The Day The Kiwis Smacked The Roos

Sean Fagan of RL1908.com

New Zealand's Cyril Eastlake - played 28 Tests for the Kiwis

Test rugby league football made a long-awaited return to Brisbane in 2005, with Australia and New Zealand meeting in their annual ANZAC match.

While the Kiwis still haven't won in Brisbane since 1987, the city does hold an important place in the New Zealand Test record. On June 28, 1952, the Kiwis dished-up to Australia their greatest ever Test loss, scoring a resounding 49-25 win.

Just two years earlier, Australia was celebrating its first Ashes series win (against Great Britain) in three decades and feeling very assured about the future.

However, in 1951 the French toured Australia, winning the Tests 2-1. The final Test was lost by the Australians 35-14 as the French scored seven tries, with the enigmatic Puig-Aubert kicking just as many goals.

The French then lost an epic Test encounter 16-15 to an improving New Zealand team. The Kiwis then
went on a tour of Great Britain and France over the
summer of 1951/52.

After being home for barely a few months, the bulk of the team were able to obtain further leave from work and travelled to Australia for a 13-match tour in June 1952. The constant touring of the national side made the Kiwis a close-knit combination and ready for the challenge.

Almost 50,000 Sydneysiders were present to see the Kiwis opening match against NSW. The Blues fell to the New Zealanders 26-15, leaving many impressed with the form of the visitors. The 'bookies' favoured the Kiwis in the opening Test match, and Clive Churchill's Australians entered the field as outsiders. There was little doubt that the loss of Australia's top players to English clubs since the late 1940s was having an effect upon the national team.

The Sydney fans though still strongly supported the international game, and over 56,000 filled the SCG in anticipation of the contest. The Australian team surprised all with an easy 25-13 victory. The success was attributed to Easts' Ferris Ashton and Wests' Keith Holman.

Three weeks later the second Test was held at the 'Gabba Ground in Brisbane. Most pundits thought Australia was now over its lean period, and normality against the Kiwis would be restored with another Test victory - and with it the series. Almost 30,000 were present to witness the contest.

The Australian team found the going hard in the early stages thanks to the Kiwi pack, particularly their back-rowers led by captain Trev Hardwick. The Daily Telegraph rated three-quarters Tom Baxter and Cyril Eastlake as the two finest backs in the world. With George Menzies (from the West Coast) and former All Black Jim Haig in the halves, once their forwards gave them space to move, they were off and away. With barely 20 minutes gone the New Zealanders were up by 10-0. Nearing halftime Baxter raced onto a loose ball, running 30m to score a try to give the visitors a 19-10 lead.

There was no hint of what was to follow in the second half.

In the next 30 minutes the New Zealanders took the lead out to a stunning 42-10 advantage. The credit for most of the tries was given to the work of Haig and Menzies, who sent Eastlake on many penetrating runs into Australian territory. The 'green and golds' scored three late tries to see the final score end at a remarkable 49-25 in favour of New Zealand. Auckland fullback Des White collected 11 goals which set a new record for Test matches.

Tom Baxter - played 29 Tests for New Zealand

George Crawford in The Daily Telegraph wrote, 'Even the selectors laughed at the efforts of the Australians to check the New Zealand avalanche.'

Comments by other League writers were particularly severe, ridiculing the performance of the team. The Australian selectors brought in seven new players for the deciding third Test in Sydney.

Played only four days after the Brisbane match - on a Wednesday afternoon - over 44,000 managed to get time away from work.

The New Zealanders proved they were no one-game wonders as they again took to the Australians through hard work in the forwards. The Kiwis grafted
out a 12-0 lead early in the second half. Goals by Churchill and an intercept try to Noel Hazzard got Australia to 14-9 behind with enough time left to win the game.

Then Kiwi second-rower Frank Mulcare burst through the centre of the Australian pack for a 20m run to the line. His try gave the New Zealanders a 19-9 victory and their first series win over Australia since 1908. Ross McKinnon in The Daily Telegraph said, 'Now that the worst has happened, let's face it, we were licked by a team playing far superior football.'

The Auckland Star called this New Zealand team 'the greatest to ever visit Australia.' After that Saturday afternoon in Brisbane, it is difficult to argue otherwise.

Note: in November 2005 the Australians were defeated by New Zealand 24-0 in the Final of the Tri-Nations, equalling the points margin in the match discussed in the above article.

References:
Simply The Best: Celebrating 90 Years of New Zealand Rugby League, by Dave Sanders
The Daily Telegraph
The Auckland Star

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