It’s been dubbed the “Craypot” due its unique design and on the weekend Optus Stadium will be brimming with 60,000 West Aussies, the Wallabies and the All Blacks.
But while an historic clash at Perth’s new showcase venue has the Wallabies pumped as far as a change of Bledisloe Cup battleground goes, they’ll also be hoping a rare change in trans-Tasman scheduling can provide the same impact as previous years, too.
The Wallabies arrived in Perth on Sunday ahead of their first ever Test in the west against New Zealand, on Saturday night.
Judging by a well-attended fan day and the fact the Bledisloe Cup opener was swiftly sold out nine months ago, there will be no shortage of atmosphere at the $820 million venue.
"Some of the Perth boys are calling it the Craypot,” Wallabies captain Michael Hooper said.
"And they’ve been talking about the Fremantle doctor coming through and playing a part. I don’t know whether that comes through at this time of the year but we’ll wait and see.
"It is a change and it is a really exciting one. We’re joking there about names for the stadium, but that stadium looks genuinely awesome.
"From the reports I heard from some of the games played there this year, it looks fantastic and the energy from the fans coming to the game we hear, and we know from what we’re seeing here today, is going to be awesome.”
The clash at Optus Stadium is the first sold-out Bledisloe Cup game since Brisbane in 2006, and a parochial Perth crowd, who’ll mix and match Wallaby gold with Force blue if the fan day was any guide, will be a big boost for Hooper’s men.
But if history is any indication, the fact the Wallabies are not playing the opening Bledisloe Cup game in Sydney as their first Test of the Rugby Championship can also help.
Australia’s rare success against New Zealand in the last dozen years has come when the Wallabies have played at least once before the opening Bledisloe Cup game.
In 2007 the Wallabies beat the Kiwis 20-15 in Melbourne after already playing four Tests. In 2008 they won in Sydney after beating South Africa a week earlier.
In 2010 and in 2011 Australia prevailed over New Zealand late in the season, and in 2015 the Wallabies beat the All Blacks in Sydney after they had played South Africa and Argentina in an altered World Cup-year schedule. In 2017, the Wallabies won the third Test of their Bledisloe Cup series in Brisbane.
Since a deal with the ARU and the NSW Government committed the Wallabies to playing at ANZ Stadium as the first Bledisloe Cup Test, the Wallabies’ best result has been a 12-all draw in 2014.
The Wallabies’ tried to eliminate the going-in-cold factor with a trial game against the Super Rugby XV last year, and while it didn’t have the desired impact, a third-up Test match in a new city with a sold-out stadium shapes as a different kettle of crustacean.
Hooper was quick to point out that both sides head into Perth with a few games under their belts, however; a comment in line with the Wallabies’ aim to give Test rivals no ammunition via way of anything resembling optimism in the media.
"We’ve (had) two games to trial out new things. We have been trying to adjust things in years gone by and your litmus test is the All Blacks straight up,” he said.
"Coming here to play NZ this week with a few games under the belt and a bit more fitness a bit more time together is exciting but they have that as well. So it’s pretty even.”
The All Blacks have been called “rusty” in New Zealand after grinding out a win in Argentina and drawing 16-all with the Springboks.
Coach Steve Hansen has duly indicated he will field his strongest line-up in Perth but Hooper said he’d been impressed with the All Blacks so far this year, and strategically or not, praised the selection experiments of Hansen several times.
"Both teams they’ve put out so far this year look pretty full strength to me,” Hooper said.
"Really impressed they’ve got a duel playmaking role there with Mounga and Barrett. Their set-piece has looked really strong. They’ve tried a few different combinations, as have other teams. Expecting it to be a good Test match.
"They have adjusted some roles with their playmakers, who have looked very sharp. Barrett getting a lot of ball, getting ball in Barrett’s hands. I have been impressed with their resolve, to be able to grind out that first win (in Argentina) and the (Springboks game) could have gone either way.”
The Wallabies take on New Zealand at Optus Stadium, Perth, on Saturday August 10, kicking off at 5;45pm local, 7;45pm AEST, with the Wallaroos-Black Ferns kicking off at 3pm local, 5pm AEST. The Wallabies are LIVE on Network Ten, FOX SPORTS, Kayo Sports and RUGBY.com.au RADIO while the Wallaroos will be shown on FOX SPORTS, Kayo Sports and via RUGBY.com.au RADIO.
