Bledisloe III is on shaky ground after New Zealand was forced into a three-day lockdown, with West Australia premier Mark McGowan casting doubt whether the event could go ahead.
Following a sudden occurrence of COVID-19 in Auckland, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern ordered her nation into a sharp level four lockdown to help curb the rise of infections, in response WA has introduced fresh quarantine rules for arriving New Zealanders.
Asked about the upcoming Test on Wednesday, McGowan couldn't say if the game could go ahead as scheduled on August 28 in Perth.
The 'low risk' measures, which come into effect from 1pm Wednesday AWST (3pm AEST, 4pm NZT), will see New Zealanders arriving in Perth forced into two weeks' hotel quarantine.
In order for the match to take place, the All Blacks would require a travel exemption similar to what the Wallabies received to travel to New Zealand, whether that will be granted remains to be seen.
"We are not sure," McGowan told reporters on Wednesday. "Maybe we have to work out some arrangement, or there may be a bubble, or they just have to comply with the rules that exist for everybody else.
"It's a moving situation and it would be disappointing for rugby fans if we are forced t ocancel the game, but that is the nature of the world we live in."
Before the WA government announced their new restrictions, tickets for the even were closed to sold out, with Rugby Australia facing the potential of missing out on more match day revenue similar to the Sydney lockdown which forced the relocation of the Wallabies vs. France opening Test match in June.
Perth was also the potential destination for several other Rugby Championship matches that involve Argentina and the Springboks, but McGowan poured cold water on the plan today.
"I think it would be unlikely, it's not our No.1 priority."
The Wallabies flew into Perth from Auckland on Sunday, leaving New Zealand with their tail between their legs following their horror, record thumping by the All Blacks in Bledisloe II. The loss saw New Zealand retain the Bledisloe Cup for a 19th straight year.
The All Blacks, meanwhile, are scheduled to fly to Perth on Sunday, but the level four lockdown has New Zealand Rugby involved in negotiations to see if that will still happen.
"We will be guided by government travel guidelines and any potential border restrictions in Australia while working closely with SANZAAR and Rugby Australia in coming days to understand what the impact is on our plans," NZR chief executive Mark Robinson said on Monday.
The plan is for the All Blacks to play Argentina in Western Australia on September 11 and 18 and the Springboks on September 25 and October 2 also in Perth, before heading off on their northern hemisphere tour, potentially not returning home for three and a half months.