History of rugby union matches between Australia and New Zealand
The first clash in rugby union between Australia and New Zealand took place in a test match on 15 August 1903 in Sydney, New South Wales. On that occasion, New Zealand won 22–3.
Since 1931, the overall winner of the annual test matches (between one and four games in any given year) between the All Blacks and the Wallabies takes possession of the Bledisloe Cup, named after Lord Bledisloe, who donated the trophy.
Summary
The summary below is for all matches where test caps were awarded by both national unions, which leaves out all 24 meetings from 1920 to 1928, in which the governing New Zealand Rugby Union fielded the second level New Zealand XV team rather than the highest All Blacks team. The Australian Rugby Union retroactively awarded test status caps to its own players for those matches.
Overall
Details | Played | Won by Australia |
Won by New Zealand |
Drawn | Australia points | New Zealand points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
In Australia | 86 | 28 | 52 | 6 | 1346 | 1766 |
In New Zealand | 78 | 15 | 61 | 2 | 959 | 1742 |
Neutral venue | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 112 | 152 |
Overall | 170 | 45 | 117 | 8 | 2417 | 3660 |
As of: 7 Nov. 2020
Records
Note: Date shown in brackets indicates when the record was or last set.
Record | Australia | New Zealand |
---|---|---|
Longest winning streak | 3 (5 Aug 2000 – 13 Jul 2002) | 10 (2 Aug 2008 – 30 Oct 2010) |
Largest points for | ||
Home | 47 (10 August 2019) | 51 (23 August 2014) |
Away | 33 (19 October 2013) | 54 (19 August 2017) |
Largest winning margin | ||
Home | 21 (10 August 2019) | 37 (6 July 1996) |
Away | 15 (29 August 1964) | 38 (31 October 2020) |
Most aggregate points | ||
88 (Australia 34–54 New Zealand) (19 August 2017) | ||
Rugby Championship era (2012–)
Starting in 2012, the Tri Nations competition was renamed The Rugby Championship, and now includes Argentina.
Tri Nations and the professional era (1996–2011)
![](../I/All_Blacks_Wallabies.jpg.webp)
The professional era in rugby union began in 1995, marked by creation of the SANZAR group (a combination of South Africa, New Zealand and Australia)[1] which was formed with the purpose of selling TV rights for two new competitions, the domestic Super 12 competition and the Tri-Nations.[1]
The first Tri-Nations was contested in 1996, with New Zealand winning all four of their Tests to take the trophy.[2]
In 2000 in Sydney, a record crowd of 109,874 witnessed what some have called 'The Greatest Ever Rugby Match' when the All Blacks defeated The Wallabies 39-35. Twenty one days after their win in Sydney, the All Blacks lost to the Wallabies in front of a home crowd. This meant the Wallabies won The Bledisloe Cup for the third year in a row.
Another one of the most dramatic matches was played on 1 September 2001 at Stadium Australia, in what would be Wallaby great John Eales' last ever test. The Wallabies were hoping to send their skipper off in a grand style. A fairy tale ending was looking possible in the first half as the Wallabies took a 19-6 lead over the All Blacks. However, tries for Doug Howlett and Pita Alatini, along with Andrew Mehrtens kicking, saw the All Blacks back in front 26-22. Then, in the dying moments of the game No.8 Toutai Kefu scored the winning try for the Wallabies. Two years later in 2003 the Wallabies suffered one of their most humiliating losses, being defeated 21-50 by the All Blacks in Sydney.
In 2008, a Bledisloe Cup match was played in Hong Kong,[3] which New Zealand won 19-14.[4] It was rumoured that the United States and Japan would host future Bledisloe Cup matches,[5] and these rumours proved true in the case of Japan, as Tokyo hosted a 2009 Bledisloe match.
The first two Tests of the 2010 series saw the All Blacks extend their winning streak over the Wallabies to 10 games. (Australia's last previous win came on 26 July 2008 at Sydney.) The third and fourth tests were extremely tight affairs, both being won by late tries. In the Sydney test on 11 September, converted tries by Richie McCaw and Kieran Read in the last 13 minutes allowed the All Blacks to overcome a 9-22 deficit. The win saw New Zealand complete a 100% record in the 2010 Tri-Nations. On 30 October 2010 the sides contested the now-customary fourth annual Bledisloe Cup test at a neutral venue. As in 2009, the match was played in Hong Kong, and as on 11 September the game was won with a dramatic late comeback. On this occasion the Wallabies, having led early in the match, found themselves 19-24 down as the hooter went, but with possession in the All Black 22. The Wallabies recycled through numerous phases of possession, until finally the ball was passed wide to James O'Connor, who beat the scrambling All Black defence to touch down and level the scores. The 20-year-old winger then kicked the resulting conversion to win the match for the Wallabies, ending New Zealand's recent domination of the fixture.
Subsequently, (2011–14) the All Blacks have won eight of the last eleven games played, with two drawn, continuing their domination. This included a crucial 20-6 victory over the Wallabies in the 2011 World Cup Semi-final to enable to All Blacks to progress to the final and subsequently win the World Cup.
On 17 August 2013 the All Blacks celebrated their 100th win over the Wallabies in emphatic style with a 47-29 victory in Sydney. After a shock 12-12 draw in Sydney in the first game of the 2014 series, which ended the All Blacks' attempt at the record of 18 wins straight for a major rugby nation team, the All Blacks posted their highest ever score against Australia with a 51-20 victory at Eden Park on 23 August 2014.
Results
Pre World War I
The first Test between Australia and New Zealand was played on 15 August 1903 at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Despite the Wallabies losing 22–3[6] this tour greatly increased the popularity of rugby and large crowds started attending grade matches in Sydney and Brisbane. New Zealand winger Billy Wallace scored 13 of their 22 points.
No. | Date | Venue | Score | Winner | Competition |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 15 August 1903 | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney | 3–22 | ![]() |
|
2 | 2 September 1905 | Tahuna Park, Dunedin | 14–3 | ![]() |
|
3 | 20 July 1907 | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney | 6–26 | ![]() |
|
4 | 3 August 1907 | Woolloongabba Ground, Brisbane | 5–14 | ![]() | |
5 | 10 August 1907 | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney | 5–5 | draw | |
6 | 25 June 1910 | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney | 0–6 | ![]() |
|
7 | 27 June 1910 | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney | 11–0 | ![]() | |
8 | 2 July 1910 | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney | 13–28 | ![]() | |
9 | 6 September 1913 | Athletic Park, Wellington | 30–5 | ![]() |
|
10 | 13 September 1913 | Carisbrook, Dunedin | 25–13 | ![]() | |
11 | 20 September 1913 | Lancaster Park, Christchurch | 5–16 | ![]() | |
12 | 18 July 1914 | Sydney Sports Ground, Sydney | 0–5 | ![]() |
|
13 | 1 August 1914 | Woolloongabba Ground, Brisbane | 0–17 | ![]() | |
14 | 15 August 1914 | Sydney Sports Ground, Sydney | 7–22 | ![]() |
XV results
From 1920 to 1928, 24 matches took place for which Australia retrospectively awarded test caps and test match status. New Zealand did not award test caps. Out of these 24 matches, Australia won 6 to New Zealand's 18.
Between wars
Australia's last Test before World War I was against New Zealand in July 1914. The sports authorities in Australia decided it was unpatriotic to play rugby while thousands of young Australian men were being sent overseas to fight. This resulted in competitions all but closed down in New South Wales and Queensland. In Queensland regular competitions did not commence again until 1928. As a result, players switched to rugby league in large numbers. Even though there was no Australia/New Zealand game after the war before 1929, 24 games were held between New South Wales and New Zealand from 1920 to 1928. The results were 18 victories against 6 for the All Blacks with 16 games taking place in Sydney, New South Wales (most of them at the Royal Agricultural Society Ground) and the rest in New Zealand. Those games are counted as Australia/New Zealand on the IRB website. Also 1931 saw the first game played competing for the Bledisloe Cup.
No. | Date | Venue | Score | Winner | Competition |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
15 | 6 July 1929 | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney | 8–9 | ![]() |
|
16 | 20 July 1929 | Exhibition Ground, Brisbane | 17–9 | ![]() | |
17 | 27 July 1929 | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney | 15–13 | ![]() | |
18 | 12 September 1931 | Eden Park, Auckland | 20–13 | ![]() |
|
19 | 2 July 1932 | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney | 22–17 | ![]() |
1932 Bledisloe Cup |
20 | 16 July 1932 | Exhibition Ground, Brisbane | 3–21 | ![]() | |
21 | 23 July 1932 | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney | 13–21 | ![]() | |
22 | 11 August 1934 | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney | 25–11 | ![]() |
1934 Bledisloe Cup |
23 | 25 August 1934 | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney | 3–3 | draw | |
24 | 5 September 1936 | Athletic Park, Wellington | 11–6 | ![]() |
1936 Bledisloe Cup |
25 | 12 September 1936 | Carisbrook, Dunedin | 38–13 | ![]() | |
26 | 23 July 1938 | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney | 9–24 | ![]() |
1938 Bledisloe Cup |
27 | 6 August 1938 | Exhibition Ground, Brisbane | 14–20 | ![]() | |
28 | 13 August 1938 | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney | 6–14 | ![]() |
Post War (1946–1974)
The first Test following World War Two was played at Carisbrook, Dunedin between Australia and New Zealand in 1946, which New Zealand won 31–8. Australia did not win on the three match tour; beaten 20–0 by New Zealand Maori, and then losing 14–10 to the All Blacks the following week. The 1949 tour witnessed an infamous All Blacks record – the loss of two Test matches on the same day. This was made possible because New Zealand's first team (and best 30 players) were touring South Africa at the same time. On the afternoon of 3 September New Zealand captained by J. B. (Johnny) Smith was beaten 11–6 by The Wallabies in Wellington.[7] On 23 September New Zealand also lost their second Test, 16–9, which gave the Wallabies the Bledisloe Cup for the first time.
No. | Date | Venue | Score | Winner | Competition |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
29 | 14 September 1946 | Carisbrook, Dunedin | 31–8 | ![]() |
1946 Bledisloe Cup |
30 | 28 September 1946 | Eden Park, Auckland | 14–10 | ![]() | |
31 | 14 June 1947 | Exhibition Ground, Brisbane | 5–13 | ![]() |
1947 Bledisloe Cup |
32 | 28 June 1947 | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney | 14–27 | ![]() | |
33 | 3 September 1949 | Athletic Park, Wellington | 6–11 | ![]() |
1949 Bledisloe Cup |
34 | 24 September 1949 | Eden Park, Auckland | 9–16 | ![]() | |
35 | 23 June 1951 | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney | 0–8 | ![]() |
1951 Bledisloe Cup |
36 | 7 July 1951 | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney | 11–17 | ![]() | |
37 | 21 July 1951 | Woolloongabba Ground, Brisbane | 6–16 | ![]() | |
38 | 6 September 1952 | Lancaster Park, Christchurch | 9–14 | ![]() |
1952 Bledisloe Cup |
39 | 13 September 1952 | Athletic Park, Wellington | 15–8 | ![]() | |
40 | 20 August 1955 | Athletic Park, Wellington | 16–8 | ![]() |
1955 Bledisloe Cup |
41 | 3 September 1955 | Carisbrook, Dunedin | 8–0 | ![]() | |
42 | 17 September 1955 | Eden Park, Auckland | 3–8 | ![]() | |
43 | 25 May 1957 | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney | 11–25 | ![]() |
1957 Bledisloe Cup |
44 | 1 June 1957 | Exhibition Ground, Brisbane | 9–22 | ![]() | |
45 | 23 August 1958 | Athletic Park, Wellington | 25–3 | ![]() |
1958 Bledisloe Cup |
46 | 6 September 1958 | Lancaster Park, Christchurch | 3–6 | ![]() | |
47 | 20 September 1958 | Epsom Showgrounds, Auckland | 17–8 | ![]() | |
48 | 26 May 1962 | Exhibition Ground, Brisbane | 6–20 | ![]() |
1962 Bledisloe Cup |
49 | 4 June 1962 | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney | 5–14 | ![]() | |
50 | 25 August 1962 | Athletic Park, Wellington | 9–9 | draw | |
51 | 8 September 1962 | Carisbrook, Dunedin | 3–0 | ![]() | |
52 | 22 September 1962 | Eden Park, Auckland | 16–8 | ![]() | |
53 | 15 August 1964 | Carisbrook, Dunedin | 14–9 | ![]() |
1964 Bledisloe Cup |
54 | 22 August 1964 | Lancaster Park, Christchurch | 18–3 | ![]() | |
55 | 29 August 1964 | Athletic Park, Wellington | 5–20 | ![]() | |
56 | 19 August 1967 | Athletic Park, Wellington | 29–9 | ![]() |
1967 Bledisloe Cup |
57 | 15 June 1968 | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney | 11–27 | ![]() |
1968 Bledisloe Cup |
58 | 22 June 1968 | Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane | 18–19 | ![]() | |
59 | 19 August 1972 | Athletic Park, Wellington | 29–6 | ![]() |
1972 Bledisloe Cup |
60 | 2 September 1972 | Lancaster Park, Christchurch | 30–17 | ![]() | |
61 | 16 September 1972 | Eden Park, Auckland | 38–3 | ![]() | |
62 | 25 May 1974 | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney | 6–11 | ![]() |
1974 Bledisloe Cup |
63 | 1 June 1974 | Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane | 16–16 | draw | |
64 | 8 June 1974 | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney | 6–16 | ![]() |
Full amateur tours (1978–1995)
No. | Date | Venue | Score | Winner | Competition |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
65 | 19 August 1978 | Athletic Park, Wellington | 13–12 | ![]() |
1978 Bledisloe Cup |
66 | 26 August 1978 | Lancaster Park, Christchurch | 22–6 | ![]() | |
67 | 9 September 1978 | Eden Park, Auckland | 16–30 | ![]() | |
68 | 28 July 1979 | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney | 12–6 | ![]() |
1979 Bledisloe Cup |
69 | 21 June 1980 | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney | 13–9 | ![]() |
1980 Bledisloe Cup |
70 | 28 June 1980 | Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane | 9–12 | ![]() | |
71 | 12 July 1980 | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney | 26–10 | ![]() | |
72 | 14 August 1982 | Lancaster Park, Christchurch | 23–16 | ![]() |
1982 Bledisloe Cup |
73 | 28 August 1982 | Athletic Park, Wellington | 16–19 | ![]() | |
74 | 11 September 1982 | Eden Park, Auckland | 33–18 | ![]() | |
75 | 20 August 1983 | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney | 8–18 | ![]() |
1983 Bledisloe Cup |
76 | 21 July 1984 | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney | 16–9 | ![]() |
1984 Bledisloe Cup |
77 | 4 August 1984 | Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane | 15–19 | ![]() | |
78 | 18 August 1984 | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney | 24–25 | ![]() | |
79 | 29 June 1985 | Eden Park, Auckland | 10–9 | ![]() |
1985 Bledisloe Cup |
80 | 9 August 1986 | Athletic Park, Wellington | 12–13 | ![]() |
1986 Bledisloe Cup |
81 | 23 August 1986 | Carisbrook, Dunedin | 13–12 | ![]() | |
82 | 6 September 1986 | Eden Park, Auckland | 9–22 | ![]() | |
83 | 25 July 1987 | Concord Oval, Sydney | 16–30 | ![]() |
1987 Bledisloe Cup |
84 | 3 July 1988 | Concord Oval, Sydney | 7–32 | ![]() |
1988 Bledisloe Cup |
85 | 16 July 1988 | Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane | 19–19 | draw | |
86 | 30 July 1988 | Concord Oval, Sydney | 9–30 | ![]() | |
87 | 5 August 1989 | Eden Park, Auckland | 24–12 | ![]() |
1989 Bledisloe Cup |
88 | 21 July 1990 | Lancaster Park, Christchurch | 21–6 | ![]() |
1990 Bledisloe Cup |
89 | 4 August 1990 | Eden Park, Auckland | 27–17 | ![]() | |
90 | 18 August 1990 | Athletic Park, Wellington | 9–21 | ![]() | |
91 | 10 August 1991 | Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney | 21–12 | ![]() |
1991 Bledisloe Cup |
92 | 24 August 1991 | Eden Park, Auckland | 6–3 | ![]() | |
93 | 27 October 1991 | Lansdowne Road, Dublin, Ireland | 6–16 | ![]() |
1991 Rugby World Cup |
94 | 4 July 1992 | Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney | 16–15 | ![]() |
1992 Bledisloe Cup |
95 | 19 July 1992 | Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane | 19–17 | ![]() | |
96 | 25 July 1992 | Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney | 23–26 | ![]() | |
97 | 17 July 1993 | Carisbrook, Dunedin | 25–10 | ![]() |
1993 Bledisloe Cup |
98 | 17 August 1994 | Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney | 20–16 | ![]() |
1994 Bledisloe Cup |
99 | 22 July 1995 | Eden Park, Auckland | 28–16 | ![]() |
1995 Bledisloe Cup |
100 | 29 July 1995 | Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney | 23–34 | ![]() |
Professional era (1995–present)
References
- Howitt (2005), pg 7.
- Howitt (2005), pg 170.
- "Hong Kong to host NZ v Australia". BBC Sport. 3 March 2008. Retrieved 3 March 2008.
- "Australia 14-19 New Zealand". BBC Sport. 1 November 2008. Retrieved 8 November 2008.
- "US & Japan may host Bledisloe Cup". BBC Sport. 31 October 2008. Retrieved 8 November 2008.
- "1st All Black Test: 45th All Black Game". allblacks.com. Retrieved 30 October 2006.
- "67th All Black Test : 362nd All Black Game". allblacks.com. Retrieved 8 September 2006.
External links
- Complete List of all Results at ESPN