Sydney to go without Wallabies Test for first time in 44 years
Sydney is set to go without any Test rugby for the first time in 44 years as Rugby Australia prepares to move the Wallabies’ clash with the Springboks to Perth.
Dave Rennie’s side were scheduled to face the world champions at the SCG on Sunday, September 12 but Sydney’s prolonged battle with the latest COVID-19 outbreak has left RA with little choice but to move the match.
It’s the second Test match the SCG will lose this year. The Wallabies were to face France there in the July series opener before the outbreak forced all sport interstate.
It’s also the first time since 1977 â€" when there were no Tests played â€" that Sydney will go without a Wallabies match.
RA is committed to playing more Test rugby in the eastern suburbs and will probably prioritise the SCG and the new Sydney Football Stadium for marquee Tests in the years to come.
But Sydney’s short-term loss is Perth’s gain.
Optus Stadium will host the third and final Bledisloe Cup Test on August 28 and is now firm favourite to host the Springboks on the weekend of September 11-12.
Sources with knowledge of the situation told the Herald that there were two hurdles for RA to clear if they are to host South Africa in Perth.
Firstly, the AFL have first rights to the stadium that weekend, which falls on the second week of the competition’s finals series.
Neither West Coast nor Fremantle are likely to finish high enough on the premiership ladder to host a final that weekend, but if COVID-19 forces the AFL to play other teams’ home games in the safe haven of Western Australia, RA may have to move the match to HBF Park or to another state.
Secondly, the WA government is yet to provide written approval for South Africa and Argentina to enter the state without completing an additional fortnight in quarantine.
In July, the Queensland government allowed France to fly into Brisbane and avoid further quarantine from Sydney as the squad trained in a strict bubble in the 14 days before. The squad were only permitted to leave their hotel rooms to travel to training and back.
South Africa and Argentina will complete near-identical quarantine periods in NSW before they travel to Perth, WA government permitting.
Sam is a sports reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald.
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