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All Blacks and Wallabies to stage an another Bledisloe Cup match on foreign soil
By Peter Thompson
New Zealand and Australia will travel to Japan for the third and final Bledisloe Cup match of the series on October 27.
The trans-Tasman rivals will lock horns at Nissan Stadium in Yokohama in what could be a decider.
It will be the second time the country has staged a Bledisloe Cup contest between the world champions and the Wallabies, the two nations having previously faced each other at the National Stadium in Tokyo nine years ago.
New Zealand Rugby chief executive Steve Tew said: "We're delighted to confirm that a Bledisloe Cup Test match will be played in Japan for the second time in the history of this great rivalry.
"The last match in 2009 was a fantastic event but this year's Test at the 72,000-seat stadium in Yokohama will be at another level. The All Blacks have huge support in Japan so the Bledisloe Cup Test will be important for the team as we build support ahead of Rugby World Cup 2019."
Rugby Australia CEO Raelene Castle added: "We are looking forward to returning to Japan in October for what will be an incredible event, with one of the greatest rivalries in our game being fought out a year before the same venue hosts the Rugby World Cup final.
"The Bledisloe Cup clash at Yokohama offers a great opportunity for the Wallabies to play a major Test on Japanese soil in the lead up to the Rugby World Cup and will build the excitement in the host nation ahead of the showpiece event next September."
The first Bledisloe Cup Test - and Rugby Championship opener - will be staged in Sydney on August 18, with the second taking place at Eden Park a week later.
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Who would you have played at 10 with Richie Mo'unga gone and Fergus Burke not available till late in the season ? Scott Barrett hardly played, Sam Whitelock was overseas. There were injuries amongst the replacements. The fairy story that Robertson would have won in this situation is a exactly that a fairy story. We went within a whisker of getting in the play offs late in the season, because we had Fergus Burke, Blackadder others back. Codie Taylor made a big impact when he came back from his sabbatical. Hopefully he will be the captain next year, Codie has had a great season since returning to the Crusaders and for the All Blacks.
Go to commentsEarned a 9.5 with top game overall though Tk while Italians were allowed to crowd breakdown without penalty often. We do have Love with two tries in 4 Test 😎minutes on field!
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