1956
SPRINGBOK TOUR of AUSTRALIA and NEW ZEALAND
The South African tour of New Zealand in 1956 saw the tide of Springbok supremacy turn and ebb towards the shores of the land of the long white cloud. The green and gold machine had never been defeated in a test series anywhere in the world since 1896. In the two previous tours by the Springboks to New Zealand they had drawn one series (1921 - 1 win, 1 loss, 1 draw) and won the other (1937 SA 2 wins, NZ 1 win). In the previous test series held in South Africa during 1949, the Boks thrashed the Blacks 4 - 0. But the Springbok was wavering under pressure, the 1955 Lions had come close to victory, winning 2 tests out of four............. When the Springboks arrived in New Zealand, the tour had already received extensive media coverage with the team having already won 6 out of 6 games in Australia, this included two wins over the Wallabies. The Springboks every move was recorded by the New Zealand newspapers, even while in Australia and in the days before the Rugby World Cup the test series was built up to be the "Championship of the World". The New Zealand public were confident their heroes in Black would lower the colours of the mighty Springboks, and this confidence grew when the touring side were defeated 14 - 10 in their first match against the provincial side Waikato. The South African's then pulled themselves together and won their next 8 games before meeting the All Blacks in the first test at Dunedin. In a bruising encounter and with both teams reduced through injury, New Zealand to 14, South Africa to 13 the All Blacks managed to hold on and win 10 - 6. In the second test South Africa levelled the series with an 8 - 3 win. The garden city, Christchurch hosted the third test which saw the debut of Don Clarke, the great All Black goal kicker. The Waikato man scored 8 points in a 17 - 10 win that saw the All Blacks take a 2 - 1 unbeatable lead in the series. The crowds flocked to Eden Park, Auckland for the fourth and deciding test in the series to see the All Blacks become the first team to lower the Springboks colours in 60 years. The All Black forwards won the day with their control in the tight, No 8 Peter Jones scoring a try 5 minutes into the second half and Don Clarke scoring another 8 points with the boot. The Springboks were well beaten and crossed the line to score a consolation try close to the finish, giving New Zealand a winning margin of 11 - 5. |
TRAVEL
Whilst touring New Zealand in 1956 the Springbok rugby team travelled the length and breadth of New Zealand in special trains. There were two different trains used by the tour party, one on the North Island, one on the South. Each train had a special hand painted headboard attached to the front. Pictured below is the North Island headboard. NZ railways could find no further use for the headboard once the tour had finished, it was acquired by a New Zealand train driver who then added it to his already sizeable rugby memorabilia collection. Here it remained in his collection until 1995 when it was purchased by the World Rugby Museum. | ||
The tour party about to embark on another long train journey following one of their provincial matches. The team was captained by Basie Viviers and managed by the great Danie Craven. In New Zealand leg of the tour, the Springboks played 23 matches, winning 16, losing 6 and sharing the honours in one match during a stay that lasted 3 months. |
The 1956 headboard on display at the William Webb Ellis pub in Rugby where it was displayed for two years as part of the WRM Partner programme. |
Members of the Springbok Rugby team stand beside the sign on the front of the railcar which took them from Auckland to Hamilton at 11.00 a.m. today. They are from left to right on the platform J Pickard, J Nel, and W Rosenberg with R Dryburgh (with hat on) and J Buchler standing on the track. This photo appears on the back of Reg Sweet's account of the tour 'The Kiwi's Conquer' |
Each player was issued by New Zealand Railways a travel itinerary titled 'With the Springboks by Rail'. This pamphlet contained information on railway travel by the Springboks. ".......................On
your tour of More
than 2,100 miles of your tour through
New Zealand
will be covered by railcar and by
railway-owned road motor-coach. We can assure you that this part of the tour
will not lack interest and variety. There
is no better way to view The pamphlet opens out into a map of NZ
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THE MATCHES
THE PLAYERS (profiles are from the time of the tour)
Player | Province | Position | Games | Tries | Con. | PG | DG | Points | |
J.U. Buchler | Transvaal | Fullback | 8 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | |
John Ulrich Buchler: Fullback. Buchler, who retired from rugby at the early age of 23 after the Australian tour of South Africa in 1953, has made a return this season. A safe and sound all-round full-back, he began his provincial career for Transvaal in 1948 and played in all five tests on the 1951-52 South African tour of Britain and France, and in the four tests against the 1953 Australians. Educated at the Witwatersrand Technical College, he is a welfare officer. |
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S.S. Viviers (capt) | Orange Free State | Fullback | 17 | 2 | 34 | 9 | 2 | 107 | |
Stephanus
Sebastian Viviers (captain): Fullback and centre. Viviers first
played provincial rugby for N. Transvaal |
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K.T. van Vollenhoven | Northern Transvaal | Wing | 19 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 51 | |
Karel Thomas van Vollen |
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P.G.A. Johnstone | Transvaal | Wing | 17 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 25 | |
Paul Geoffrey Johnstone: Wing and centre. After playing his first
provincial match for Western
Province
in1950, Johnstone was chosen for the 1951-52 South African tour
of Britain
and France. An elusive and often brilliant player, he was one of the great
successes of that tour, and played in all five internationals. Educated at
Hilton
College, the University
of Cape Town
and |
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R.G. Dryburgh | Natal | Wing | 15 | 14 | 8 | 13 | 0 | 97 | |
Roy Gladstone Dryburgh: Fullback and wing. Versatile player. Dryburgh
played his first provincial match for |
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J.G.H. du Preez | Western Province | Wing | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | |
Jan
du Preez: Wing.
Jan du Preez first played provincial rugby as
a centre, but moved out to the wing a year or two ago, and was a great success
on the recent tour of Italy, France
and Britain. Du Preez recently gained a doctorate at the
University
of |
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T.P.D. Briers | Western Province | Wing | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | |
W. Rosenberg | Transvaal | Centre | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
Wilfred Rosenberg: Centre. Rosenberg played his first rugby at the Sydney Grammar School in Australia before returning to the land of his birth, South Africa. He played his first provincial match for Transvaal in 1953 and went on tour with the Junior Springboks last year. He played in the last three internationals against the British Isles. He is mercurial on attack and resolute on defence. Educated at Jeppe Boys' High School, he is now studying medicine at the University of the Witwatersrand. |
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P.E. Montini | Western Province | Centre | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | |
Patrick Evan Montini:
Centre. A fast and elusive player who can be brilliant, Montini is an experienced
centre. He played for Western Province in 1951 and 1952 before moving to the Boland. He
returned to Western
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A.I. Kirkpatrick | Griqualand West | Centre | 12 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | |
Alexander Ian Kirkpatrick: Centre. A fine attacking centre with a great burst of speed, Kirkpatrick first attracted attention as a fly half for Griqualand West in 1950. He was invited to the Springbok trials in 1951 and played for South Africa in the second international against the 1953 Australians at fly half. Educated at Kimberley Boys' High School, he is employed by an oil company. |
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J.J Nel | Western Province | Centre | 21 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 32 | |
Jeremy John Nel: Centre and fly half. Nel was still a schoolboy when he became a regular member of the W. Transvaal team in 1952. A big, sturdy and reliable player, Nel was educated at Potchefstroom Boys' High School and is now studying for a BA. degree at the University of Stellenbosch. |
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CA Ulyate | Transvaal | Flyhalf | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | |
Clive Anthony Ulyate: Fly half. Played in all four internationals against the
British Isles. He is a sound player with a fondness for using the blind side and is also a good
kicker. He has played cricket for Transvaal
and is a low-handicap golfer. Educated at Hilton
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BF Howe | Border | Flyhalf | 18 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | |
Bennett Frederick Howe: Centre three-quarter and fly half. A brilliant schoolboy player at Dale College, King William's Town, Howe has been a mainstay of the Border team since 1951. He is a learner woolbuyer. |
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BD Pfaff | Western Province | Flyhalf | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | |
Brian Desmond
Pfaff: Fly half, centre and fullback. One of the fastest rugby players in |
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TA Gentles | Western Province | Scrum-half | 14 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | |
Thomas Alexander Gentles: Scrum half.
Though Gentles has not played for his province, he earned his Springbok
colours with good displays in the trials. He was a member of the first Junior Springboks touring side last year and played
in the first, second and fourth tests. He is also a good golfer and cricketer. Educated at
Diocesan
College
(Bishops) and the University
of Cape Town, where he gained a B.A. degree, he is with a
Cape
Town motor firm. |
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CF Strydom | Orange Free State | Scrum-half | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
Coenraad Frederick Strydom: Scrum
half. A hardy, nippy player, Strydom has represented Free State since 1952. He played in the third test against the
British Isles
last year. Educated at Gray
College, he is a building society clerk. |
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HPJ Bekker | Northern Transvaal | Prop | 15 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | |
Hendrik Petrus Jordaan Bekker: Front-rank
forward. One of the strongest front-row forwards ever produced in South Africa. Bekker is also a grand player in the loose. Made
his debut for Northern Transvaal
in 1946 and was a member of the 1950 Junior Springboks team in
Rhodesia. He played against England
and France
on the 1951-52 South African tour, in all four tests
against the 1953 Australians and in the last three against the British Isles
last year. He is one of three brothers who are regular members of the N.Transvaal
team, the others being Dolf (wing) and Martiens (front- ranker).
Educated at Dordrecht
High School, he is a paint salesman. |
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AC Koch | Boland | Prop | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | |
August Christoffel Koch: Front-rank forward. Koch, who first played for Boland at
the age of 18 in 1946, and is a veteran of 15 international matches, is
an exceptionally mobile front-row forward. He began his test career in the
second international against the |
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PS du Toit | Western Province | Prop | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Pieter
du Toit: Front-rank forward. Piet du Toit is a young
front-row forward of great strength, and also ability in the loose. He played one or |
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HN Walker | Western Transvaal | Prop | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Henry |
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AJ van der Merwe | Boland | Hooker | 20 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
Albertus
Johannes van der
Merwe: Hooker. Van der Merwe, a fast
striker for the
ball and good all-round forward, first represented Boland in 1950, and
came into the Springbok side last year to play in the last three
internationals against the |
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M. vd S. Hanekom | Boland | Hooker | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | |
Melt Hanekom: Melt Hanekom has been kept out of Boland's team for several years by
Bertus van der Merwe, and has only played for them in van der Merwe's absence. He is
a fast striker for the ball and also a useful forward in the loose. |
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JA du Rand | Northern Transvaal | Lock | 19 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | |
Jacobus
("Salty") du Rand (vice-captain): Lock forward. Like Chris Koch,
"Salty" du Rand has played in 15 international matches, and is
only three short of Boy Louw's South African record of 18. He
began his provincial rugby career with Western
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JT Claassen | Western Transvaal | Lock | 18 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
Johan Theodore
Claassen: Lock forward. Johan
Claassen, big, strong and a fine jumper in the line-outs, started playing for W. Transvaal in 1950
and has captained the side since 1954. Last year he played in all four
tests against the |
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CJ de Nysschen | Natal | Lock | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
Christian
Johannes de Nysschen: Lock forward. Chris de Nysschen came into the
Natal side last year and started the trials in the lowest game, but put
in a fine display and |
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J.A.J. Pickard | Western Province | Lock | 18 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 10 | |
Jan Albertus
Jacobus Pickard: Lock
forward. Jan Pickard is a bullocking player with amazing strength who first
played for
Western
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C.J van Wyk | Transvaal | Flank | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Christian
Johannes van Wyk: Flank forward.
One of the best known of South African international forwards since the war, "Basie" van Wyk
is a big, bustling forward. He first played provincial rugby for Western Transvaal
from 1944 to 1947, and since then has been a regular member of the Transvaal side. He
played in all five |
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D.S.P Ackermann | Western Province | Flank | 15 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | |
David Schalk Pienaar Ackermann: Lock
and flank forward. A fine natural rugby player, Ackermann first represented Western |
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C.J de Wilzem | Orange Free State | Flank | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
Christiaan
Johannes de Wizem: Flank forward. Chris de Wilzem is a grand loose forward on attack. Last year he
came into the
Free State
side and also went on tour with the Junior Springboks. He received
his schooling at the Hangklip High School in Queenstown and also studied at the University
College of the Free State. He is a schoolteacher. |
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G.P Lochner | Western Province | Flank | 19 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | |
George Philip
Lochner: Flank forward. "Butch" |
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J.J Starke | Western Province | Flank | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
D.F Retief | Northern Transvaal | Eighthman | 18 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | |
Daniel
Francois Retief: No.8 forward. Retief is a bustling, tearaway
forward. He played as a wing for N. Transvaal in 1950 and went
on the Junior Springboks tour in 1950. Changing to loose forward, he
played in the first, second and fourth tests against the British Isles
last year, being kept out of the third by injury. He was at Lichtenburg High
School and took his B.Com. degree at the University of Pretoria. He is an assistant buyer
with the Potato Board. |
RECOMMENDED READING
awaiting
illustration |
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"The Kiwis Conquer"
The story of the tour by Reg Sweet |
"The Battle for the Rugby Crown
The story of the tour by Terry McLean |
"The 1956 Springboks in New
Zealand"
The tour with pictures and reports. edited by John Fairbairn |
"Lodge Laughs at the Springbok
Tour"
humorous cartoons by Neville Lodge |
"Old Heroes"
What happened to the Springboks in later years by Warwick Roger |
These and other publications relating to the 1956 Springbok tour of New Zealand can be found on the Rugby Relics website. To be taken directly to the page containing these items please......... |
presents 1956 Springbok Headboard Whilst touring New Zealand in 1956 the Springbok rugby team travelled the length and breadth of New Zealand in special trains. There were two different trains used by the tour party, one on the North Island, one on the South. Each train had a special hand painted headboard attached to the front. We have available the North Island headboard which at the time was attached to a 52-seater diesel railcar. Accompanying the headboard are the following items. (WRM-554) Players itinerary issued by New Zealand Railways. - Contains information on the team, match itinerary and travel itinerary, map of NZ with places of interest. (WRM-553) New Zealand Railways Waikato v Springboks special trains handbill. This was a famous victory for the Waikato team who defeated the Springboks 14 - 10 in the first match of the New Zealand leg of the tour. The train timetable gives details of stops between Auckland and Hamilton and includes fare prices. (WRM-551) We welcome enquires from prospective partners interested in exhibiting this headboard ! CLICK
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