The New Zealand national rugby union team toured Britain and Ireland in November and December 1997. They played nine matches, including test matches against Wales, Ireland and two against England. They won each of the first eight games, but drew the second test against England in their final match, avoiding a clean sweep.
Results
Scores and results list New Zealand's points tally first. Opponent For Against Date Venue Status Llanelli 81 3 8 November 1997 Stradey Park, Llanelli Tour match Wales A 51 8 11 November 1997 Sardis Road, Pontypridd Tour match Ireland 63 15 15 November 1997 Lansdowne Road, Dublin Test match Emerging England 59 22 18 November 1997 McAlpine Stadium, Huddersfield Tour match England 25 8 22 November 1997 Old Trafford, Manchester Test match English Rugby Partnership XV 18 11 25 November 1997 Ashton Gate, Bristol Tour match Wales 42 7 29 November 1997 Wembley Stadium, London Test match England A 30 19 2 December 1997 Welford Road Stadium, Leicester Tour match England 26 26 6 December 1997 Twickenham Stadium, London Test match
Squads New Zealand The New Zealand Rugby selection panel named a squad of 36 for the tour, including six uncapped players: full-back Todd Miller, flanker Aaron Hopa, prop Gordon Slater, half-back Mark Robinson, number 8 Steve Surridge and centre Jeremy Stanley. Wing Jonah Lomu, second five-eighth Walter Little and flanker Andrew Blowers returned to the squad after illness and injury. Number 8 Zinzan Brooke was picked for his final All Black tour ahead of a move to English club Harlequins in 1998.
Name Position Club Notes Hooker Auckland Captain Hooker Southland Hooker Otago Loosehead prop Central Vikings Loosehead prop Auckland Tighthead prop Canterbury Tighthead prop Auckland Tighthead prop Taranaki Lock Auckland Lock Waikato Lock North Harbour Lock Auckland Blindside flanker Canterbury Blindside flanker Waikato Blindside flanker Otago Openside flanker Auckland Openside flanker Auckland Openside flanker Otago Number 8 Auckland Number 8 Canterbury Half-back Canterbury Half-back Wellington Half-back North Harbour First five-eighth Canterbury First five-eighth Auckland Second five-eighth Wellington Second five-eighth North Harbour Centre North Harbour Centre Waikato Centre Auckland Wing Counties-Manukau Wing North Harbour Wing Wellington Wing Otago Full-back Central Vikings Full-back Waikato
England England coach Clive Woodward named a 28-man training squad for their four tests in November and December.
Name Position Club Notes Back row Wasps Captain Hooker Gloucester Hooker Bath Hooker Bath Prop Leicester Prop Wasps Prop Harlequins Prop Leicester Lock Newcastle Lock Saracens Lock Leicester Back row Leicester Back row Saracens Back row Saracens Back row Northampton Scrum-half Saracens Scrum-half Northampton Fly-half Bath Fly-half Northampton Fly-half Wasps Centre Bath Centre Leicester Wing Bath Wing Newcastle Wing Sale Full-back Northampton Full-back Bath Full-back Newcastle
Wales Wales named a combined group of 52 covering both their senior team and the development squad for their November internationals. The most significant omission was their former captain, wing Ieuan Evans, but coach Kevin Bowring said this was for fitness reasons rather than Evans being on the verge of international retirement.
Name Position Club Notes Back row Cardiff Captain Hooker Cardiff Hooker Swansea Hooker Llanelli Hooker Richmond Prop Swansea Prop Swansea Prop Pontypridd Prop Cardiff Prop Swansea Prop Cardiff Prop Cardiff Lock Newport Lock Swansea Lock Harlequins Lock Moseley Lock Richmond Lock Pontypridd Lock Bridgend Lock Llanelli Lock Neath Back row Swansea Back row Neath Back row Llanelli Back row Richmond Back row Pontypridd Back row Bath Back row Pontypridd Back row Cardiff Back row Llanelli Scrum-half Harlequins Scrum-half Pontypridd Scrum-half Richmond Fly-half Newport Fly-half Ebbw Vale Fly-half Cardiff Fly-half Pontypridd Fly-half Swansea Centre Richmond Centre Llanelli Centre Cardiff Centre Swansea Centre Pontypridd Wing London Welsh Wing Pontypridd Wing UWIC Wing Bridgend Wing Cardiff Wing Pontypridd Full-back Swansea Full-back Llanelli Full-back Pontypridd
References