Wallabies' 24-year Bledisloe Cup drought extends after All Blacks sweep
Australia's 24-year Bledisloe Cup drought extended after New Zealand won 50-19.
The Wallabies' loss at Eden Park means they have already lost the two-match series. Saturday's return game at Sydney's Accor Stadium is little more than a dress rehearsal rather than a meaningful contest.
No Australian team has won the trophy since 2002 when George Gregan was captain. An entire generation under 25 knows it only as something New Zealand owns.
In that 24-year span, the All Blacks have won 51 individual Tests against Australia's nine, a 14.3 per cent success rate. Seven Australian prime ministers have held office.
Seven different Wallabies coaches have tried and failed. More than 200 players have debuted without experiencing a Bledisloe victory.
Rugby great Tim Horan, now 56, expressed hope the drought could end within the next decade if Australia holds its top players together.
- 24 years
- Years since last Australian win
- More than 200
- Players who debuted without a Bledisloe
- Seven different coaches
- Wallabies coaches who have tried
Why it mattersThe drought represents a generational failure and has become a symbol of the sport's decline in Australia.
AustraliaSaturday's Bledisloe Cup game in Sydney loses its competitive stakes but will still draw significant Australian sports interest as a World Cup warm-up.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
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