Original All Blacks vs England
The Originals beat England 15–0 at Crystal Palace, four tries to Duncan McGregor.
The Original All Blacks first played England in December 1905 at Crystal Palace, chosen over Blackheath for its larger capacity. New Zealand won 15–0 with five unconverted tries, four of them by wing Duncan McGregor and one by Fred Newton. It was the first test between the two nations.
Quick Facts
- Date
- December 1905
- Venue
- Crystal Palace, London
- Result
- New Zealand 15, England 0
- Tries
- Duncan McGregor 4, Fred Newton 1
- Referee
- Gil Evans
- Crowd
- estimated 70,000–100,000
Facts from the source article.
Background
Despite an official capacity of 50,000, it is estimated between 70,000 and 100,000 people attended, many of them non-paying spectators; the crowd, including George, Prince of Wales (the future King George V), was a record for a rugby or football match in London. The England Test was the All Blacks' third international in as many weeks, and England named eight new caps.
McGregor's four tries in a Test were a record not equalled by an All Black until 1987. English sportsman C. B. Fry said after the match, "The notion that these men beat us because of our physical degeneracy is nonsense. They beat us by organisation and by tactics."
More in Iconic Matches
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