The story of rugby
For more than 130 years, rugby has played a major role in the New Zealand psyche. It’s part of who the country is as a nation - proud, sporting, innovative and determined to make its mark on the world.
It all began in the sunny city of Nelson, the spiritual home of rugby in New Zealand. On 14 May 1870, Nelson College and Nelson Football Club played the first game of rugby on Kiwi soil, under official rugby rules.
Nine years later, the first unions were formed - in Canterbury and Wellington - and the game put down roots. It wasn’t until 1892 that the New Zealand Rugby Football Union (NZRFU) was established, but overseas tours were already in full swing.
The first New Zealand team - wearing blue jerseys with a gold fern - travelled to Australia for the first time in 1884, winning all its matches in New South Wales and setting up a fine tradition.
Since 1893, New Zealand has sent teams to virtually every rugby country on the map - and at the same time, the NZRFU has hosted players from every corner of the globe.
New Zealand teams made a name for themselves as proud, hard-hitting and skillful men who made personal sacrifices to travel across the world to play rugby for their country.
Since the original 1905 'All Blacks'’ stormed through Britain and Europe with their powerful running brand of rugby, the black jersey has instilled fear and respect in all its opponents.
From George Nepia and the Brownlie brothers in the 1920s and ‘30s, to the brilliance of Colin Meads and Don Clarke in the ‘60s, the All Blacks have continued to be uncompromising and revered.
All Black captain Richie McCaw credits the grit of those early men of New Zealand rugby with instilling the pride and passion in today’s generation of All Blacks.
'Traditionally we’ve been off-the-land sort of people, pretty strong rugged people …and when they got out in the field they were tough, hard men. That’s why they had success in the earlier years and it’s just carried on,' he says.
When both New Zealand and Australian rugby convinced the IRB to finally bring together the world’s best rugby sides in one tournament - the 1987 World Cup - it was a defining moment in the sport’s history.
It would also become a crowning moment in the history of the All Blacks. After a difficult season, the All Blacks came out firing in the historic opening match, crushing Italy 70-6.
Their confidence grew with each game, scoring 43 tries on their way to winning the inaugural world title, in a 29-9 final victory over France at Auckland’s Eden Park. It would launch the careers of All Black greats Michael Jones and Zinzan Brooke, and establish the legendary status of Sean Fitzpatrick, Wayne Shelford, John Kirwan and Grant Fox.
The next World Cup, hosted by England, was not so successful for an ageing All Black side, ousted in the semifinals by eventual champions Australia.
The Laurie Mains-coached All Black side for the 1995 World Cup in South Africa was well-prepared and eager to win back the mantle of the world’s top rugby nation - boasting young stars the likes of Andrew Merhtens, Josh Kronfeld and Jeff Wilson.
But it was giant wing Jonah Lomu who took the world by storm with one of the most awe-inspiring individual tries in rugby history - bulldozing four Englishmen on his way to the try line in New Zealand’s 45-29 semifinal victory.
A mystery illness struck the All Blacks on the eve of the final against the tournament hosts, hampering their game in an extra-time showdown, eventually won by South Africa with a drop-goal, 15-12.
The All Blacks dominated their pool at the 1999 World Cup in the UK and France, but were upset by a fired-up French side at the semifinal stage. Their fourth-place finish was their worst in World Cup efforts, and the Australians were champions for a second time.
Far from daunted, the All Blacks had high expectations going into the 2003 event across the Tasman after winning the Tri-Nations and Bledisloe Cup. They didn’t disappoint - beating South Africa for the first time at World Cup in the quarterfinals - but once again stumbled at the semis hurdle, this time to Australia. The All Blacks returned home with a bronze medal, and the consolation of scoring the most points, including a record 52 tries.
Leading in to the 2007 World Cup, the All Blacks had played 424 tests, and won 314 of them - a 74 per cent success rate. They’ve scored twice as many points as they’ve had scored against them.
These topics may also be of interest to you
|
