Six firsts in a century of Wallabies v All Blacks

With the Wallabies and All Blacks set to square off in their first ever World Cup final, we look back at some more memorable firsts in this fierce sporting rivalry.

1931: Wallabies captain Syd Malcolm (ball) makes a break against the All Blacks.

Although Australia and New Zealand have two of the most formidable rugby teams in the world, next weekend’s Rugby World Cup final will be the first time they have met each other for the William Webb Ellis Cup. The fierce rivalry between the two foes has seen epic clashes over 112 years of thumping each other.

Over the last century and more there have been many other interesting firsts, with Australia on the receiving end of many drubbings as well as rousing victories. Here’s hoping the Wallabies do us proud on Sunday morning by notching up another entry in the victory column.

1903: First Australia v New Zealand game: Although New Zealand rugby clubs had played games against local Australian sides since the 1880s, the first official meeting between the national sides was in 1903 at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Despite the home ground advantage Australia lost 22-3. The Australians wore the light blue NSW jersey rather than green and gold, which would be officially adopted as the team colours in 1928.

1905: First match on New Zealand turf: It would be just over two years before the two teams went head to head again, but this time it was on New Zealand soil at Tahuna Park, Dunedin. The Australians played badly in tour matches in New Zealand but headed to that game against New Zealand feeling their form was improving. The game was almost cancelled because parts of the field were under water, but the game went on despite the sloppiness of the pitch and despite some determined play Australia lost again, 14-3.

1910: Australia’s first win against New Zealand: It was a long time coming, but the Wallabies (the name they adopted on the 1908 tour of England), finally managed to beat the All Blacks in the second game of a three-game series at the Sydney Cricket Ground in 1910. This was after some of their best players had defected to the new rugby league. In the first game it was apparent the teams were more evenly matched than before, with neither side scoring in the first half. In the second half the “visitors made the most of their opportunities”, kicking six goals to take the game. Two days later they met again but this time the Australians had a better idea of the All Blacks’ moves, getting the ball in almost every scrum and aggressively attacking the New Zealand line to win 11-0. It was their first victory against the New Zealanders. In the third game the Kiwis won 28-13, but it didn’t blunt Australia’s sense of triumph.

1932: First Bledisloe clashes: New Zealand once again pounded the Wallabies in 1931, 20-13 at Eden Park, after which the governor-general of New Zealand, Lord Bledisloe, donated a trophy. In 1932 a three-game series was played, the competition officially known as the Bledisloe Cup. Australia won the first game of the 1932 series 22-17, played in Sydney, but New Zealand won the second game (played in Brisbane) 21-3. The All Blacks then took the Cup by winning the final game in Sydney 21-13.

1934: Australia’s first Bledisloe win: Australia went into the 1934 series as the underdogs, with one report lauding the All Blacks “invincibility”. Since the end of World War I, New Zealand had beaten Australia 22 times, with Australia winning only nine games against the formidable opposition. But the Wallabies proved their mettle to win the first game 25-11. When the second game ended a 3-3 draw Australia were entitled to claim the series and Cup. The Australians would not win the Cup on home soil again until 1979.

1991: First meeting in World Cup: The first Rugby World Cup in 1987 had Australia and New Zealand in different pools. Australia were knocked out by France in the semi-final and New Zealand went on to take home the William Webb Ellis trophy. The first World Cup match-up was in 1991 when Australia beat New Zealand 16-6 in Dublin, knocking the All Blacks out of the competition and going on to win the Cup against England.

Originally published as Six firsts in a century of Wallabies v All Blacks