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 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manager | Joe French | ||||
| Tour captain(s) | Greg Davis | ||||
| Summary |
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| Total |
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| Test match |
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| Opponent |
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 New Zealand |
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 Fiji |
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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
editScores and results list Australia's points tally first.
| Opposing Team | For | Against | Date | Venue | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Otago |
0 | 26 | 5 Aug 1972 | Carisbrook, Dunedin | Tour match[3] |
 West Coast-Buller |
10 | 15 | 9 Aug 1972 | Victoria Square, Westport | Tour match[4] |
 Taranaki |
20 | 15 | 12 Aug 1972 | Rugby Park, New Plymouth | Tour match[5] |
 Bay of Plenty |
6 | 6 | 15 Aug 1972 | Tauranga Domain, Tauranga | Tour match[6] |
| New Zealand |
6 | 29 | 19 Aug 1972 | Athletic Park, Wellington | Test match[7] |
 King Country |
13 | 6 | 23 Aug 1972 | Taumarunui Domain, Taumarunui | Tour match[8] |
 Hawke's Bay |
14 | 15 | 26 Aug 1972 | McLean Park, Napier | Tour match[9] |
 Nelson Bays |
26 | 7 | 29 Sep 1972 | Trafalgar Park, Nelson | Tour match[10] |
| New Zealand |
17 | 30 | 2 Sep 1972 | Lancaster Park, Christchurch | Test match[11] |
 North Otago |
37 | 12 | 5 Sep 1972 | Centennial Park, Oamaru | Tour match[12] |
 Waikato |
24 | 26 | 9 Sep 1972 | Rugby Park, Hamilton | Tour match[13] |
 Poverty Bay / East Coast |
22 | 19 | 12 Sep 1972 | Rugby Park, Gisborne | Tour match[14] |
| New Zealand |
3 | 38 | 16 Sep 1972 | Eden Park, Auckland | Test match[2] |
| Fiji |
21 | 19 | 19 Sep 1972 | National Stadium, Suva | Test match[15] |
Squad leadership
editThe 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]
Touring party
edit- Manager - Joe French
- Assistant manager - Bob Templeton
- Captain - Greg Davis
Backs
editForwards
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Wallaby manager wants more tours". The Canberra Times. Archived from the original on 1 June 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
- ^ a b "Team records Australia between 1 August 1972 and 30 September 1972". espnscrum.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
- ^ "Wallabies thrashed 26–0 by Otago". The Canberra Times. 7 August 1972. Archived from the original on 1 June 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
- ^ "Combined team thwarts Wallabies' efforts". The Canberra Times. 10 August 1972. Archived from the original on 1 June 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
- ^ "Wallabies beat Taranaki". The Canberra Times. 13 August 1972. Archived from the original on 1 June 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
- ^ "NZ team draws with Wallabies". The Canberra Times. 16 August 1972. Archived from the original on 1 June 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Wallabies triumph in bruising match". The Canberra Times. 24 August 1972. Archived from the original on 1 June 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Bays won the second spell". Nelson Photo News No. 143. 16 September 1972. p. 4. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Wallabies swamp NZ side". The Canberra Times. 6 September 1972. Archived from the original on 1 June 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
- ^ "Waikato downs Wallabies 26–24". The Canberra Times. 11 September 1972. Archived from the original on 1 June 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Wallabies beat Fijians 21–19". The Canberra Times. Archived from the original on 1 June 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
- ^ Howell p189
- ^ a b Howell p192