As many as 4000 tickets remain unsold for Saturday's long-awaited Bledisloe Cup test at ANZ Stadium here, and the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) is seeking answers.
ARU officials still hope a crowd of close to 80,000 will attend the test in the 83,000-capacity western Sydney stadium, but are disappointed Wallabies coach Robbie Deans' first Bledisloe test in charge has not yet sold out.
ARU chief executive John O'Neill said an internet questionnaire to fans would hopefully supply answers.
"The Perth test against the Springboks (last Saturday) attracted the biggest crowd of any code to have played at Subiaco Oval this year," O'Neill said.
"The third match of the Bledisloe Cup series in Brisbane (on September 13) is also selling very strongly.
"At the same time, the Bledisloe Cup match at ANZ Stadium this Saturday night is not sold out.
"That is disappointing. Even though we will have around 80,000 people there -- which is a big crowd by any measure in world sport -- we want to find out why there are tickets remaining two days before the test."
False reports that the match had in fact sold out were also frustrating O'Neill.
Lack of interest from New Zealand was one reason behind the slower sales.
One travel agent who brought 700 fans to the previous Bledisloe Cup match in Sydney in 2005 reported just 50 clients were crossing the Tasman this weekend.
O'Neill felt the historic fourth Bledisloe Cup test in Hong Kong on November 1 was partly to blame, with travelling fans from New Zealand and Australia understood to be saving their dollars to attend that match.
The All Blacks have not felt inclined to do their bit for ticket sales this week, opting to remain in Wellington before flying to Sydney today.
