No hope for three-Test Bledisloe

Any hopes of the Bledisloe Cup series played annually between the All Blacks and the Wallabies returning to a three-Test competition were dashed by opposition from the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU).

The NZRU and the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) have been in talks over a return to something akin to the original format.

The plan was to maintain the current system where the Bledisloe Cup holders only having to win one of two games to retain the trophy, with the extra Test used as a warm-up for the All Blacks before their home Test series against the British and Irish Lions next year.

The ARU was optimistic that the extra game would be played at the Telstra Stadium in Sydney in June.

But while the NZRFU were initially interested in returning to a three-Test series, the Sydney Morning Herald reported that there was opposition based on the fact that two of the three of next year's matches would be played in Australia, which board members believed would give the Wallabies an advantage.

But the three-Test series is not entirely scuppered - an extra round of Tri-Nations matches could be part of the SANZAR deal for 2006. This new package will be offered to prospective broadcasters following the expiration of the News Corporation broadcasting deal at the end of next year.

The newspaper also reported that the Springboks would be playing an additional two Test matches against the Wallabies, but where they would find the time is anybody's guess.