There are a host of international teams like Scotland and Ireland not even to mention second tier test nations like Canada, USA, Italia and Argentina who have never beaten the All Blacks. Wales have beaten the All Blacks only three times; the last time being in 1953. In general the only teams really able to foster some occasional wins against the All Blacks are England, France, Australia and South Africa with the latter being by far the most successful in this regard. 

The fact that Rhodesia (now of course Zimbabwe) have once beaten the All Blacks are therefore something really unique and says a lot about the state of rugby in Southern Africa at the time this occurred namely in 1949. The fact that South Africa also white washed the 1949 All Blacks 4-0 in the test series leaves the impression that it was a weak All Black side which is something most rugby scribes strongly reject.  Continue reading →

Bloemfontein was the next stop where almost everyone ceased their daily activities and went to watch the arrival of the AB’s. Gabriel David sums it up in the following paragraph:

There may have well have been one or two people working in Bloemfontein when the All Blacks arrived just after 10:30 a.m. but there wouldn’t have been more than three! There was an awed silence from about 500 people at the airport but the welcome to the All Blacks as they drove through the streets of this city of 100,000 people were almost unbelievable.  

Roads, footpaths and building were jammed with waving and cheering Orange Free Staters. There must have been at least 50,000 out in the sun to greet the tourists. Continue reading →

The All Blacks travelled form Windhoek to the Transvaal for three matches: firstly, against Eastern Transvaal in Springs; secondly, against Transvaal in Johannesburg; thirdly, against Western Transvaal in Potchefstroom.

Starting with a bit of sightseeing and relaxation the team went down a mineshaft in Johannesburg to view how gold is mined underground. The author could not resist the temptation to boast about the strength of one the All Black players. Here is what

David wrote:

There were conflicting reports about the visit to the Western Areas Gold Mine. Some of the players described it as dull but manager Ron Burk said it was fascinating to go down 6.000 feet, travel two miles by underground train and watch the workmen at the actual rock face. The Taranaki lock, Alan Smith, was not at all impressed with the promises and challenge of the mine manager who showed the All Blacks a 100 lb nugget worth about $ 31,000 and stated that anyone who could lift it with one hand could take it away. Smith, whose powerful hands have become something of a legend, casually lifted the nugget in his right hand. The mine manager hastily assured him that he was only joking -about taking the gold rock away.  Continue reading →