youngmunster
25th-July-2011, 04:27
Manu Samoa's win over Australia last weekend is one of the surprising reversals in world rugby. Here is David Leggat's and Dylan Cleaver's top 10.
(1) Wales 3 All Blacks 0, Cardiff, December 16, 1905
An upset? Well, consider the backdrop. The Originals were away from home almost five months, played 35 games, won 34.
No team reached double figures against them, and it was on this tour the legend both of All Black rugby, and the Wales-New Zealand rivalry was born.
The Welsh test came after wins over Scotland, 12-7, Ireland and England, both 15-0, and France were beaten 38-8 in Paris at the end of the tour.
On this day, New Zealand were off their game, tiring from the rigours of the travel and short of three key players, including first five-eighth Billy Stead and big forward Bill Cunningham.
Wales weren't in bad shape, with only one new cap, first five-eighth Percy Bush, and he'd played for Great Britain, as the Lions were then known, a year earlier in New Zealand and Australia.
<DIV id=DivContenect style="6200: " ="advert">The only try was scored by wing Teddy Morgan. One of rugby's great controversies happened that day, the try scored, or not, by Bob Deans. It was ruled out by a slow-moving referee who was well behind the play, wearing street shoes. </DIV>
However there was a view at the time that, for all that, New Zealand were the inferior team on the day.
(2) Newport 3 All Blacks 0, Rodney Parade, October 30, 1963
Just the third game of a 36-game, four-month tour and Newport carried on Wales' tradition of great club victories by Swansea and Cardiff.
In drizzly, muddy conditions at Rodney Parade, Newport, who had the dazzling future Lion and league international David Watkins at first five-eighth, were fired up.
The only points came from a skiddy dropped goal by centre Dick Uzzell in the first half.
It was a nightmare start to the All Black career of first five-eighth Earle Kirton, who unfairly copped a share of blame for the loss.
It's worth looking at the All Black side: Clarke D., Caulton, MacRae, Walsh, Davis, Kirton, Briscoe, Lochore, Nathan, Tremain, Meads, Horsley, Clarke I., Major, Whineray (c). Not exactly a lightweight combination.
Newport celebrated like there was no tomorrow. Indeed, a Welsh team has only beaten the All Blacks once since then. Read on ...
(3) England 18 South Africa 9, Ellis Park, Johannesburg, June 3, 1972
England's first tour to the republic, and a nightmare itinerary, seven games in 17 days, which sounds suspiciously ITM Cup-ish. They won six and drew 13-13 with Northern Transvaal in Pretoria.
There were notable English names in the squad, forwards such as captain and hooker John Pullin, Fran Cotton, Andy Ripley, Chris Ralston and Tony Neary, Lions all, and backs Alan Old - brother of test cricketer Chris - halfbacks Steve Smith and Jan Webster, centre Peter Preece, all handy performers.
South Africa were out of sorts, a mix of ageing heros and lesser performers. Their captain was Piet Greyling, scourge of the 1970 All Blacks, and other notables included his fellow flanker Jan Ellis, tough tackling centre Joggie Jansen, flying winger Gerd Muller and Fergie McCormick's old nemesis Sid Nomis.
England were unspectacular but diligent and fullback Sam Doble got England the win with four penalties, and converted wing Alan Morley's try. South Africa managed just three Dawie Snyman penalties.
England had to battle with seven-man scrums for a quarter of the match because of eight injuries, too.
Doble played in the All Blacks' 9-0 win over England a year later, but he only won three caps. Sadly he died of lymphatic cancer in 1977, aged just 33.
(4) Llanelli 9 All Blacks 3, Stradey Park, October 31, 1972
Welsh singer/comedian Max Boyce penned a celebrated (in Wales, anyway) ditty, '9-3', which included the famous line about "The day t
(1) Wales 3 All Blacks 0, Cardiff, December 16, 1905
An upset? Well, consider the backdrop. The Originals were away from home almost five months, played 35 games, won 34.
No team reached double figures against them, and it was on this tour the legend both of All Black rugby, and the Wales-New Zealand rivalry was born.
The Welsh test came after wins over Scotland, 12-7, Ireland and England, both 15-0, and France were beaten 38-8 in Paris at the end of the tour.
On this day, New Zealand were off their game, tiring from the rigours of the travel and short of three key players, including first five-eighth Billy Stead and big forward Bill Cunningham.
Wales weren't in bad shape, with only one new cap, first five-eighth Percy Bush, and he'd played for Great Britain, as the Lions were then known, a year earlier in New Zealand and Australia.
<DIV id=DivContenect style="6200: " ="advert">The only try was scored by wing Teddy Morgan. One of rugby's great controversies happened that day, the try scored, or not, by Bob Deans. It was ruled out by a slow-moving referee who was well behind the play, wearing street shoes. </DIV>
However there was a view at the time that, for all that, New Zealand were the inferior team on the day.
(2) Newport 3 All Blacks 0, Rodney Parade, October 30, 1963
Just the third game of a 36-game, four-month tour and Newport carried on Wales' tradition of great club victories by Swansea and Cardiff.
In drizzly, muddy conditions at Rodney Parade, Newport, who had the dazzling future Lion and league international David Watkins at first five-eighth, were fired up.
The only points came from a skiddy dropped goal by centre Dick Uzzell in the first half.
It was a nightmare start to the All Black career of first five-eighth Earle Kirton, who unfairly copped a share of blame for the loss.
It's worth looking at the All Black side: Clarke D., Caulton, MacRae, Walsh, Davis, Kirton, Briscoe, Lochore, Nathan, Tremain, Meads, Horsley, Clarke I., Major, Whineray (c). Not exactly a lightweight combination.
Newport celebrated like there was no tomorrow. Indeed, a Welsh team has only beaten the All Blacks once since then. Read on ...
(3) England 18 South Africa 9, Ellis Park, Johannesburg, June 3, 1972
England's first tour to the republic, and a nightmare itinerary, seven games in 17 days, which sounds suspiciously ITM Cup-ish. They won six and drew 13-13 with Northern Transvaal in Pretoria.
There were notable English names in the squad, forwards such as captain and hooker John Pullin, Fran Cotton, Andy Ripley, Chris Ralston and Tony Neary, Lions all, and backs Alan Old - brother of test cricketer Chris - halfbacks Steve Smith and Jan Webster, centre Peter Preece, all handy performers.
South Africa were out of sorts, a mix of ageing heros and lesser performers. Their captain was Piet Greyling, scourge of the 1970 All Blacks, and other notables included his fellow flanker Jan Ellis, tough tackling centre Joggie Jansen, flying winger Gerd Muller and Fergie McCormick's old nemesis Sid Nomis.
England were unspectacular but diligent and fullback Sam Doble got England the win with four penalties, and converted wing Alan Morley's try. South Africa managed just three Dawie Snyman penalties.
England had to battle with seven-man scrums for a quarter of the match because of eight injuries, too.
Doble played in the All Blacks' 9-0 win over England a year later, but he only won three caps. Sadly he died of lymphatic cancer in 1977, aged just 33.
(4) Llanelli 9 All Blacks 3, Stradey Park, October 31, 1972
Welsh singer/comedian Max Boyce penned a celebrated (in Wales, anyway) ditty, '9-3', which included the famous line about "The day t