The Wallabies' hopes of ending their long Bledisloe Cup drought have been boosted with this year's third Test to be played on neutral territory in Japan.
New Zealand have chosen to move what would have been their second home fixture on October 27 to Nissan Stadium in Yokohama - where the World Cup final will be held in 2019.
The trans-Tasman rivals last played on Japanese soil in 2009, with the All Blacks winning 32-19.
However, the Wallabies won the most-recent overseas Bledisloe clash 26-24 in 2010 in Hong Kong and, after their near-miss in Dunedin and dead-rubber victory last year in Brisbane, will even more hopeful of snapping their 15-year series losing streak.
"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," Rugby Australia CEO Raelene Castle said.
The Bledisloe opener will be played on August 18 in Sydney, with the return match a week later in Auckland.
The Wallabies will need to win at home - or pull off an unlikely upset at Eden Park - to keep the series alive in Yokohama.
New Zealand also have a Test match against the Brave Blossoms in Tokyo the following weekend.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen is in Japan on a planning visit and fully supports the move.
"It will be great for the team to prepare in two of the Rugby World Cup cities and play at the same venues," he said.
"As well as preparing for a huge Bledisloe Cup Test and another important Test against Japan, it'll also give the team a chance to have a really good 'dummy run' of the facilities, and experience the unique Japanese culture.
"We look forward to again being hosted by the Japanese later in the year."
Share
