1972 England rugby union tour of South Africa

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1972 England rugby union tour of South Africa
Summary
PWDL
Total
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Test match
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Opponent
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Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg  South Africa
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This first tour undertaken by England to South Africa was organised with a demanding schedule, although with only one Test Match. Within two weeks and three days, seven matches were to be played, the first four at sea level, and the final three, including the Test Match, at the altitude in the highveld with only two days to acclimatise before a demanding fixture against Northern Transvaal. From the outset, under captain John Pullin and the management of Alec Lewis and John Elders, there was a buoyant and optimistic spirit in the squad, as if they were determined to erase the memories of the last few seasons of undistinguished English performances.[ citation needed ]

Contents

Apartheid backdrop and controversy

The tour took place against the backdrop of widespread condemnation of the apartheid regime. Under pressure from other African nations, the International Olympic Committee had excluded South Africa from competing in the Summer Games since 1964, and there had also been protests against visiting sporting teams from South Africa.

In 1971, an international cricket boycott was instituted against South Africa to voice global disapproval of their selection policies and apartheid in general. South Africa subsequently became a world sporting pariah, and were excluded from the Olympics, the FIFA World Cup, test cricket, and a host of other sports. [1]

There were protests against the 1972 England rugby tour, including a blockade of their hotel to try to prevent them leaving, in which 14 people were arrested. [2]

Matches

Scores and results list England's points tally first.
Opposing TeamForAgainstDateVenueStatus
Natal 19017 May 1972 Durban Tour match
Western Province 9620 May 1972 Cape Town Tour match
SA Rugby Fed XV 11622 May 1972 Cape Town Tour match
SA Leopards 36324 May 1972 Port Elizabeth Tour match
Northern Transvaal 131327 May 1972 Pretoria Tour match
Giqualand West 602130 May 1972 Kimberley Tour match
South Africa 1893 June 1972 Ellis Park, Johannesburg Test Match

Test Match

Piet Greyling led a combination of Springboks who seemed hopelessly unsure of themselves. Dawie Snyman collected all the South African points with three penalties while England, with unspectacular competence, grabbed every scoring chance. Fullback Sam Doble converted a try by wing Alan Morley and also booted four penalties. [3]

3 June 1972
South Africa  Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg9–18Flag of England.svg  England
Pen: Snyman 3 [4] Try: Morley
Con: Doble
Pen: Doble 4
Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Referee: Justus Moolman (South Africa)
South Africa England
Ray Carlson FB15FB Sam Doble
Syd Nomis W14W Alan Morley
Tonie Roux C13C Jeremy Janion
Joggie Jansen C12C Peter Preece
Gert Muller W11W Peter Knight
Dawie Snyman FH10FH Alan Old
Joggie Viljoen SH9SH Jan Webster
Albie Bates N88N8 Andy Ripley
Jan Ellis F7F John Watkins
(capt.) Piet Greyling F6F Tony Neary
John Williams L5L Chris Ralston
Piet du Plessis L4L Peter Larter
Sakkie Sauermann P3P Mike Burton
Piston van Wyk H2H John Pullin (capt.)
Niek Bezuidenhout P1P Stack Stevens
Replacements
Coaches
Johan Claassen Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Flag of England.svg John Elders

Touring party

Full Backs

Three-Quarters

Half-Backs

Forwards

See also

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References

  1. ↑ Pg 99, Douglas Booth, The Race Game: Sport and Politics in South Africa, 1998.
  2. ↑ "Anti-Apartheid protesters' historic convictions overturned by Crown Court". Criminal Cases Review Commission . 17 January 2023. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  3. ↑ Greyvenstein, Chris (1992). Springbok saga : from 1891 to the new beginning (4th ed.). Cape Town: Don Nelson. pp. 217–218. ISBN   1-86806-095-0. OCLC   105375255.
  4. ↑ Griffiths, John (1982). The Book of English International Rugby 1871–1982. Willow Books. p. 358. ISBN   978-0-00-218006-1.
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