The greatest Wallaby wins on New Zealand soil
The Wallabies have won only five of their last 20 Test matches and head to New Zealand for their penultimate international before the World Cup with a dire record across the Tasman.
Australia has only won 15 times in 81 matches and hasn’t won on Kiwi soil in 28 matches stretching back to 11 August 2001 when they beat the All Blacks 23-15 at Carisbrook in Dunedin.
Jonah Lomu scored a try in the opening minutes of his 50th Test, but it was downhill for the hosts from there. Against an Australian side that held the World Cup and had just beaten the British and Irish Lions, a penalty try and 18 points from Matthew Burke ensured Australia retained the Bledisloe Cup.
All Blacks captain Anton Oliver was later criticised for turning down a handy penalty that would have secured the All Blacks a bonus point in what was then the Tri-Nations which Australia went on to win.
The Wallabies’ first win in New Zealand was on 20th September 1913 at Lancaster Park, Christchurch. They won the third and final Test of the series 16-5. Dudley Suttor scored two tries for the Wallabies and later served in WWI before working in the orchards. Classic Wallabies noted:
“Dudley Suttor had that great attribute that all top-class wingers need – speed – and he could use his extreme pace to fashion scoring chances where none seemed to exist.”
Australia is paying $23 on the TAB to win on Saturday.
29th August 1964 at Athletic Park, Wellington, 20-5
Australia wasn’t given much chance of winning the third Test in 1964. They’d lost the previous two Tests and struggled past Bush 19-13 in their final midweek fixture.
However, Men and Black reported, “It was soon obvious that the Wallaby team, playing with great resolution, were going to be difficult to beat.”
The only points of the first half were a try scored by winger Stewart Boyce. Peter Johnson won a tighthead and brilliant halfback Ken Catchpole caught the All Blacks short on the blindside.
A penalty to fullback to Terry Cassey doubled the Wallabies advantage before first-five Peter Murdoch scored for New Zealand after receiving a pass from halfback Des Connor who represented both countries.
A turning point was at 6-5 when Phil Hawthorne nailed a 40-metre drop goal. The lethargic All Blacks pack couldn’t rally and precise kicking by Casey and a second try to Boyce secured Australia their largest victory in New Zealand.
The fallout would be spectacular for the All Blacks. It was the last Test for Don Clarke, Sir John Graham, Ralph Caulton, Allan Stewart, and Barry Thomas who collapsed in the dressing room with serve concussion. It was the only time Ken Gray lost in 50 matches for the All Blacks and the only time Colin Meads played No.8.
Stewart’s twin brother Jim also played for the Wallabies. Hawthorne (21 Tests) later switched codes to league and became a dual international when chosen for the Kangaroos against Great Britain in 1970.
The Wallabies captain was John Thornett who captained his country in 16 out of 37 Tests.
9th September 1978, Eden Park, Auckland, 30-16
The All Blacks had retained the Bledisloe Cup prior to the third Test but wins against Wanganui, Bay of Plenty and North Auckland hinted the tourists were improving.
Tragically Wallabies coach Daryl Harbrecht suffered a serious heart attack in the week leading up to the Test. Tony Melrose sat beside Daryl’s wife on a flight from Sydney bound for Auckland just days before his Test debut aged 18.
Remarkably the Wallabies rallied and scored the most points by any team in New Zealand to that point. The hero was No.8, and superannuation consultant, Greg Cornelsen. He scored four tries though, in aggregate, he run less than five meters.
His first came from an Andy Dalton lineout throw that bounced off the goalpost into Cornelsen’s arms. The second came when he was late to a ruck and the ball suddenly popped out in front of him about three yards out from the line. The third benefited from a touch of luck due to the new experimental law which allowed knock-ons from tackles. Right-wing Paddy Batch was crunched by his opposite Bryan Williams. The ball was lost forward and as it reached the tryline Cornelsen grounded it for the score. His final try followed a break on the short side by John Hipwell who threw a pass that was deflected and tumbled favourably for Cornelsen.
Cornelsen didn’t score a try in his other 24 Tests, but briefly owned the record for most points in a Test against the All Blacks. Springboks prop Okey Giffin had scored 15 in 1949.Renowned New Zealand sportswriter Bob Howitt noted:
“Even before he etched his name in the record books with four tries in the [1978] third Test Cornelsen had stamped himself as one of the most talented and constructive No. 8s to tour New Zealand. Fast and strong he got through a terrific amount of ball with minimum effort and maximum efficiency.”
The tourists matched the 1937 Springboks in scoring five tries in a Test on New Zealand soil. The Wallabies’ other try scorer was flanker Gary Pearse.
Greg’s son Jack Cornelsen has played internationally for Japan.
6th September 1986, Eden Park, Auckland, 22-9
The 1986 Wallabies are one of only six teams to have won a Test series in New Zealand with the likes of Simon Poidevin, Nick Farr-Jones, David Campese, and Michael Lynagh all going on to win the 1991 World Cup.
The coach was the controversial but original Alan Jones. He won 89 of 102 matches as Wallabies coach (23 of 30 Tests) including the famed 1984 ‘Grand Slam.’
Australia started strongly when Lynagh kicked a penalty and debutant Andrew Leeds scored from a John Skipworth pass.
The All Blacks played audacious but often careless, rugby. They did close the gap to 12-9 approaching the final quarter but two Lynagh penalties stretched the Wallabies lead to 18-9 before the nail in the coffin was applied.
A pass by David Kirk intended for Craig Green went loose and was swopped upon by Farr-Jones who supplied Campese.
Marty Berry (father of New Zealand Warriors centre Roco Berry) came on for one of the shortest Test debuts ever – the final kick-off.
Men in Black reported: “It had been a comprehensive victory for Australia, who had played some good basic rugby and taking their chances as they arose. Despite a brave and spectacular effort from the All Blacks there had been too many errors.”
It was the last Test for long-serving forwards Mark Shaw (30 Tests) and Garry Knight (36 Tests).
1st August 1998, Lancaster Park, Christchurch, 27-23
Australia regained the Bledisloe Cup for the first time since 1994 with a clinical and comprehensive victory.
The All Blacks – guilty of 17 turnovers – scored tries to Christian Cullen and Jonah Lomu in the final three minutes to make the final score a more respectable, 27-23.
Young lock Tom Bowman gave Australia an early lead with a stunning try bursting down the left wing and side-stepping Lomu. Bowman was something of a revelation in 1998 playing all 12 Tests. He was a World Cup winner in 1999.
When Australia won the World Cup in 1999, they only conceded a single try in six matches. Their resolute defence gave the All Blacks little. Even better was the methodical attack. Following 18 phases Matthew Burke scored what an Australian rugby writer later acclaimed as an ‘ensemble try’.
Second-half tries to Jason Little and Stephen Larkham gave the Wallabies a 27-9 lead as Waltzing Matilda chants broke out in the stands.
Auckland favourite Mark Carter was a controversial selection for the All Blacks bench. He’d won three caps in 1991 but later left for a season of rugby league with the Auckland Warriors in 1996. Carter was shamefully booed onto the field by a restless Christchurch crowd.
The whole All Blacks squad attended the press conference to take accountability for the poor performance. Today Bowman runs an Angus cattle property at Barraba.
5th August 2000, Westpac Stadium, Wellington, 24-23
Is there a more iconic moment in Australian rugby than John Eales raising his arms after kicking the winning penalty to retain the Bledisloe Cup against the All Blacks in 2000?
In a classic Test match, Australia raced to a 12-0 lead with tries to Stirling Mortlock and Joe Roff. The All Blacks responded with two tries to Christian Cullen.
The play was exhilarating despite no further tries. Deep in injury time the All Blacks led 23-21 when Wallaby blindside Mark Connors stole a lineout in All Blacks territory. South African referee Jonathan Kaplan then penalised prop Craig Dowd for entering a breakdown on the side. What happened next is best explained by Eales.
“We got the penalty and I thought ‘wow this is fantastic, where’s Stirling?’ I look around and Stirling is not there. Jeremy Paul came up to me and said ‘mate, Stirling is off, it’s your kick’.
“So, all of a sudden you change from being really excited about it to being a bit anxious. But still, as a player, they’re the moments you train for. They’re the moments as a kid in the backyard, I kicked 100 of those trying to win a test for Australia.”
“I’m very, very glad it went over because I think my life and peoples’ memories of me as a rugby player would have been very different If I’d have missed that kick. It would have been ‘you’re the bloke who missed that kick, that cost us the Bledisloe Cup and the Tri-Nations, aren’t you?’. It could have easily been like that.”
South Africa’s honorary consul, Gregory Fortuin later praised All Blacks lock Norm Maxwell and Dr John Mayhew for their sportsmanship in helping Kaplin from the field as he was hurled with abuse and debris from an upset crowd. It was the first Test match at Wellington’s new stadium.
Comments on RugbyPass
“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
37 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
5 Go to comments