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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.
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.
Results Scores and results list Australia's points tally first. Opposing Team For Against Date Venue Status0265 Aug 1972Carisbrook, DunedinTour match West Coast-Buller10159 Aug 1972 Victoria Square, WestportTour match201512 Aug 1972 Rugby Park, New PlymouthTour match6615 Aug 1972 Tauranga Domain, TaurangaTour match New Zealand62919 Aug 1972Athletic Park, WellingtonTest match13623 Aug 1972Taumarunui Domain, TaumarunuiTour match141526 Aug 1972McLean Park, NapierTour match26729 Sep 1972Trafalgar Park, NelsonTour match New Zealand17302 Sep 1972Lancaster Park, ChristchurchTest match37125 Sep 1972Centennial Park, OamaruTour match24269 Sep 1972Rugby Park, HamiltonTour match /221912 Sep 1972Rugby Park, GisborneTour match New Zealand33816 Sep 1972Eden Park, AucklandTest match Fiji211919 Sep 1972National Stadium, SuvaTest match
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".Howell p189 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".Howell p192 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.
Joe French was the tour manager. Bob Templeton was the team's coach who carried the traditional touring title of Assistant Manager.
Touring party Manager - Joe French Assistant manager - Bob Templeton Captain - Greg Davis
Backs
Dave Burnet John Cole John Cornes Russell Fairfax Gary Grey David L'Estrange Arthur McGill Jeff McLean David Rathie Geoff Richardson Peter Rowles John Taylor
Forwards
Bruce Brown Dick Cocks Greg Davis Garrick Fay Mick Freney Tony Gelling Jake Howard Roy Prosser Reg Smith Barry Stumbles Peter Sullivan Robert Thompson Robert Wood
References