Aisle be Back: Bledisloe Cup, NPC Week One and Meads

No-one wants to say it's on its way. But Bledisloe Cup, you are on the way out.

Another Saturday, another 50 point drubbing. The so-called symbol of Trans-Tasman supremacy is getting more devalued with every passing season.

The crowds are dwindling in Aussie, and strip out the expats, it would be even worse. And let's face it, neither they, nor All Blacks fans here, are turning out in anticipation of a contest.

Instead it's to watch the All Blacks.

For all the artistry and skill on display in the first half, it is getting to be tedious. Compare that to the drama of the Lions series, and the Bledisloe is even more shabby, without the chic.

The All Blacks say the Bledisloe is very important to them, but I'm starting not to care. Watching the Wallabies three times a year is maybe twice too often. And how exactly are they benefitting from having to face the world’s best, and get another morale sapping loss – or three – a season.

So what's to be done, given the obvious solution - make the Aussies competitive - isn't anything like a quick fix.

Forget the idea of a Kiwi coach walking in. They tried that, they hated that, and it made no discernable difference.

Forget the idea that four teams, not five, in Super rugby will alchemise into a better Wallabies side in short order.

So what could we do?

Well, let's try and save the Bled first, And that means making it at most a two-test series. Yes, that favours the holders, but it made it all the more desirable.

Even try having it up only once per season, when the holder is hosting the non-holder.

That would make it a bit more of a lottery, and that would make it even more interesting. Instead we have familiarity that breeds contempt.

Longer term, New Zealand should be thinking how it can help resuscitate the Australian game. Yeah, I know that may seem crazy to some.

Yet without a viable Wallabies side, we're eventually going to risk a slide in our own standards. And we won't recognise that until it's too late.

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No complaints about the entertainment factor from the Lions as they opened with an exciting win away over the Turbos on Sunday.

It may not be Julian Savea or Nehe Milner-Skudder’s ideal path at this point in the season, but provincial rugby benefits when the stars are in the mix and reminding you of what won them higher honours In the first place.

 It’s a shame it couldn’t happen more often.

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Is there anyone in New Zealand who didn’t shake the hand of Colin Meads?

I did with a mate one Saturday post-test, when we spotted him returning to the All Blacks hotel in Wellington.

He was of course unfailingly gracious to be accosted. And offered an obligatory comment about how “the boys” had gone.

And then he was off. Probably to be accosted yet again by someone else.

That’s what legends do. Thanks Mr Meads.

 Lifelong All Blacks supporter Kev has followed the Hurricanes since they began. Last year his faith in them was rewarded when they won the title – they've missed out in 2017, but he'll be back!