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For any rugby Roarer who may have missed the announcement, The All Blacks will be going to Great Britain and Ireland at the end of the year to try to equal the Boks’ record of four Grand Slams.
The AB’s had to struggle for 73 years before they won their first one, and some history might be in order here.
1905 saw the team called The Originals give it a shot but they came up short when they lost 3-0 to Wales, their only loss in a grueling tour in which they played 35 games, a remarkable record. (The ’47-48 Wallabies played a 41-match tour, beat England, Scotland and Ireland but lost to Wales, 6-0.)
In 1935 the ABs tried it a second time and again lost to Wales, this time by a single point. They also lost to England who shut them out 13-0. In 1953 they lost once more to their bete noire, this time 13-8.
Ten years later they were denied a GS when Scotland held them to a 0-0 draw. And in ’72 it was Ireland who drew with them, 10-10. Meantime, the Boks had won four Grand Slams and the Wallabies none.
But then, in ’78, New Zealand finally broke out the Chardonnay when Graham Mourie’s team beat Eng, Ire & Scot
and, at long last, Wales, a game in which the great Stu Wilson scored a try. (Were Stu and Jeff the best ever AB wingers with the same name? The answer to that is yes if there weren’t any other wingers named Lomu and Jarden.)
In 2005 Tana Umaga’s team went over to play the Big Four and triumphed although they had to scurry to beat England. 2008 saw Richie McCaw’s outfit cream the opposition scoring 115 points and giving up just 24.
And now this year the ABs will attempt to win their fourth GS. The Boks are also touring and will try for number five.
Will the record books be rewritten?
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.