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 |
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
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]
