The 1996 New Zealand rugby union tour of South Africa was a historic tour in the history of New Zealand rugby. The All Blacks won the test series 2–1 and became known as "the Incomparables" for their feat of winning a series in South Africa for the first time.
Background The rivalry between New Zealand and South Africa had begun in 1921. This history included the controversial 1981 tour. The All Blacks had never beaten South Africa in a test series in South Africa. All Black sides of 1928, 1949, 1960, 1970 and 1976 had all failed to beat South Africa away from home. 1996 was the year professionalism was introduced into rugby union meaning the creation of the new Tri nations and Super 12. A full-scale tour between New Zealand and South Africa is scheduled for 2026 called Rugby's Greatest Rivalry.
The Tour New Zealand and South Africa played four test matches; the first was the final match of the 1996 Tri Nations Series. The next three was for the test series which the All Blacks won 2–1.
1st Test
2nd Test
3rd Test
Matches Scores and results list New Zealand's points tally first. Opponent For Against Date Venue StatusBoland Invitation XV 32 21 6 August 1996 Esselen Park, Worcester Tour MatchSouth Africa 29 18 10 August 1996 Newlands, Cape Town Tri NationsEastern Province 31 23 13 August 1996 Boet Erasmus Stadium, Port Elizabeth Tour MatchSouth Africa 23 19 17 August 1996 King's Park, Durban Test MatchWestern Transvaal 31 0 20 August 1996 Olën Park, Potchefstroom Tour Match South Africa 33 26 24 August 1996 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria Test MatchGriqualand West 18 18 27 August 1996 Hoffe Park, Kimberley Tour MatchSouth Africa 22 32 31 August 1996 Ellis Park, Johannesburg Test Match
The squad 1. Simon Culhane (Southland) 2. Jon Preston (Wellington) 3. Matthew Cooper (Waikato) 4. Jeff Wilson (Otago) 5. Zinzan Brooke (Auckland) 6. Scott McLeod (Waikato) 7. Ofisa Tonu'u (Auckland) 8. Andrew Mehrtens (Canterbury) 9. Andrew Blowers (Auckland) 10. Christian Cullen (Manawatu) 11. Sean Fitzpatrick (Auckland) 12. Alama Ieremia (Wellington) 13. Blair Larsen (North Harbour) 14. Walter Little (North Harbour) 15. Jonah Lomu (Counties Manukau) 16. Justin Marshall (Canterbury) 17. Glen Osborne (North Harbour) 18. Eric Rush (North Harbour) 19. Carlos Spencer (Auckland) 20. Mark "Bull" Allen (Taranaki) 21. Con Barrell (Canterbury) 22. Todd Blackadder (Canterbury) 23. Robin Brooke (Auckland) 24. Olo Brown (Auckland) 25. Frank Bunce (North Harbour) 26. Phil Coffin (King Country) 27. Chresten Davis (Manawatu) 28. Craig Dowd (Auckland) 29. Norm Hewitt (Southland) 30. Ian Jones (North Harbour) 31. Michael Jones (Auckland) 32. Josh Kronfeld (Otago) 33. John "Tabai" Matson (Canterbury) 34. Anton Oliver (Otago) 35. Taine Randell (Otago) 36. Glenn Taylor (Northland)
See also History of rugby union matches between New Zealand and South Africa
References