Some cynics across the ditch have attempted to frame the release of video footage of the Wallabies visiting the All Blacks' changing room after the Bledisloe 1 draw in Wellington last weekend as a public relations blitz by New Zealand Rugby in order to deflect attention from the recent difficulties between the two rugby nations.
They've got it completely wrong of course because it was the Wallabies who filmed the thing – All Blacks skipper Sam Cane presenting his counterpart Michael Hooper with what he described as "some of New Zealand's best red wine, I'm not sure where it's from", and two teams sharing a moment after one of the best finishes to a Bledisloe Cup test ever.
And regardless, it's difficult to remember a time when the bond between the All Blacks and Wallabies – enemies on the field and occasionally off it but a bond that has been forged in wars no less and one that hopefully will remain forever – has been so important.
While the rest of the world deals with the Covid-19 pandemic – some far better than others – and the United States and United Kingdom flail about in new and increasingly bizarre directions under inherently flawed leadership, while the world champion Springboks delay and likely cancel their departure for the Rugby Championship in Australia and, well, who knows what shape Argentina will turn up in for that, the All Blacks and Wallabies just played a test in front of 31,000 people. There's another coming up this Sunday at Eden Park and the result, truly, could go either way.
![The final score during the Bledisloe Cup match between the New Zealand All Blacks and the Australian Wallabies at Sky Stadium. Photo / Getty Images.](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/TPSPZL2KYFOLKNVNYVPG5Z3WOE.jpg?auth=b51d05dc5f7b6391b82bac7ad976b419c0d8d89de955e156e24b29536becb0d6&width=16&height=11&quality=70&smart=true)