1972 Australia rugby union tour of New Zealand and Fiji

The 1972 Australia rugby union tour of New Zealand and Fiji was a series of thirteen rugby union matches, including three tests, played by the Wallabies in New Zealand, plus a one-off test match played by the Wallabies against the Fijians in Fiji. The tour took place in August and September 1972.[1]

1972 Australia rugby union tour of New Zealand and Fiji
ManagerJoe French
Tour captain(s)Greg Davis
Summary
P W D L
Total
14 06 01 07
Test match
04 01 00 03
Opponent
P W D L
 New Zealand
3 0 0 3
 Fiji
1 1 0 0

The test series in New Zealand was won by the All Blacks with three wins from three matches. The test match in Fiji was won by the Wallabies.[2]

Results

Scores and results list Australia's points tally first.

Opposing TeamForAgainstDateVenueStatus
Otago0265 Aug 1972DunedinTour match[3]
Buller-West Coast10159 Aug 1972WestportTour match[4]
Taranaki201512 Aug 1972New PlymouthTour match[5]
Bay of Plenty6615 Aug 1972TaurangaTour match[6]
New Zealand62919 Aug 1972Athletic Park, WellingtonTest match[7]
King Country13623 Aug 1972TaumarunuiTour match[8]
Hawke's Bay141526 Aug 1972NapierTour match[9]
Nelson Bays26729 Sep 1972NelsonTour match[10]
New Zealand17302 Sep 1972Lancaster Park, ChristchurchTest match[11]
North Otago37125 Sep 1972OamaruTour match[12]
Waikato24269 Sep 1972HamiltonTour match[13]
Poverty Bay-East Coast221912 Sep 1972GisborneTour match[14]
New Zealand33816 Sep 1972Eden Park, AucklandTest match[2]
Fiji211919 Sep 1972National Stadium, SuvaTest match[15]

Squad leadership

The Wallaby squad was captained by Greg Davis described by Howell as "a leader of men who believed a leader should lead....a single minded flanker who gave no quarter and asked for none".[16] Davis was making his seventh and final overseas tour with the Wallabies, his third as captain. Howell writes that for Davis at 33 years and the end of a magnificent career, the seven loss & five win result of the tour was "a disaster and occasioned Davis' retirement".[17] An injury picked up in New Zealand prevented Davis from leading the side in the Test match in Fiji on the way home. Peter Sullivan led the Wallabies to a narrow 21-19 victory against Fiji. He had already captained Australia in two mid-week games during the New Zealand leg. The third Test in New Zealand, a 38-3 romp by the All Blacks was Greg Davis' last match.[17]

Joe French was the Tour Manager. Bob Templeton was the team's coach who carried the traditional touring title of Assistant Manager.[1]

References
  1. "Wallaby manager wants more tours". The Canberra Times. Archived from the original on 1 June 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  2. "Team records Australia between 1 August 1972 and 30 September 1972". espnscrum.com. Archived from the original on 1 June 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  3. "Wallabies thrashed 26–0 by Otago". The Canberra Times. 7 August 1972. Archived from the original on 1 June 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  4. "Combined team thwarts Wallabies' efforts". The Canberra Times. 10 August 1972. Archived from the original on 1 June 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  5. "Wallabies beat Taranaki". The Canberra Times. 13 August 1972. Archived from the original on 1 June 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  6. "NZ team draws with Wallabies". The Canberra Times. 16 August 1972. Archived from the original on 1 June 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  7. "Wallabies go down to All Blacks in first Test". The Canberra Times. 21 August 1972. Archived from the original on 1 June 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  8. "Wallabies triumph in bruising match". The Canberra Times. 24 August 1972. Archived from the original on 1 June 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  9. "Wallabies go down to NZ team 14–15". The Canberra Times. 28 August 1972. Archived from the original on 1 June 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  10. "Bays won the second spell". Nelson Photo News No. 143. 16 September 1972. p. 4. Archived from the original on 1 June 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  11. "Rugby union tests and series won by All Blacks". The Canberra Times. 4 September 1972. Archived from the original on 1 June 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  12. "Wallabies swamp NZ side". The Canberra Times. 6 September 1972. Archived from the original on 1 June 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  13. "Waikato downs Wallabies 26–24". The Canberra Times. 11 September 1972. Archived from the original on 1 June 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  14. "Wallabies beat combined side by 22–19". The Canberra Times. 13 September 1972. Archived from the original on 1 June 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  15. "Wallabies beat Fijians 21–19". The Canberra Times. Archived from the original on 1 June 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  16. Howell p189
  17. Howell p192
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