All Blacks Register the Dreaded Century

New Zealand’s test defeat at the hands of South Africa in Waikato Stadium, their first international loss in Hamilton, is also the official 100th test defeat suffered by the All Blacks.

They are the last major test nation to reach this landmark, the last of the unofficial G10 of rugby nations (the Six Nations, Tri Nations, and Argentinean teams).

It came in their 452nd test match, the longest (by games played) it has taken any rugby nation. 

Among other notable records they have notched throughout history, this was one that few people realised, and while those who take great delight in crowing over All Black misfortune may relish them joining the world with three figures of defeats, it puts into perspective how good they have been over the period of time in which test rugby has been played.

Some will point out that this is the beginning of the end for the All Blacks as a world power, for as well as reaching the devil's number, they have conceded the Tri Nations, and been whitewashed 0-3 by the Springboks.

The match was also the fourth test defeat of 2009, only the third time in over 100 years of test rugby that New Zealand has achieved this unwanted calendar based mark.

But while we could spurt doomsday prophetic, we shall in fact look with some form of reverence with what the All Blacks have achieved prior to what will go down as a dark day in their proud history.

It was New Zealand’s 37th test defeat at home. 

While no loss, especially at home, is shall we say acceptable, not only to the supporters but no doubt to the team itself, an 80 percent plus winning record on their own shores is still preserved, the best in world rugby.

The Springboks trophy cabinet is burgeoning, but their second win on All Blacks hallowed ground in two years underlines just how good a side South Africa currently is.  But if anything, this pointedly determines why nothing in world rugby is quite as prized as an All Black scalp. 

Ask any team in world rugby what their greatest wins are, and no doubt a healthy number of matches between New Zealand are included in this register. 

Many believe that the greatest game ever played was the 1973 match between Ian Kirkpatrick’s All Blacks and John Dawes Barbarians (who won 23-11).  While this was not a test match as such, most of the greats talk about victories against the famed All Black teams of yesteryear as their supreme moments.

On the 16th December 1905, Dave Gallaher’s All Black “Originals” were romping around Europe winning 27 straight games, including beating Scotland, Ireland and England. 

They faced off against the Triple Crown holding Wales, who had also beaten the three forementioned test nations.  While the match was controversial, with Bob Deans (Robbie’s great grandfather) being denied a try, Wales would win 3-0.

Their first of only three wins against the All Blacks, and officially New Zealand’s first test loss.

Some Welsh believe it to be their greatest win in the 20th century.

The English would have the same fond memories, when on the 4th January 1936; the Red Rose of England would defeat the All Blacks for the very first time.  Much of this was due to Prince Alexander Sergeevich Obolensky, a Russian Rurik prince who scored two tries in what was one of England’s finest hours.

For other nations, their most famous victories would be over New Zealand.

Australia can lay claim to beating the All Blacks more often than any other nation, with 39 victories over their Trans-Tasman foes.  Of course, those triumphs have come with far more green and gold blood spilled, for the All Blacks have beaten Australia 90 times. 

Indeed, the Wallabies reached their 100 losses in the worst ratio (in terms of matches played) of any nation, reaching it before they had played 150 games.  Much of this was due to playing All Black teams in the amateur era who were by and large in their pomp.

The 100th loss match in question was a 38-3 shut out by the All Blacks in 1972 at Eden Park.

But Australia can hold court with some impeccable wins over time.  While any Bledisloe Cup win is to be savoured, any Wallaby supporter will probably claim that the World Cup semi-final triumphs in 1991 and 2003 over the All Blacks were among the greatest wins in their history. 

The French would probably do the same, looking at their famous wins in 1999 and 2007 as their greatest rugby conquests.  Les Bleus have a respectable record against New Zealand, winning 12 matches in their 48 clashes.

A fine history when one considers that all British opposition (the four home unions as well as the Lions) have won only 15 matches against the All Blacks.

The Springboks were appropriately the second to last team to lose their “100 virginity” and did so to the Wallabies in 2005 at Stadium Australia (losing 12-30).  It came in their 319th match. 

They too would toast their greatest victories to All Black scalps—and notwithstanding their remarkable wins this year (arguably the most convincing Springbok wins over their arch-enemies)—they would look at the 1995 World Cup win as a landmark success.

Arguably the most famous “100th loss” was Wales, who took 249 matches to record their undesired milestone. 

It was 1963, and all sport in the country had been brought to a shuddering halt courtesy of the “Big Freeze.”  Over 30 tons of straw had been laid on the turf on Cardiff Arms Park, and a misfit band of groundsmen and tractor drivers worked feverishly to remove the snow and ice. 

Groundsman Bill Hardiman said that they put took all the waste out to the back of the park, and tipped it into the River Taff.

The Red dragon’s captain that day, Pontypool No. 9 Clive Rowlands, believed the game should not have been played.  For despite the best efforts of all involved, the pitch literally turned to ice on the day, a day when England came and won 13-6.

While it would be the last time England would win in Cardiff for nearly 30 years, Wales would lose three of their next four test matches, to Ireland, France and the All Blacks. 

Still, sometimes good things can come from such horror milestones, as in 1964 Wales would win the Five Nations (sharing the title with Scotland) before winning it outright in 1965 and 1966.

Perhaps the All Blacks current pain and scars will be eradicated by success in two years time in their own backyard....