If you ever wondered why the Wallabies can’t buy a win in New Zealand, Greg Clark reckons he’s the problem.
The long-time commentator - whose voice became oh so familiar for Kiwi rugby fans during the days Fox Sports in Australia had the rugby rights - has had the pleasure of calling a number of Bledisloe Cup tests between the trans-Tasman foes.
But witnessing winning tests on enemy territory? That's a bit more foreign.
Clark joined Tony Johnson on the DSPN, and mentioned how he and a few former colleagues were reminiscing about the famed international rivalry.
“They’re trying to blame me. They’re saying I’m the jinx because we never called a Wallaby victory over an All Black side on New Zealand soil,” Clark admitted with a laugh. “I had a look this week. I actually called 13 Bledisloe Cups at Eden Park and the Wallabies lost all of them.”
0-13… certainly not an ideal statistic, and one that would incline Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt to keep Clarkie as far away from Eden Park this coming weekend as possible.
But the longtime commentator has a solution to break the hoodoo - step away from the microphone.
“I’m not calling this weekend, but I am there in the crowd. I’m going over because if we ever win at Eden Park, I want to be there.”
Fair play - if the Wallabies do somehow topple the All Blacks on Saturday, Clark will be celebrating like he scored the match-winner himself. And perhaps, just perhaps, the jinx will finally be lifted.
Sitting atop the Rugby Championship, Australia’s typical confidence when it comes to sport is finally converting into good performances on the pitch. Coach Joe Schmidt has them on course, though whether it’s a short-term surge or a long-term turnaround remains to be seen.
Clark’s Eden Park memories stretch right back to the golden days when the Wallabies managed the unthinkable.
“I was there in 1986 when the Alan Jones-coached Wallabies won the Bledisloe - the last Australian team to win at Eden Park,” he recalled. The likes of Michael Lynagh and David Campese, legends of Australian rugby, guided the team to a famous win that day.
New Zealand won the Bledisloe Cup off the Aussies in 2003, and haven’t looked back.
“It was disappointing because it was the end of what they called a golden era for Wallaby rugby. We held it for five years in a row, which is pretty much unheard of from an Australian point of view,” Clark added.
“At the time we thought, okay, maybe the All Blacks will have it for another year or two and then we’ll bounce back. Well, we’re still trying to bounce back.
“My son played some Super Rugby and he never won at Eden Park, so we’re both going to be over there. We’ll be wearing our gold caps in the crowd this time, and I just want to get the jinx off the Wallabies’ back and my back."
That’s the thing about the Bledisloe - it’s as much about psychology as it is about tactics. Clark knows it too. “It’s just been so hard to beat New Zealand on New Zealand soil.”
For all the humour, you can hear the genuine yearning in Clark’s voice. He’s desperate to see another Wallaby triumph, even if it’s just once more at Eden Park. After all, an entire generation of Australian rugby fans have grown up without seeing their side hold the trophy.
“There are a lot of kids who have been born, played rugby all the way through the last 20 odd years, who have never seen the Bledisloe Cup on Australian soil,” Clark lamented.
So maybe, just maybe, Greg Clark in the stands rather than in the commentary box is the charm the Wallabies need. 14th time lucky? Stranger things have happened.
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