos played the Black Ferns on Anzac Day this year. (Getty Images: Albert Perez) As has been mooted, a Wallaroos vs Black Ferns Test is set to be included alongside the proposed Bledisloe Cup match. This should be a priority in any plans devised by RA and NZR, should an agreement be finalised. The two sides met on the evening of Anzac Day this year and enjoyed promising broadcast ratings, finishing 11th on VOZ's April 25 rankings with a total TV national reach of 887,000 viewers. It is not a stretch to describe the Wallaroos as a sleeping giant among Australia's national representative teams. Creating a full-time Wallaroos program is on RA's agenda and increasing their exposure will only boost interest in the team ahead of the 2029 Women's Rugby World Cup, which will be hosted by Australia. Publicly, the Queensland Reds chose to be tactful when reflecting on referee Marcus Playle's performance in their 31-21 loss to the Chiefs in Brisbane. But behind closed doors, they had every right to be seething over several of Playle's decisions in Friday night's Super Rugby Pacific match. The Reds were left disappointed after their loss to the Chiefs. (AAP: Jason O'Brien) The Reds were denied a try on the stroke of half-time when Playle judged Seru Uru to be held up. Playle consulted TMO Glenn Newman and the decision was made to stick with the on-field call, seemingly based off the use of one camera angle. A second camera angle, which was available to the match officials and shown on Stan Sport, suggested Uru may have grounded the ball on or over the line. It deserved further investigation from Playle and Newman. Among the 12-5 penalty count that went against the Reds was a call to ping Josh Flook for an incorrect entry to a ruck inside the home side's 22, when the Chiefs were leading 24-21 in the 78th minute. Flook's indiscretion is not in dispute, but the Reds can feel aggrieved as Playle appeared to have missed Chiefs captain Luke Jacobson illegally going off his feet at the breakdown moments before awarding the penalty to the visitors. The Chiefs opted to take a scrum and scored the match-sealing try through number eight Wallace Sititi from the ensuing play. Reds skipper Fraser McReight was clearly dejected after the match but refused to adopt the "we wuz robbed" approach. "There was so much more we left out on the field that we could have done better and left ourselves in a better position, and we weren't able to do that," McReight told Stan Sport. McRe

An 'outside the square' Bledisloe Cup idea can be a win for Aussie rugby

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