Favourite AB tests

voodoo

@Bones ha, no shit!

Damo

1997 v SA in Johannesburg. Great game of rugby.
Surpasses the 2000 Bled for me.

Funny story.

I was in Argentina at the time on a student exchange. I asked my dad to record the tests and send them to me. I avoided knowing the score for 6 weeks and watched it without knowing who won.

Machpants

@Damo haha good luck doing that in the modern world!

Billy Webb

@booboo said in Favourite AB tests:

1981 Third Test.

Can't find a full highlights package.

Videos posted by Saffas seem to stop at Ray Mordt's third try

Amazing game, surreal atmosphere, awesome ending, great result.

Greatest test match ever.

Ah the memories this brings back.
I was a young lad waking up in the early hours to watch these tests.

That 3rd test was quite something. Ray Mordt was an absolute monster for that day and age.
Just a pity the Boks got robbed by some questionable refereeing at the end

booboo

@Billy-Webb said in Favourite AB tests:

@booboo said in Favourite AB tests:

1981 Third Test.

Can't find a full highlights package.

Videos posted by Saffas seem to stop at Ray Mordt's third try

Amazing game, surreal atmosphere, awesome ending, great result.

Greatest test match ever.

Ah the memories this brings back.
I was a young lad waking up in the early hours to watch these tests.

That 3rd test was quite something. Ray Mordt was an absolute monster for that day and age.
Just a pity the Boks got robbed by some questionable refereeing at the end

South Africans ... always the ref ...

Billy Webb

@booboo said in Favourite AB tests:

@Billy-Webb said in Favourite AB tests:

@booboo said in Favourite AB tests:

1981 Third Test.

Can't find a full highlights package.

Videos posted by Saffas seem to stop at Ray Mordt's third try

Amazing game, surreal atmosphere, awesome ending, great result.

Greatest test match ever.

Ah the memories this brings back.
I was a young lad waking up in the early hours to watch these tests.

That 3rd test was quite something. Ray Mordt was an absolute monster for that day and age.
Just a pity the Boks got robbed by some questionable refereeing at the end

South Africans ... always the ref ...

Hahaha. True.
But you kiwis don't moan about the ref that much because you don't lose that much.
Wait until the ABs start losing a bit more regularly and you'll notice how much more critical you become

booboo

@Billy-Webb said in Favourite AB tests:

@booboo said in Favourite AB tests:

@Billy-Webb said in Favourite AB tests:

@booboo said in Favourite AB tests:

1981 Third Test.

Can't find a full highlights package.

Videos posted by Saffas seem to stop at Ray Mordt's third try

Amazing game, surreal atmosphere, awesome ending, great result.

Greatest test match ever.

Ah the memories this brings back.
I was a young lad waking up in the early hours to watch these tests.

That 3rd test was quite something. Ray Mordt was an absolute monster for that day and age.
Just a pity the Boks got robbed by some questionable refereeing at the end

South Africans ... always the ref ...

Hahaha. True.
But you kiwis don't moan about the ref that much because you don't lose that much.
Wait until the ABs start losing a bit more regularly and you'll notice how much more critical you become

Norling wasn't a favourite of ours until he relaxed as a ref. Probably about the time he got out if the tightie tight shorts ...

As for refs, they're all out to get us. We're still dirty on John Dallas.

Victor Meldrew

@BartMan said in Favourite AB tests:

1996 deciding test v Boers and 2011 RWC final. Both tests made my eyes a bit dusty at the end, both years ending 'curses' so to speak.

I admit to hiding behind the sofa for large parts of the 2011 RWC Final.

Victor Meldrew

@Billy-Webb said in Favourite AB tests:

Wait until the ABs start losing a bit more regularly and you'll notice how much more critical you become

Nah. We own the Refs.

Read in a UK newspaper so it must be true.

maroon

The Fern lets me through the defences again, to unload some ancient history.
What about that fourth test against the Boks in 1956?
It was a time when New Zealand had a monolithic rugby culture. There was national unity in the desire to beat these more-than-lifesized invaders. That desire was the highest form of passion allowed a Kiwi bloke.
Selwyn Toogood commentated. Peter Jones scored the clinching try. And we heard the word “buggered” for the first time on air.
I argue that no game since has mattered as deeply to a larger percentage of New Zealander’s.

maroon

New Zealanders.

booboo

@maroon said in Favourite AB tests:

The Fern lets me through the defences again, to unload some ancient history.
What about that fourth test against the Boks in 1956?
It was a time when New Zealand had a monolithic rugby culture. There was national unity in the desire to beat these more-than-lifesized invaders. That desire was the highest form of passion allowed a Kiwi bloke.
Selwyn Toogood commentated. Peter Jones scored the clinching try. And we heard the word “buggered” for the first time on air.
I argue that no game since has mattered as deeply to a larger percentage of New Zealander’s.

Great call. 12 years BBB (Before Booboo). Dare I ask if you remember it?

Given the commentator (where was Winston McCarthy?) the match was always in the bag.

sparky

@maroon I know that there were a lot of people in Eden Park that day, but I must have heard about half of them talk about that Test and where they were when Peter Jones scored.

My Dad and his Dad both made their way up from Wellington independently to be at that game. So apparently did all their mates or so they have always claimed.

Billy Webb

@maroon said in Favourite AB tests:

The Fern lets me through the defences again, to unload some ancient history.
What about that fourth test against the Boks in 1956?
It was a time when New Zealand had a monolithic rugby culture. There was national unity in the desire to beat these more-than-lifesized invaders. That desire was the highest form of passion allowed a Kiwi bloke.
Selwyn Toogood commentated. Peter Jones scored the clinching try. And we heard the word “buggered” for the first time on air.
I argue that no game since has mattered as deeply to a larger percentage of New Zealander’s.

Help me remember here. Is that the series Danie Craven played for the Boks? In which case it would be the series where NZ picked a boxer in their front row to “deal” with the Boks....

booboo

@Billy-Webb said in Favourite AB tests:

@maroon said in Favourite AB tests:

The Fern lets me through the defences again, to unload some ancient history.
What about that fourth test against the Boks in 1956?
It was a time when New Zealand had a monolithic rugby culture. There was national unity in the desire to beat these more-than-lifesized invaders. That desire was the highest form of passion allowed a Kiwi bloke.
Selwyn Toogood commentated. Peter Jones scored the clinching try. And we heard the word “buggered” for the first time on air.
I argue that no game since has mattered as deeply to a larger percentage of New Zealander’s.

Help me remember here. Is that the series Danie Craven played for the Boks? In which case it would be the series where NZ picked a boxer in their front row to “deal” with the Boks....

Kevin Skinner. That's him.

Back when rugby was rugby.

booboo

@Billy-Webb said in Favourite AB tests:

@maroon said in Favourite AB tests:

The Fern lets me through the defences again, to unload some ancient history.
What about that fourth test against the Boks in 1956?
It was a time when New Zealand had a monolithic rugby culture. There was national unity in the desire to beat these more-than-lifesized invaders. That desire was the highest form of passion allowed a Kiwi bloke.
Selwyn Toogood commentated. Peter Jones scored the clinching try. And we heard the word “buggered” for the first time on air.
I argue that no game since has mattered as deeply to a larger percentage of New Zealander’s.

Help me remember here. Is that the series Danie Craven played for the Boks? In which case it would be the series where NZ picked a boxer in their front row to “deal” with the Boks....

Also, Craven was the Manager. He toured in 1937. Which we lost. Hence the desperation to win this series. It was the 1950's 2011.

Billy Webb

@booboo said in Favourite AB tests:

@Billy-Webb said in Favourite AB tests:

@maroon said in Favourite AB tests:

The Fern lets me through the defences again, to unload some ancient history.
What about that fourth test against the Boks in 1956?
It was a time when New Zealand had a monolithic rugby culture. There was national unity in the desire to beat these more-than-lifesized invaders. That desire was the highest form of passion allowed a Kiwi bloke.
Selwyn Toogood commentated. Peter Jones scored the clinching try. And we heard the word “buggered” for the first time on air.
I argue that no game since has mattered as deeply to a larger percentage of New Zealander’s.

Help me remember here. Is that the series Danie Craven played for the Boks? In which case it would be the series where NZ picked a boxer in their front row to “deal” with the Boks....

Kevin Skinner. That's him.

Back when rugby was rugby.

Ah. Thanks Booboo. Yes, classic days
Fun Facts from the rugby relic.com :

The South African tour of New Zealand in 1956 saw the tide of Springbok supremacy turn and ebb towards the shores of the land of the long white cloud. The green and gold machine had never been defeated in a test series anywhere in the world since 1896. In the two previous tours by the Springboks to New Zealand they had drawn one series (1921 - 1 win, 1 loss, 1 draw) and won the other (1937 SA 2 wins, NZ 1 win). In the previous test series held in South Africa during 1949, the Boks thrashed the Blacks 4 - 0. But the Springbok was wavering under pressure, the 1955 Lions had come close to victory, winning 2 tests out of four.............

When the Springboks arrived in New Zealand, the tour had already received extensive media coverage with the team having already won 6 out of 6 games in Australia, this included two wins over the Wallabies. The Springboks every move was recorded by the New Zealand newspapers, even while in Australia and in the days before the Rugby World Cup the test series was built up to be the "Championship of the World".

The New Zealand public were confident their heroes in Black would lower the colours of the mighty Springboks, and this confidence grew when the touring side were defeated 14 - 10 in their first match against the provincial side Waikato. The South African's then pulled themselves together and won their next 8 games before meeting the All Blacks in the first test at Dunedin. In a bruising encounter and with both teams reduced through injury, New Zealand to 14, South Africa to 13 the All Blacks managed to hold on and win 10 - 6. In the second test South Africa levelled the series with an 8 - 3 win. The garden city, Christchurch hosted the third test which saw the debut of Don Clarke, the great All Black goal kicker. The Waikato man scored 8 points in a 17 - 10 win that saw the All Blacks take a 2 - 1 unbeatable lead in the series. The crowds flocked to Eden Park, Auckland for the fourth and deciding test in the series to see the All Blacks become the first team to lower the Springboks colours in 60 years. The All Black forwards won the day with their control in the tight, No 8 Peter Jones scoring a try 5 minutes into the second half and Don Clarke scoring another 8 points with the boot. The Springboks were well beaten and crossed the line to score a consolation try close to the finish, giving New Zealand a winning margin of 11 - 5.

Snowy

@booboo said in Favourite AB tests:

the match was always in the bag.

You just had to didn't you?

Victor Meldrew

@Billy-Webb said in Favourite AB tests:

In which case it would be the series where NZ picked a boxer in their front row to “deal” with the Boks....

From what I've read, Skinner wasn't just a top-class heavyweight boxer, he was one of the strongest props of his era. According to my Dad, the punch-ups have been over-egged - Skinner simply destroyed the Bok front-row with his scrummaging.

booboo

@Snowy said in Favourite AB tests:

@booboo said in Favourite AB tests:

the match was always in the bag.

You just had to didn't you?

Someone did

The Silver Fern

Favourite AB tests