The first Bledisloe Cup test of the year will be played mid-week, as Rugby Australia confirmed the Wallabies will host the All Blacks in Melbourne on September 15.
As first reported on Friday, the first Bledisloe Cup test of 2022 has been moved in order to avoid clashes with the AFL and NRL finals on the weekend of September 19.
Both the AFL and NRL will be playing their respective finals during that same weekend, leading Rugby Australia officials to panic over the interest in the first Bledisloe Cup test against the All Blacks.
The AFL boasts a large presence in the state of Victoria, while the NRL finals have a strong chance of seeing Melbourne Storm playing a home game on either September 18 or 19, the Friday and Saturday following the now scheduled midweek test.
The All Blacks and Wallabies haven't faced each other in a midweek test since 1994, where Australia took a 20-16 victory in Sydney thanks to a famous try-saving tackle from George Gregan on Jeff Wilson.
Despite the shift of date for the first Bledisloe Cup test, the return fixture will be held at Eden Park on Saturday September 24 - giving both teams nine days to recover and prepare after the midweek encounter.
