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NZ Minister in cheeky Bledisloe Cup dig at Wallabies

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Rugby player performs outrageous pass with American football (0:16)

Former Australia international Quade Cooper throws the ball behind his back in a rather unique style. (0:16)

The Wallabies' Bledisloe Cup drought remains a national sporting embarrassment in Australia, but it seems New Zealand will never grow weary of sticking the boot in when the situation presents itself either.

And why shouldn't they? What's a bit of banter between two close neighbours who are otherwise, outside of the sporting field anyway, the best of friends?

New Zealand Finance and Sport Minister Grant Robertson certainly couldn't help himself during an appearance on Sky Sport's The Breakdown on Tuesday night when the conversation turned to some potential trans-Tasman rugby later this year.

"One of the gags going around was that one of the best things about coronavirus was that the Wallabies would have an unbeaten season," Robertson said with a laugh.

After last year's World Cup flop, and a 4-9 Test season in 2018, many Australians might agree with Robertson, albeit through gritted teeth.

On a more serious note, Robertson reaffirmed the position of both his Government, and that of its Australian counterpart, that a trans-Tasman travel bubble would likely be the first international border to be reinstated amid the coronavirus pandemic

"There's a lot of goodwill to do it. Both countries have done really well compared to the rest of the world in terms of how we've got on top of the virus. [Prime Minister] Jacinda Ardern and Scott Morrison, the Australian Prime Minister, have been talking," Robertson told The Breakdown.

"Both of them recognise it's not going to happen right away. We've got to be really comfortable we're on top of the virus and the last thing either of us would want to be responsible for would be reintroducing it to the other country.

"I've heard Scott Morrison mention from July onwards wouldn't it be great in the second half of the year if we were able to get a decent Bledisloe Cup going.

"I know the cricketers have been talking about getting themselves over there as well. That's what we're working towards."

The Wallabies were due to host two of the three Bledisloe Cup Tests this season - in Melbourne and Brisbane -- giving them their best chance of wrestling the gigantic trophy away from the All Blacks for the first time since 2002.

But ESPN understands there have even been discussions within Rugby Australia [RA] about potentially increasing the series to a five-Test showdown to help drive revenue amid the current COVID-19 crisis.

While hosting three Tests as opposed to two could significantly help pull RA from the brink of insolvency - crowd attendance pending -- it would also make the Wallabies' attempt to regain the Bledisloe Cup all the more difficult.

Perhaps they should think about running that one past incoming Wallabies coach Dave Rennie first?