1976 - South Africa vs New Zealand, 4th Test (highlights)

South Africa 15 - 14 New Zealand
Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg
18 September 1976

[@coconutgrovemusicnz]

I remember this series well. That Gerald Bosch was a machine with that boot of his. RIP Bruce Robertson. Thank you for the joy of watching you play. 13.05.2023

[@4T9ERS]

Wow I didn't know Bruce Robertson had died, I was a Hastings boy also, but been living overseas most of my life, my cousin played along side him also at Ardmore teachers college back in the 70's both Hawkes Bay boys, I came across this randomly RIP Bruce Robertson .

[@malcolmhayward4431]

Are you sure?

[@johanlamprecht5577]

AB definately deserved that one. They also won the fight. I was 8 years old watching that series remember it like yesterday

[@philipgolding3672]

They should have given verseidhut a south African knighthood for his services to South African Rugby that day!!!

[@brettwilkinson9529]

I was a 9 year old NZ kid when watching this series. I was completely obsessed with it. Was so frustrating not to have had Joe Karam on the tour as his goal kicking would have been the difference even with the appalling South African referres. Took me several decades to get over the loss. A test series we should have won.

[@Rotowhaka]

I remember this all black team as a poorly selected one, with far better players going on the Trip to Argentina latter on in the year. The All blacks had no body but the selectors and management team to blame for this series loss, At this point in time neither the springboks or the All blacks were the top team in the world, both had been well beaten by the lions, and beaten at home by the English, plus the French were hitting there straps and Welsh were having their golden era. Durning the 70’s the All Blacks did not perform that well, apart from the 1978 grand slam. And the lucky series win against the 77 Lions

[@brettwilkinson9529]

@@Rotowhaka Disagree with what you said. The All Blacks of the 1970's were good for much of the decade. 1972 Thrashed Australia 3- 0 in test series. Then went on to Britain and France on the last of the long tours beating Wales, Scotland, England and drawing against Ireland, 1974 beating Australia in Test Series 2- 0 , then defeating Ireland and Wales, . 1975 Thrashed Scotland in water polo test, 1976 going down 3 - 1 in Test series against South Africa with the aid of cheating ref., 1977 defeating Lions 3-1 in test series, drawn test series against France . 1978 Test Series win against Australia 2- 1, Gand Slam against Ireland , Wales , England, Scotland . Etc. From 1972 to 1979 , they only lost 10 test matches from 37 tests played. Keep in mind this was the Home Nations strongest decade. Yet Wales were never able to defeat them.

[@Rotowhaka]

1970 Lost to Springboks 3-1 , could have easily been 4-0 1971 Lost to Lions 2-1 with a draw 1972 beat the Awful Aussies who were hopeless, then 2 good wins vs Wales and Scotland 1973 Beat England, then blew an opportunity to take the grand slam with some dumb play vs Ireland, drew this match could have lost it, well beaten by France, then lost at home to England, the only win England had on that tour 1974, Beat an improving Aussie team, successful short tour to Ireland, the Welsh match was against a Welsh XV thus did not have test status. 1975 Beat Scotland in the water polo test, a number of the Scots were complaining how bad the conditions were and just did not want to be there 1976 A scrappy win against Ireland, poorly selected, coached and managed tour of South Africa, hate to say it All Blacks had only themselves to blame, the team that went to Argentina were a better balanced team. 1977 The Lions absolutely killed the all blacks forwards in that 4th test, should have put the All Blacks away, France then destroyed the All Blacks in the 1st Test, it was at this point in time, the Coaching team started to change the game plan which did result in a good come back in the 2nd test 1978 suffered a thrashing at Eden Park vs Australia, got the grand slam, had a close calls vs Ireland, wales and Scotland 1979 lost to France at Eden Park, then lost to Australia in Sydney, then thrashed by a English divisional team, and a luck win against the English Overall during The 1970s the All Blacks had gone backwards, and at times, were poorly selected, coached and managed and it was during the 1980’s that the rot was halted, with series wins over the Springbok, the Lions, and winning the first World Cup, through better coaching, team management and selection, and the 1980’s had more challenges, such as falling player numbers, Springbok protests, rebel tour to South Africa and the rise of the Wallabies

[@kevinoliver4931]

I was 10 years old during this series. Played mini rugby for Northlands old boys against Toti in a early curtain raiser to the All Blacks vs Natal match at the old Kings Park which hosted the First Test in Durban. Happy memories..a All Blacks tour was a huge occasion in those days.

[@nepiahemopo1702]

As a Kiwi, i love this era of rugby! So unadulterated

[@teibto6190]

RIP Bruce Robertson you legend

[@ruthcarter1360]

Wonderful to watch, Bryan Williams still awesome after all those years. The greatest All Black ever 👍💪

[@pierreterblanche541]

Back in 1979, our school had a 'drawing Gerald Bosch' competition and the winning drawing would receive R5. (in South Africa). I was in st 1 (grade 3) and my brother in st 5 (grade 7). He spend the whole week on his drawing, and it looked just like Gerald Bosch. (he was an artist of note). The price money went to someone else's line drawing, because they thought our parents did this drawing. My brother was heart broken. R5 was a lot of money and could have buy bread for our family for the next 2 months. And that was his only mission, to help my mother to support us whom grew up without a farther. Thankfully technology came along to support the next generation from these injustice. Let his soul rest in peace.

[@ruthcarter1360]

WOW what a slugging match, Muhammad Ali would be proud of those punches thrown 😂😂😜

[@chrisoconnor5880]

Billy Bush, you beauty

[@andylauder2072]

This was the tour with the amazing “levitating” springbok locks……neutral referees were still some way off .

[@user-te3jc3sl7r]

I was teenager at the time but this test still ranks as the most frustrating match I have seen the ABs play. How the referee did not award Bruce Robertson a penalty try for a blatant holding back on him I will never know. The AB's could have won this game by 10 points if not for bad goal kicking and bad refereeing .

[@NoName-hg6cc]

"Bad refereeing"😂😂😂😂😂

[@user-te3jc3sl7r]

Correct@@NoName-hg6cc

[@NoName-hg6cc]

@@user-te3jc3sl7r It was ironic.

[@scottcornthwaite6770]

I was at that game, toured South Africa on an All Black supporters tour as a 22year old, happy days. Certainly can remember some dodgy ref calls.

[@zabaleta66]

Wow, I was about 10-11. Still filthy about this one! This was real rugby though, love it!

[@chrisbaxter3597]

Tough men - close as you’ll get to brutality of League

[@colincorn8678]

Bryce Lawrence would have fitted well in this era

[@merlin5420]

4:30 Lol that Japie got laid out! Lucky they held back uncle Billy Bush from sorting them out

[@luger188]

Lol , he was fucking awesome!!!

[@glennfolau6959]

I think that they started introducing neutral referees after that tour.

[@contrarian717]

Didn't help us in 81

[@chrisbaxter3597]

Ha Ha and NZ refs were always completely neutral

[@glennfolau6959]

@@chrisbaxter3597 They were more neutral than SA and French refs.

[@darren2514fv]

The last series prior to 2020 to involve the All Blacks to have local refs was the Bledisloe Cup in 1980 which was refereed by Australians and the last home series in NZ to have local referees was the 1978 Bledisloe Cup series where Dave Millar from Otago did all 3 tests

[@rogue_luko]

​@@chrisbaxter3597 You're an idiot - NZ refs were far more attuned to playing to the letter of the IRB law; whereas Saffa refs exercised creative license - dependent on how much $Rand changed hands between match officials and SARU affiliated unions before games 😂.

[@Tanner-2]

DE KLERK....! ⁉️

[@andy1may]

had a kicker we would have won 18 15

[@jrmop0965]

That last penalty was suspect af. 😂 Typical saffa refs

[@tails8763]

forwards just standing there hands of hips, you fkn kidding

[@arnoldtheron7932]

Like the last one in 1981. Glass house?

[@jacqloock]

That was a piss-poor bok team. Almost but not quite as poor as ‘74.

[@Rotowhaka]

What is forgotten, is how this series ruined the 1976 Olympic Games.

[@juriegroenewald3236]

Sid going was n bliksem Wie is die oosthuisen srnter vir o s

[@jon.tarboctarbock1172]

Johan Oosterhuizen western province and police rugby club

[@floydkingi4364]

Pathetic biased refereeing, neutral reffs were introduced not long after this series

[@NoName-hg6cc]

New Zealand won a series in 1956 thanks to "pathetic biased ref"😂

[@arnoldtheron7932]

Lucky you had biased refs in 1981.

[@beyondthepale2023]

Atrocious referee

[@michaelsmith1486]

All blacks always ended up playing against 16 men in South Africa in those days

[@contrarian717]

We also had our days in NZ with refs

[@99waylon]

@@contrarian717 An example please?

[@antstry77]

1981 3rd test, although it was supposed to be a "neutral" ref.

[@contrarian717]

@@99waylon yes the 81 tour 3rd test. Go watch that final minutes. Also 1956 first test. Read the story.

[@antstry77]

NZ also got away with murder in 1956. Go read more about it.