Rugby Test Series 1986 (2nd) - South Africa vs. New Zealand Cavaliers

May 17, 1986 -- Kings Park, Durban

[@brettwilkinson9529]

Botha,Gerber, and Carl DuPlussis were the best in the world in their positions. I remember listening to this game live on radio in NZ. Our Government refused to show any coverage on television. The South African radio announcer was awesome that day. Made me feel I was actually watching it. A cliff hanger that the Cavaliers almost lost.

[@brettwilkinson9529]

@FOMO FUD Remember going to the video store several weeks later and hiring each game on VHS. Great time to own a video Shop. How times have changed.

[@fomofud9479]

It's a shame this wasn't an official test series but under the circumstances it was understandable

[@nepiahemopo1702]

I was fifteen back then Brett. Gerber was amazing!! But yeah, I was guttered we could not watch it on telly in NZ. So much emotion!!

[@brettwilkinson9529]

@@nepiahemopo1702 remember Gerber scoring his try in the 3rd Test at Loftus Versfeld and as he was running, the South African commentator said ........".he is big , he is strong, he is fast, there's no stopping him in that situation!". They would have definitely won the 1987 World Cup had they been invited.

[@johnnyhammer]

@@brettwilkinson9529 There is nothing definite about a Springbok victory in 1987. The ABs were stacked with talent themselves.

[@peternicholson233]

The politics don't bother me; i'm grateful this is on tape. Thanks for the upload.

[@MegaOrganics]

Cowboy Shaw, Hika Reid... it don't get any better than that! Cheers for the vid Bro

[@darren2514fv]

Most of the side went to France with the official All Blacks in that NH Autumn/SH Spring where the France team who went on to win the Grand Slam in 1987 became the last team to beat the All Blacks before that 3 year winning run

[@mattdahamilton]

Good upload thanks

[@robertboyle2573]

There's plenty of great players on both sides in this game. Danie Gerber always stands out.

[@jerryhann4698]

My 2nd time ever playing rugby I beat Naas Botha on the pool table 10 times in a row at a social for a 7's tourney in Texas back in 1983ish

[@fomofud9479]

Lol, great story, how did he take the loss, losingwas not something he was used to? Didn't he go and trial for the NFL's Cowboys in '83 as well?

[@KatharineShaw-z8u]

Who were the Cavaliers representing? They were not the NZ national rugby team called the All Blacks. The great Colin Meads was the coach who had never coached at that level before. It might have given the Boks some much needed international play but that's all this rugby series provided. This Cavaliers tour will never be recognised by the NZRU as an official tour.

[@SamF-vc9gh]

Seems pretty official when its the all blacks players just in a different jersey. Doesnt matter what the politics are for the players its a sport and tbey got a chance to play the best from each country

[@KatharineShaw-z8u]

@@SamF-vc9gh Who knows maybe the NZRU will recognize this test series as official AB matches one day and award test caps to the players. I think in the early 2000s the Australian rugby union awarded test caps to the NSW Waratahs team who unofficially represented the National team in the 1920s.

[@99waylon]

This was in fact the 2nd 'test'. The first 'test' was played the week before at Newlands.

[@louisgunter6078]

Do you perhaps have the other tests in full?

[@bytejourneycodes]

Down memory lane

[@mikeglennon8581]

I was there and the Cavaliers were outplayed but toughed it out although handling Naas Botha was a little too big for them overall.

[@geoffaldwinckle1096]

Remember the fury of older NZers of the time when TVNZ refused to televise this series?

[@markwillies7309]

For some strange Kings Park in the 80s was the most difficult ground on the planet to kick for poles particularly to the right of the Grandstand. I think it was the new stand that caused the problem. Fox missed a few that he should have got but for the swirling wind

[@samgillmer3061]

You don't perhaps have the 3rd and 4th tests you could upload?

[@gottabiggin69]

Wow look at King's Park!!

[@robertboyle2573]

The player's physiques were more natural looking back then. Now they all have an unnatural muscle bound look.

[@brettwilkinson9529]

And these players were stronger with natural strength

[@floydkingi4364]

A lot of farmers in this game on both sides, natural built strength rather than gym built strength

[@Wolf-hh4rv]

Why couldn’t they find time to go to the gym? Has remained a problem for SA in professional era….. our backs have never had the same explosive power as NZ backs. No excuse

[@monicawells5402]

Within a year the NZ national side added Michael Jones ,John Kirwan, David Kirk,John Gallagher, Sean Fitzpatrick .Joe Stanely Wayne Shelford got the eight spot. This side was well past its prime coupled with the lack of support form NZ as a whole . This was not the All Blacks.

[@youtubearchive3668]

Monica Wells Thats true, but the Springboks weren’t the real deal after isolation either arguably.

[@zabaleta66]

Dead right Monica.

[@christopherdale8201]

The Cavaliers yes not All Blacks you have to remember after this tour the All Blacks went undefeated up until the 3rd test against the Wallabies in Wellington 1990.

[@avebac1]

Yes those were the baby blacks who went on to win the world cup and dominate world rugby for many years

[@darren2514fv]

@@christopherdale8201 The last defeat in a official test match before the 3 year unbeaten run 1987/90 was in November 1986 by France in the 2nd Test at Nantes and the last series loss at home in New Zealand was the Bledisloe Cup in August/September 1986

[@MrJeepsters]

Ce ne sont pas les all black (malgré fox). Quelle équipe est ce ?

[@YuusukeOnodera]

C'est l'équipe de Nouvelle Zélande non-officielle pour le tour en Afrique du Sud en 1986, les New Zealand Cavaliers (en Afrique du Sud, les chaînes de Télévision et les posters disiaient que les Springboks jouaint contre les All Blacks), parce qu'il y avaient les protestations contre les test match de los Springboks en Nouvelle Zélande en 1981 et les test match des All Blacks en Afrique du Sud en 1976 pendant le période de l'Apartheid

[@michaelharris8618]

Wow!!!! How much does it cost to buy a ref?

[@huepix]

How the hell did we win that?

[@HomeBase2024]

Cool

[@misterg3627]

If the Full AB had come what have been the result

[@fomofud9479]

28 of 30 AB's toured in this series from the tour that was cancelled to SA in '85, just one year before. It was pretty much a full AB squad. The question you should be asking is how would this Springbok team have performed at the '87 RWC.

[@nepiahemopo1702]

@@fomofud9479 Might you have an answer to that question? The All Blacks played an excellent French side and beat them in the final. The All Blacks were a formidable side. It is a guessing game to answer your question.

[@fomofud9479]

@@nepiahemopo1702 sure it is, I was not implying the Boks would have won the 2007 RWC, thats just arragant. I'm saying they too were a formidable side that would have been very competitive.

[@bobwatson5970]

Looked like that first try was touched down before the try line by Taylor.

[@johnnyhammer]

That was the dead ball line.

[@VoldemortsNipple01]

FIRST!!!!!!! my life is complete

[@jamesritchie2167]

No knock on😆

[@blairomatic]

The Cavaliers were not the All Blacks! No one should forget that. Especially when they start crowing about '3-1 series victories'.

[@rmr3403]

Is that why they did a haka in the 4th test, or why the flag was flown?

[@markwillies7309]

That's crap.I think the only 2 All Blacks missing were Kirk and Kirwan. Yes the team did change a year later.

[@DHTCF]

Should have all been banned from the first world cup, instead of given a slap on the wrist

[@jamesritchie2167]

High tackle no sanction WTF? Off!

[@fomofud9479]

Different era

[@paulthomson2288]

the Cavaliers were mostly rubbish. Some good forwards but way passed their prime. And the backs were mostly fringe midweek all Blacks. Never had a chance against full international team

[@floydkingi4364]

Most of the forwards were well into their 30s, Dalton, Ashworth,Knight, Mexed, Shaw, Haden and clearly past their best. Most of them never played in next years World Cup

[@zabaleta66]

What a hodge podge New Zealand team. Weak backline with some has-beens and never-weres. Same with the forward pack. In fact lots of has-beens up front. How they won this game.....mind you, they were stiffed in the decider.

[@coenraadkruger3411]

zabaleta cowboys dont cry

[@zabaleta66]

@@coenraadkruger3411 Who's crying? I summed it up accurately. I don't hold any special place in my heart for this team....it's not the All Blacks.

[@howdoiunbakeacake1525]

zabaleta cry baby

[@johnnyhammer]

Who exactly in this side was a has been or a never was?

[@floydkingi4364]

@@johnnyhammer Mexted, Shaw, Haden, Knight Loveridge, Hobbs, Hika Reid in their 30s and clearly past their best. None of them played in following years World Cup. Keiran Crowley, Victor Simpson and Mike Clamp only played for NZ a few times

[@justineagle6176]

a national embarrassment that they went and played in South Africa during the apartheid regime

[@johnnyhammer]

The ANC has been doing their level best to completely destroy the country. Should we still go?

[@waiata216]

mercenaries supporting apartheid

[@johnnyhammer]

How is SA going these days?