The 1983 New Zealand rugby union tour of Australia was the All Blacks' seventeenth tour of Australia and their first one-off test tour since 1979 (). The tour was a one-off match between Australia and New Zealand at the Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney. Considered the better side, and with the odds in their favour (6–4), New Zealand had only won five of their last ten fixtures against the Wallabies (50%). Australia were 9–10 outsiders, however, Wallabies coach Bob Dwyer commented: “The All Black aura of domination of five or six years ago is over... They were once supermen who couldn't be beaten but that All Black bogey doesn't exist any more.” New Zealand won the test 8–18. New Zealand coach Bryce Rope said that Australia and New Zealand were the two best rugby union teams in the world before the match. Wallaby coach, Bob Dwyer, insisted that Australia was the only team in the world (at the time) that could beat New Zealand, saying several days before the match, "I honestly reckon we're about the only side in the world who can beat them." The match was also David Campese's fourth match against the All Blacks. The first Bledisloe Cup test match in Australia to have a neutral referee Scotland's Brian Anderson was the first non Australian to referee a Bledisloe Cup Test in Australia
Match details
FB 15David CampeseRW 14Peter GriggOC 13Andrew SlackIC 12Mike HawkerLW 11Brendan MoonFH 10Mark Ella (c)SH 9 Tony ParkerN8 8 Duncan Hall Jr.OF 7 Simon PoidevinBF 6 Chris RocheRL 5 Steve WilliamsLL 4 David HillhouseTP 3 Stan PileckiHK 2 Bill RossLP 1 John MeadowsCoach:Bob Dwyer FB 15Allan HewsonRW 14Stu WilsonOC 13Steve PokereIC 12Warwick TaylorLW 11Bernie FraserFH 10Ian DunnSH 9 Dave LoveridgeN8 8 Murray MextedOF 7 Jock HobbsBF 6 Mark ShawRL 5 Andy HadenLL 4 Graeme HigginsonTP 3 Gary KnightHK 2 Andy Dalton (c)LP 1 John AshworthCoach:Bryce Rope
References