Preview: South Africa v New Zealand
- 1119
The first rugby contacts between New Zealanders and South Africans was in wartime and sometimes it seems that it is still so - brave young men going into battle, 'putting their bodies on the line'.
It started in the Anglo-Boer War, when nearly 7 000 New Zealand troops came to bolster the Empire's chances of beating the farmers of the Transvaal and the Free State.
They formed rugby clubs, called New Zealand, in Pretoria, Ladysmith and Durban.
Bunny Abbott and Dave Gallaher later became All Blacks - Gallaher captained the 1905-06 pioneering All Blacks.
Bob Goldstone also came to figh…
It started in the Anglo-Boer War, when nearly 7 000 New Zealand troops came to bolster the Empire's chances of beating the farmers of the Transvaal and the Free State.
They formed rugby clubs, called New Zealand, in Pretoria, Ladysmith and Durban.
Bunny Abbott and Dave Gallaher later became All Blacks - Gallaher captained the 1905-06 pioneering All Blacks.
Bob Goldstone also came to figh…
