South Africa ruled OUT as an option as Rugby Championship finds a new venue

The All Blacks will play the third Bledisloe Cup Test in Perth next Saturday, before basing themselves in Queensland for the remainder of the Rugby Championship.

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According to the respected New Zealand Herald website, the tournament, which was originally scheduled to be played in New Zealand and Australia before outbreaks of the Delta variant of Covid-19 forced a last-minute rethink, will proceed as planned Down Under – despite interest in hosting it in Europe and South Africa.

New Zealand Rugby came in for fierce criticism for deciding against leaving for Perth at the weekend after failing to secure assurance from Rugby Australia that the Rugby Championship would go ahead.

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With New Zealand’s borders shut amid a nationwide lockdown due to the most recent community outbreak, the All Blacks face up to 15 weeks away from home.

The Herald understands it was confirmed at a SANZAAR board meeting on Monday night that the final Test in the Bledisloe Cup will be played at Opta Stadium in Perth on September 4.

The Test will double as the All Blacks and Wallabies’ second clash in the Rugby Championship.

The All Blacks have already retained the Bledisloe Cup for an incredible 19th-straight year.

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The All Blacks will then depart for Queensland for the rest of the Rugby Championship after the state government agreed to have the travelling South African and Argentinian teams quarantine there.

Late last week, NZ Rugby cited the continued uncertainty surrounding whether Europe, Queensland or South Africa would host the four-nation tournament as the rationale for not sending the All Blacks over the weekend.

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