1996 New Zealand rugby union tour of South Africa

The 1996 New Zealand rugby union tour of South Africa was a historic tour in the history of New Zealand rugby. The All Blacks won the test series 2–1 and became known as the incomparables for their feat of winning a series in South Africa for the first time.

1996 New Zealand rugby union tour of South Africa
Coach(es)J Hart
Tour captain(s)Sean Fitzpatrick
Summary
P W D L
Total
08 06 01 01
Test match
04 03 00 01
Opponent
P W D L
 South Africa
3 2 0 1

The Rivalry

The Springboks and the All Blacks have been typically regarded by many as the two greatest rugby playing nations of all time.[1] New Zealand and South Africa had clashed in many tours over time which had been hotly contested. This included the controversial 1981 tour. The All Blacks had never beaten South Africa in a full-scale test series in South Africa. This was seen as the only blemish on the All Blacks record. All Black sides of 1928, 1949, 1960, 1970 and 1976 had all failed to beat South Africa away from home. The rivalry has always been hotly contested. 1996 was the year professionalism was introduced into rugby union meaning the creation of the new Tri nations and Super 12. As of 2015 no further full-scale tours have occurred between New Zealand and South Africa.

More recently the All Blacks had clashed with South Africa in the 1995 Rugby World Cup Final. The All Blacks lost that match but coming into this tour they had won the 1996 Tri Nations Series in the process beating South Africa twice.

The Tour

The All Blacks and South Africa played four test matches; the first was the final match of the 1996 Tri Nations Series. The next three was for the test series which the All Blacks won 2–1.

1st Test
17 August 1996
New Zealand  23–19 South Africa
Tries: Brooke
Cullen
Wilson
Con: Culhane
Pen: Culhane (2)		 Tries: D. van Schalkwyk
Con: Stransky
Pen: Stransky (4)
King's Park, Durban
Attendance: 52,000[2]
Referee: D. Mene (France)

2nd Test
24 August 1996
New Zealand  33–26 South Africa
Tries: Brooke
Wilson (2)
Con: Culhane (3)
Pen: Culhane (2) Jon Preston (2) DG: Brooke		 Tries: Kruger
Strydom
van der Westhuizen
Con: Stransky
Pen: Stransky (3)
Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Attendance: 51,000[3]
Referee: D. Mene (France)

3rd Test
31 August 1996
New Zealand  22–32 South Africa
Tries: Fitzpatrick
Little
Marshall
Con: Merthens (2)
Pen: Merthens		 Tries: Joubert
van der Westhuizen (2)
Con: Honiball
Pen: Honiball (2)
Joubert (3)
Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Attendance: 63,000[4]
Referee: W. D. Bevan (Wales)

Matches
Scores and results list New Zealand's points tally first.
Opposing TeamForAgainstDateVenueStatus
Boland Invitation XV32216 August 1996Esselen Park, WorcesterTour Match
South Africa291810 August 1996Newlands, Cape TownTri Nations
Eastern Province312313 August 1996Boet Erasmus Stadium, Port ElizabethTour Match
South Africa231917 August 1996King's Park, DurbanTest Match
Western Transvaal31020 August 1996Olën Park, PotchefstroomTour Match
South Africa332624 August 1996Loftus Versfeld, PretoriaTest Match
Griqualand West181827 August 1996Hoffe Park, KimberleyTour Match
South Africa223231 August 1996Ellis Park, JohannesburgTest Match

[5]

The squad

1. S.D. Culhane 2. J.P. Preston 3. M.J. A. Cooper 4. J.W. Wilson 5. Z.V. Brooke 6. S.J. McLeod 7. O.F. J. Tonu'u 8. A.P. Mehrtens 9. A.F. Blowers 10. C.M. Cullen 11. S.B. T. Fitzpatrick 12. A. Ieremia 13. B.P. Larsen 14. W.K. Little 15. J.T. Lomu 16. J.W. Marshall 17. G.M. Osborne 18. E.J. Rush 19. C.J. Spencer 20. M.R. Allen 21. C.K. Barrell 22. T.J. Blackadder 23. R.M. Brooke 24. O.M. Brown 25. F.E. Bunce 26. P.H. Coffin 27. C.S. Davis 28. C.W. Dowd 29. N.J. Hewitt 30. I.D. Jones 31. M.N. Jones 32. J.A. Kronfeld 33. J.T. F. Matson 34. A.D. Oliver 35. T.C. Randell 36. G.L. Taylor[6]

See also

References
  1. http://www.sportingo.com/rugby-union/a8974_worlds-greatest-rugby-nation-its-all-black-white-despite-south-african-australian-claims
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2 June 2010. Retrieved 28 March 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2 June 2010. Retrieved 28 March 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2 June 2010. Retrieved 28 March 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. Mick Cleary and John Griffiths, ed. (1997). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1997–98. London: Headline Book Publishing. ISBN 0 7472 7732 X.
  6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 27 September 2012. Retrieved 28 March 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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