All Blacks
From Free net encyclopedia
| New Zealand | |
|---|---|
| Image:Alblak.JPG | |
| Union | New Zealand Rugby Football Union |
| Captain | To be announced. |
| Coach | Graham Henry (2003– ) |
| First International Australia 3 - 22 New Zealand (August 15, 1903) | |
| Largest win New Zealand 145 - 17 Japan (June 4, 1995) | |
| Worst defeat Australia 28 - 7 New Zealand (August 28, 1999) | |
| World Cup | |
| Appearances | 5 (First in 1987) |
| Best result | Champions, 1987 |
The international rugby union team of New Zealand are known as the All Blacks, a name derived from their playing strip of black shirts, shorts and socks. The usage apparently dates from the first tour of Britain by a New Zealand national rugby team (known as The Originals), in 1905/1906. According to Billy Wallace, one of the members of the Originals, the name derived from a London newspaper's description of the New Zealand team playing as if they were all backs! However it is much more likely that the name came from the black strip worn by the team. See:(New Zealand Rugby Museum on this topic).
Rugby union is New Zealand's premier sport and selection for the All Blacks is considered the highest honour that a Kiwi rugby union sportsman can achieve. The All Blacks have always been a formidable power in international rugby union. As well as winning the Rugby World Cup in 1987 they have been Tri Nations champions six times and have twice (in 1978 and in 2005) completed the Grand Slam (wins over England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland) in tours of the Home nations.
The All Blacks perform a haka (Māori war dance) before each international match. Until 2006, the haka performed by the All Blacks was invariably ka mate. Before the August 2005 Tri-Nations test match between New Zealand and South Africa at Carisbrook stadium in Dunedin, New Zealand, the All Blacks, led by Tana Umaga performed for the first time a new haka which was designed to reflect the multi-cultural makeup of contemporary New Zealand (in particular the influence of south pacific polynesian cultures). This is to be performed on "special occasions" (it has since been performed against the Lions and the then reigning World Champions England and is not intended to replace Ka Mate.
Umaga was quoted after the game as saying [[1]]: "We have two haka now and will decide before the game which one we will do. Ka Mate has been by itself for a long time. Now it's got a mate." For further details see haka.
Contents |
History
Introduction of rugby to New Zealand
Rugby was introduced to New Zealand by Charles Monro in the late 1860s, Monro having discovered the game while completing his studies at Christ's College, Finchley in England. The first game took place in May 1870 and the first union, Canterbury, was formed in 1879. As early as 1882 New Zealand played host to New South Wales. The tourists played Auckland provincial clubs twice, Wellington twice, and had one game against Canterbury, Otago and West Coast, North Island. New South Wales won four games and lost three.
The first tour by a British team took place in 1888 when a British Isles team toured the Australian colonies and New Zealand, though no test matches were played. The players were drawn mainly from England and the Scottish borders, though there were representatives from all four home unions. This tour was not sanctioned by the Rugby Football Union as it was organised by entrepreneurs and thus contravened the strict regulations the union had pertaining to professionalism.
The NZRFU was formed in 1892. Seven unions were represented but with the significant absence of Canterbury, Otago and Southland. The first full New Zealand side went to New South Wales in 1893. The captain was Tom Ellison, who suggested that the team should wear 'Black Jersey with Silver Fern Leaf, Black Cap with Silver Monogram, White knickerbockers and Black Stockings.' Only the knickerbockers have since changed.
International competition begins
New Zealand played its first home game against New South Wales in 1894 in Christchurch, winning 8-6. Its first full international match was against Australia in 1903 at the Sydney Cricket Ground, New Zealand were again victorious 22-3.
In 1905 New Zealand made their first tour of Britain. The team were known as the 'Originals', this was the first time the team were referred to as the All Blacks. The side thrashed most opposition, but lost to Wales, 3-0 in Cardiff, a match that has become part of the folklore of both countries because of the controversy surrounding the try not awarded to All Black Bob Deans.
New Zealand began their great rivalry with South Africa in 1921, the Springboks' tour of New Zealand was tense and competitive, the test series finishing all square. The All Blacks first toured South Africa in 1928, the test series again finishing level. In 1937, South Africa broke the deadlock with a series win in New Zealand, and it was not until 1996, under Sean Fitzpatrick's captaincy, that New Zealand finally won its first series in the Republic.
Development of a Legacy
The British Lions first visited New Zealand in 1888, returning in 1908 with a team consisting only of English and Welsh players, the All Blacks won the test series 2-0. The 1924 All Black tourists to the UK were dubbed 'the Invincibles', although Scotland refused to play them in an argument over expenses. The first truly representative British Lions side toured New Zealand in 1930, the Lions won the first test after some tough provincial games in New Zealand, but the home side regrouped and won the series 3-1.
The 1935-36 New Zealand tourists lost only four games in the UK, but two of these were tests, including the game against England when Prince Obolensky scored his famous two tries. The 1950 Lions could only draw the first test, the 1959 Lions lost the series 1-3, the 1966 side 0-4 and it was not until 1971, under the captaincy of Welshman John Dawes, that the Lions finally beat the All Blacks on home soil. That remains the Lions' only series victory in New Zealand.
New Zealand touring sides to the UK from the 1960s on were powerful forces, dominated by the legendary names of Meads, Clarke and Whineray. The 1963-64 team, led by Wilson Whineray, failed to achieve a Grand Slam only because of a scoreless draw with Scotland. The 1967 side won three tests, but was unable to play Ireland because of a foot-and-mouth scare. The 1972-3 tourists narrowly missed a Grand Slam with a draw against Ireland, but the tour achieved notoriety after the sending home of prop Keith Murdoch. He was alleged to have been involved in a brawl in a Cardiff hotel whilst celebrating the defeat of the Welsh. Graham Mourie's 1978 All Blacks finally achieved a Grand Slam, at the sixth attempt, but there was further bitter controversy during and after the Welsh test in Cardiff, with allegations of cheating hurled at All Black locks Haden and Oliver who dived out of a line-out claiming they had been fouled. New Zealand won by kicking the resulting penalty.
The 1980s left deep scars on New Zealand rugby union and society in general. In 1981 two South African tour matches were cancelled on police advice; the 1985 tour of South Africa was cancelled after legal action; in 1986 an unauthorised tour party of South Africa included All Blacks.
The early World Cups
The inaugural World Cup in 1987 was co-hosted and won by New Zealand, beating France 29-9 in the final at Eden Park, Auckland. New Zealand conceded only 52 points and scored 43 tries in six games en route to the title, having swept aside the challenges of Italy, Fiji, Argentina, Scotland, Wales and France.
By the 1991 World Cup the All Blacks were an aging side, co-coached by Alex Wyllie and John Hart. They had looked vulnerable during pool matches and were knocked out by eventual winners Australia 16-6 in the semi-final at Lansdowne Road. In the wake of the tournament there were many retirements including coach Wyllie, who had enjoyed an 86.2% win rate during 29 tests in charge.
Laurie Mains was given the job for preparing the side for the 1995 event in South Africa. When the All Blacks arrived in the Republic for the tournament, they seemed to be a strong side capable of regaining the trophy. A young Jonah Lomu made a huge impact upon the World Cup, especially in the 45-29 win over England where he scored four tries. The New Zealand team suffered an outbreak of food poisoning before the final but took hosts South Africa to extra time before losing to Joel Stransky’s drop goal.
The Professional Era
In 1995 the professional era in rugby union began. Australia, South Africa and New Zealand combined to sell TV rights for all southern hemisphere test matches, a new inter-provincial competition, the Super 12, and domestic provincial competitions in each of the three countries. The test match between New Zealand and Italy in late 1995 was the first of the professional era.
At the 1999 World Cup the All Blacks again dominated their pool, including a 30-16 defeat of England at Twickenham, but they looked less dominant in getting past Scotland 30-18 in the quarter-finals. Having been comfortably on top against France in the semi-final at Twickenham, they went out as the French produced an amazing half hour of rugby to which the All Blacks had no answer.
New Zealand qualified automatically for Rugby World Cup 2003 by virtue of reaching the semi final stage four years previously. The All Blacks entered the 2003 event with high expectations after an unbeaten Tri Nations campaign that included the return of the Bledisloe Cup to New Zealand for the first time since 1998. As expected they dominated their pool, running up big wins against Italy, Canada and Tonga before winning one of the games of the tournament against Wales. They then beat South Africa, a team they had never beaten at the World Cup, 29-9. They lost out again to Australia 22-10 in the semi final in Sydney. Mitchell was then fired by the NZRU and replaced by Graham Henry.
Henry's tenure started with an impressive double victory over an understrength and out of form England, but his insistence on playing a flat backline tested the patience of an expectant public and saw the All Blacks finish bottom in the 2004 Tri-Nations.
In 2005 the All Blacks whitewashed the touring British and Irish Lions 3-0 in the test series and followed this up by winning the Grand Slam over the Home Nations. They went on to sweep the major International Rugby Board year-end awards. The All Blacks were named Team of the Year, Henry was named Coach of the Year, and fly-half (first five) Daniel Carter was Player of the Year.
Record
Tri Nations
The All Blacks' main annual competition is the Tri Nations Series played against South Africa and Australia where their record of six series wins (the most recent in 2005) and 27 match wins is well ahead of the other two teams:
Template:Tri Nations Aggregate
Rugby World Cup
Although entering the World Cup as favourites on most occasions, the All Blacks have had less success than their supporters would expect, winning it only once — the inaugural competition held in New Zealand in 1987. Nevertheless, they are the only team to have reached the semifinals in every World Cup tournament. Full results:
Overall
The All Blacks are currently the only team to have a positive win record against every nation they have played in over 100 years of competition. They have won 296 of the 404 matches played, a win percentage of 73.27% (see table). By this measure the All Blacks are the most successful international rugby union team in history.
Their Test match record against all nations (listed in order of total matches), updated to 28 November 2005, is as follows:
| Against | Played | Won | Lost | Drawn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 123 | 81 | 37 | 5 |
| South Africa | 67 | 36 | 28 | 3 |
| France | 41 | 30 | 10 | 1 |
| British [& Irish] Lions | 34 | 26 | 6 | 2 |
| England | 28 | 21 | 6 | 1 |
| Scotland | 25 | 23 | 0 | 2 |
| Wales | 22 | 19 | 3 | 0 |
| Ireland | 18 | 17 | 0 | 1 |
| Argentina | 12 | 11 | 0 | 1 |
| Italy | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Samoa | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Fiji | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Tonga | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Canada | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Anglo-Welsh | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| World XV | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| USA | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Great Britain | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Romania | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Pacific Islanders | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 404 | 296 | 92 | 16 |
For the latest official statistics see: [2]
The NZRU won the right to host the Rugby World Cup in 2011 over other bidders South Africa and Japan on 17 November 2005.
All Blacks who played in 2005
Some notable All Blacks
See also
- The Invincibles (rugby union)
- 1981 Springbok Tour
- Bledisloe Cup
- Tri Nations Series
- Rugby Union World Cup
- Super 14
- National Provincial Championship
- Ranfurly Shield
- New Zealand Māori
- New Zealand national rugby league team - The Kiwis
External links
- All Blacks official website
- All Blacks official match and player statistics
- unofficial NZ All Blacks
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