1956 South Africa rugby union tour of Australia and New Zealand

The 1956 South Africa rugby union tour of Australia and New Zealand, more commonly known in New Zealand as the 1956 Springboks tour was a series of rugby union matches played by South Africa in Australia and New Zealand. The Springboks won 21 matches of 29, drew 1, and lost 7. They played 6 Test matches, with two victories over Australia and one over New Zealand. The New Zealand leg of their trip was the primary focus of the tour—23 of their 29 matches were in New Zealand, which included a four Test match series against New Zealand.

1956 South Africa rugby union tour of Australia and New Zealand
Summary
P W D L
Total
29 21 01 07
Test match
06 03 00 03
Opponent
P W D L
 Australia
2 2 0 0
 New Zealand
4 1 0 3

Matches in Australia

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Scores and results list South Africa's points tally first.
Match Date Opponent Location Result Score
1 15 May   Australian Capital Territory Canberra Won 41–6
2 19 May   New South Wales Sydney Won 29–9
3 22 May   New South Wales Country Tamworth Won 15–8
4 26 May   Australia SCG, Sydney Won 9–0
5 29 May   Queensland Brisbane Won 47–3
6 2 June   Australia Exhibition Ground, Brisbane Won 9–0

Matches in New Zealand

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Scores and results list South Africa's points tally first.
Match Date Opponent Location Result Score
7 9 June   Waikato Rugby Park, Hamilton Lost 10–14
8 13 June   North Auckland Okara Park, Whangārei Won 3–0
9 16 June   Auckland Eden Park, Auckland Won 6–3
10 20 June   Manawatu /
  Horowhenua
Showgrounds, Palmerston North Won 14–3
11 23 June   Wellington Athletic Park, Wellington Won 8–6
12 27 June   Poverty Bay /
  East Coast
Rugby Park, Gisborne Won 22–0
13 30 June   Hawke's Bay McLean Park, Napier Won 20–8
14 4 July   Nelson /
  Marlborough /
  Golden Bay-Motueka
Trafalgar Park, Nelson Won 41–3
15 7 July   Otago Carisbrook, Dunedin Won 14–9
16 14 July   New Zealand Carisbrook, Dunedin Lost 6–10
17 18 July   South Canterbury /
  Mid Canterbury /
  North Otago
Fraser Park, Timaru Won 20–8
18 21 July   Canterbury Lancaster Park, Christchurch Lost 6–9
19 25 July   West Coast-Buller Victoria Square, Westport Won 27–6
20 28 July   Southland Rugby Park, Invercargill Won 23–12
21 31 July   Wairarapa /
  Bush
Solway Park, Masterton Won 19–8
22 4 August   New Zealand Athletic Park, Wellington Won 8–3
23 8 August   Wanganui /
  King Country
Spriggins Park, Wanganui Won 36–16
24 11 August   Taranaki Rugby Park, New Plymouth Drew 3–3
25 18 August   New Zealand Lancaster Park, Christchurch Lost 10–17
26 22 August New Zealand Universities Athletic Park, Wellington Lost 15–22
27 25 August   New Zealand Maori Eden Park, Auckland Won 37–0
28 28 August   Bay of Plenty /
  Thames Valley
A & P Showgrounds, Rotorua Won 17–6
29 1 September   New Zealand Eden Park, Auckland Lost 5–11

Test Matches

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Australia first Test

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26 May 1956
Australia  0–9  South Africa
(3 – 1t) Retief
(3 – 1t) Nel
(3 – 1pg) Viviers
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Attendance: 36,000
Referee:   R. Vanderfield

Australia second Test

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2 June 1956
Australia  0–9  South Africa
(3 – 1t) Retief
(3 – 1t) Dryburgh
(3 – 1dg) van Vollenhoven
Brisbane Exhibition Ground, Brisbane
Attendance: 22,000
Referee:   T. Moore

New Zealand first Test

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14 July 1956
New Zealand  10–6  South Africa
Jarden (3 – 1t)
White (3 – 1t)
Jarden (4 – 2c)
(3 – 1t) Howe
(3 – 1pg) Dryburgh
Carisbrook, Dunedin
Attendance: 40,000
Referee:   F. G. M. Parkinson

New Zealand second Test

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4 August 1956
New Zealand  3–8  South Africa
Brown (3 – 1t)(3 – 1t) du Rand
(3 – 1t) Retief
(2 – 1c) Viviers
Athletic Park, Wellington
Attendance: 50,000
Referee:   F. G. M. Parkinson

New Zealand third Test

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18 August 1956
New Zealand  17–10  South Africa
Dixon (3 – 1t)
Jarden (3 – 1t)
White (3 – 1t)
Clarke (8 – 1c, 2pg)
(3 – 1t) Lochner
(3 – 1t) Rosenberg
(4 – 2c) Viviers
Lancaster Park, Christchurch
Attendance: 51,000
Referee:   W. H. Fright

New Zealand fourth Test

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1 September 1956
New Zealand  11–5  South Africa
Jones (3 – 1t)
Clarke (8 – 1c, 2pg)
(3 – 1t) Dryburgh
(2 – 1c) Viviers
Eden Park, Auckland
Attendance: 62,240
Referee:   W. H. Fright

Squad

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Position Name Caps Club
Full Back J.U. Buchler 9 Transvaal
Full Back S.S. Viviers Captain 0 Orange Free State
Three-Quarter K.T. van Vollenhoven 4 Northern Transvaal
Three-Quarter P.G. Johnstone 5 Transvaal
Three-Quarter R.G. Dryburgh 3 Natal
Three-Quarter J. du Preez 0 Western Province
Three-Quarter W. Rosenberg 3 Transvaal
Three-Quarter P.E. Montini 0 Western Province
Three-Quarter A.I. Kirkpatrick 1 Griqualand West
Three-Quarter J.J. Nel 0 Western Province
Half-Back C.A. Ulyate 3 Transvaal
Half-Back B.F. Howe 0 Border
Half-Back B.D. Pfaff 0 Western Province
Half-Back T.A. Gentles 3 Western Province
Half-Back C.F. Strydom 1 Orange Free State
Forward H.P.J. Bekker 9 Northern Transvaal
Forward A.C. Koch 15 Boland
Forward P.S. du Toit 0 Western Province
Forward H.N. Walker 1 Western Transvaal
Forward A.J. van der Merwe 3 Boland
Forward M. Hanekom 0 Boland
Forward J. du Rand Vice-Captain 15 Northern Transvaal
Forward J.T. Claassen 4 Western Transvaal
Forward C.J. de Nysschen 0 Natal
Forward J.A.J Pickard 2 Western Province
Forward C.J. van Wyk 10 Transvaal
Forward D.S.P. Ackermann 3 Western Province
Forward C.J de Wilzem 0 Orange Free State
Forward G.P. Lochner 1 Western Province
Forward D.F. Retief 3 Northern Transvaal
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