New Zealand known as the All Blacks. Considered by many to be the best international rugby union team in the history of the sport.
Winners of the World Cup 3 times since it started in 1987 (1987, 2011 and 2015).
Over the winter of 1972-73, the All Blacks toured the United Kingdom, Ireland and North America. They played a total of 32 matches, losing only 5 matches.
The biggest upset was their being beaten by the Welsh team Llanelli 9-3 on the 31st October 1971. It was their 4th match of the tour. The result is considered to be one of the most famous in the history of rugby union. Llanelli won the match 9–3 in front of 20,000 spectators. Llanelli scored the only try of the game, Roy Bergiers charged down a clearance by All Blacks scrum-half Lon Colling. It is remembered as the “day the pubs ran dry”.
On the 2nd December 1972, Wales narrowly lost to New Zealand 16-19.
On 27 January 1973, they faced the Barbarians at Cardiff Arms Park in front of a mainly Welsh crowd. The Welsh supporters wanted revenge for Wales’ earlier defeat. In fact this was the fourth match of the tour that the All Blacks were to play during that tour at Cardiff Arms Park.
The All Blacks had been touring and playing together for almost three months, but now they were faced with a largely Welsh Crowd, that wanted revenge. Many of the Barbarians had been losing end of matches against the All Blacks, they also wanted revenge.
The Barbarian Football Club was founded in 1890.
It is an invitational Rugby Club.
Traditionally they played matches in the north of England.
In 1948 they were invited to play Australia as a fundraiser event, to help them pay for their journey home.
Since then they regularly played against visiting overseas international teams.
The team play in black and white hooped shirts, black shorts, but wear the socks of their affiliated club.
Traditionally the Barbarians would essentially just turn up and play. The Barbarians had 2 days to prepare for this match and for the first time ever brought in a coach “Carwyn James” to help them.
In the early stages of the game, the All Blacks looked invincible.
The first try was the labelled as the greatest ever try. Watch for yourself and decide.
Gareth Edwards, the try scorer said of the match:
“People tend only to remember the first four minutes of the game because of the try, but what they forgot is the great deal of good rugby played afterwards, much of which came from the All Blacks.”
.The Barbarians went on to win 23-11, recording their first-ever victory over the All Blacks in what is often described as one of the greatest rugby matches ever played.
The famous Welsh Rugby Player and Commentator, Cliff Morgan wrote: “If the greatest writer of the written word had written that story, nobody would have believed it.”
For those of you, who would like to see more highlights of the game. Look no further.