1972 Australia rugby union tour of New Zealand and Fiji

1972 Australia rugby union tour of New Zealand and Fiji
Manager	Joe French
Tour captain(s)	Greg Davis
Summary	P W D L
Total	14 6 1 7
Test match	4 1 0 3
Opponent	P W D L
New Zealand	3 0 0 3
Fiji	1 1 0 0

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]

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

Scores and results list Australia's points tally first.

Opposing Team	For	Against	Date	Venue	Status
Otago	0	26	5 Aug 1972	Dunedin	Tour match[3]
Buller-West Coast	10	15	9 Aug 1972	Westport	Tour match[4]
Taranaki	20	15	12 Aug 1972	New Plymouth	Tour match[5]
Bay of Plenty	6	6	15 Aug 1972	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	Tour match[8]
Hawke's Bay	14	15	26 Aug 1972	Napier	Tour match[9]
Nelson Bays	26	7	29 Sep 1972	Nelson	Tour match[10]
New Zealand	17	30	2 Sep 1972	Lancaster Park, Christchurch	Test match[11]
North Otago	37	12	5 Sep 1972	Oamaru	Tour match[12]
Waikato	24	26	9 Sep 1972	Hamilton	Tour match[13]
Poverty Bay-East Coast	22	19	12 Sep 1972	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

The 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]

References

1. "Wallaby manager wants more tours". The Canberra Times. Archived from the original on 2 June 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
2. "Team records Australia between 1 August 1972 and 30 September 1972". espnscrum.com. Archived from the original on 2 June 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
3. "Wallabies thrashed 26–0 by Otago". The Canberra Times. 7 August 1972. Archived from the original on 2 June 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
4. "Combined team thwarts Wallabies' efforts". The Canberra Times. 10 August 1972. Archived from the original on 2 June 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
5. "Wallabies beat Taranaki". The Canberra Times. 13 August 1972. Archived from the original on 2 June 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
6. "NZ team draws with Wallabies". The Canberra Times. 16 August 1972. Archived from the original on 2 June 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
7. "Wallabies go down to All Blacks in first Test". The Canberra Times. 21 August 1972. Archived from the original on 2 June 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
8. "Wallabies triumph in bruising match". The Canberra Times. 24 August 1972. Archived from the original on 2 June 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
9. "Wallabies go down to NZ team 14–15". The Canberra Times. 28 August 1972. Archived from the original on 2 June 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
10. "Bays won the second spell". Nelson Photo News No. 143. 16 September 1972. p. 4. Archived from the original on 2 June 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
11. "Rugby union tests and series won by All Blacks". The Canberra Times. 4 September 1972. Archived from the original on 2 June 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
12. "Wallabies swamp NZ side". The Canberra Times. 6 September 1972. Archived from the original on 2 June 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
13. "Waikato downs Wallabies 26–24". The Canberra Times. 11 September 1972. Archived from the original on 2 June 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
14. "Wallabies beat combined side by 22–19". The Canberra Times. 13 September 1972. Archived from the original on 2 June 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
15. "Wallabies beat Fijians 21–19". The Canberra Times. Archived from the original on 2 June 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
16. Howell p189
17. Howell p192