Joubert builds to Bledisloe

Craig Joubert is again off to Australia, again for a big match, this one bigger than usual and he spoke to us about it.

And so for the fifth time this year I board Qantas 64 for Sydney and back to my favourite hotel in the world, the Crowne Plaza in Coogee, Sydney. This time I’m back on Bledisloe Cup duty and I’ve been allocated the corner suite with a giant private balcony overlooking Coogee Bay.

Eight Years ago (just after the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games) I first came to Australia and one of the first activities I took was a tour of the Olympic Stadium to see this modern day Coliseum where the Olympic fame still flickered and the ghosts of the “best games ever” still lingered. Never did I think that I would take to that hallowed ground years later to referee a Bledisloe Test match in front of 80,000 people.

I land on Monday afternoon and take my usual steps to try and avoid jet lag, a gentle run on the beach and a swim in the ice cold sea. The press in Australia are already starting to talk up the first Bledisloe Cup Test Match of 2008 and are pitting it as a battle between All Black coach Graham Henry and Wallabies coach, Kiwi and ex-All Black, Robbie Deans.

I have run touch in five Bledisloe Cup Test matches before, including two at the ANZ Stadium in Sydney (The Olympic Stadium renamed), and so I have some idea as to what to expect. It is nevertheless a huge moment for me to be refereeing my first Tri-Nations and Bledisloe Cup Test match. I can’t help but think of the history of this fixture and some of my countrymen who have refereed some of the most memorable games between these two teams – André Watson refereed the game at this very Stadium dubbed “the game played in heaven” where a late Lomu try sealed the game for the All Blacks, Tappe Henning refereed in what was John Eales’s last game, also at this very Stadium, where a dramatic late try by the Wallabies stole a win and Jonathan Kaplan refereed an almighty struggle in Wellington where a sensational last penalty by John Eales gave the Wallabies a rare win “across the ditch”. It will be a special moment to walk in their footsteps and referee such a special Test match.

Sydney holds a special place in my heart. I refereed my first Super 12 game here and have gone on to referee nine more Super 12/14 games in this Harbour City. I love Coogee with its great beach and cafes, Tuesday night poker tournament and the Coast golf course nearby perched atop the cliffs with sensational views out over the Pacific Ocean.

This is the moment I have been waiting for, refereeing a Bledisloe Cup Test match in my favourite city.