Wallabies head to Eden Park fortress to end 23-year Bledisloe wait
Australia have not held the Bledisloe Cup for 23 years. To get it back, they must first win somewhere they have not won since 1986: Eden Park.
The first Test of this year's two-match series is at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday 10 October, according to the All Blacks. The return leg will be at Accor Stadium in Sydney. Kick-off in Auckland is at 5:10pm AEDT, with coverage from 4:00pm AEDT Rugby.com.au.
It is one of the toughest away days in world rugby. New Zealand are unbeaten in 53 Tests at Eden Park, a run stretching back to a defeat in 1994. Australia have won only four times at the ground in almost 100 years, most recently in 1986 The Guardian.
Form gives both teams a story. The Wallabies, coached by Les Kiss, beat world champions South Africa in Perth two weeks ago. New Zealand lost their series with South Africa 3-1 after winning the opening match. Another defeat would make it four losses in a row. New Zealand last did that in 1998.
The dugouts add spice. Dave Rennie took over as All Blacks coach in 2026 after three years with Kobe in Japan. He was sacked as Wallabies coach in 2022 to make way for Eddie Jones, and now faces his old team in his first Bledisloe Cup campaign in charge.
Australia have been forced into midfield surgery. Centre Hunter Paisami is suspended, so Isaac Henry starts at inside centre, the hard-running and hard-tackling link between fly-half and the outside backs. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, the former rugby league star, stays on the wing.
New Zealand have more upheaval. Captain Ardie Savea is out injured. At fly-half, the No. 10 who steers the attack, Ruben Love is out for the season after ankle surgery and Richie Mo'unga withdrew in Test week with a calf problem. That pushes Damien McKenzie up from fullback, the last line of defence and counter-attack, to No. 10, with veteran Beauden Barrett returning at No. 15. There is better news at centre, where Quinn Tupaea has recovered from a knee injury.
For fans, this means a classic collision. Australia bring momentum and a settled kicking game. New Zealand bring a fortress record and a patched-up backline under a new coach with a point to prove. In union, where possession is contested at every ruck, scrum and lineout, that set-piece battle will decide who gets front-foot ball.
Win in Auckland, and Australia take the series lead to Sydney with history suddenly in play. Lose, and the All Blacks keep their grip on both Eden Park and the Cup they have owned for a generation.
