Account Battle of the Giants (86 NZ tour of SA)
Manufacturer: VIDEOS
Product Ref: 5500/5964643
This is the unique story of a highly controversial tour of New Zealand players to South Africa in 1986. Containing action from four Tests and also behind-the-scenes glimpses of the people pressure politics and planning involved its and incredible piece of sporting history between two giants of rugby union - the 1986 Cavaliers Tour. Following a High Court ruling the 1985 New Zealand tour of South Africa was cancelled. With apartheid still in place it was claimed that the proposed tour was not in New Zealand Rugby Unions constitutional interest of promoting the game. A private tour in which players could go as individuals without representing New Zealand was hastily arranged. But this too was abandoned under the threat of legal action. However partly because a tour of South Africa was regarded as the ultimate challenge at the time the issue would not completely disippate. And so following various meetings with players officials businessmen and financiers a tour was eventually arranged - the 1986 Cavaliers Tour. The Cavaliers were quite adamant not to be regarded as the All Blacks and wore a gold and black strip. The tour comprised of 4 Tests 6 matches against the leading provinces Natal Northern Transvaal Orange Free State Transvaal Western Province and Western Transvaal and also games against South African Barbarians and the Junior Springboks. The Springboks won the first Test by 22-15 but the New Zealanders fought back to clinch the second Test 19-18. South Africa then scored two lates tries and a penalty to win the third Test by 33-18. The final Test was also won by the Springboks 24-10 but the Cavaliers were particularly critical of referee Keith Rowlands. The Cavaliers Tour had been controversial to say the least. At times brutal on the field of play and off the field there had been many contentious issues too. The team from New Zealand had been beaten but their players had learnt a great deal...only a year later the All Blacks were crown
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