Cape Town - Perhaps fearing the worst, only 600 000 Australians watched the Bledisloe match between the Wallabies and All Blacks on TV last Saturday, according to the Stuff website.
The Wallabies entered the match, which also doubled as the opener to the 2017 Rugby Championship, as heavy underdogs, and we duly dispatched 54-34 as the All Blacks ran riot in the opening half, rewriting the record books.
The match in Sydney was watched by just 371 000 metro free-to-air viewers. Adding in the pay TV audience, the number was still a disappointing 600 000.The match rated ninth in free-to-air programmes, being beaten by three news bulletins, two AFL games, and episodes of Father Brown, Shetland and Gardening Australia.
The two sides will do battle once again this Saturday in Dunedin.
Kick-off is at 09:35 SA time.