History of rugby union matches between Australia and New Zealand


The first clash in rugby union between Australia and New Zealand took place in a test match on 15 August 1903 in Sydney, New South Wales. On that occasion, New Zealand won 22-3.
Since 1931, the overall winner of the annual test matches between the All Blacks and the Wallabies takes possession of the Bledisloe Cup, named after Lord Bledisloe, who donated the trophy.

Summary

The summary below is for all matches where test caps were awarded by both national unions, which leaves out all 24 meetings from 1920 to 1928, in which the governing New Zealand Rugby Union fielded the second level New Zealand XV team rather than the highest All Blacks team. The Australian Rugby Union retroactively awarded test status caps to its own players for those matches.

Overall

As of: 17 Aug. 2019

Records

Note: Date shown in brackets indicates when the record was or last set.

Rugby Championship era (2012–)

Starting in 2012, the Tri Nations competition was renamed The Rugby Championship, and now includes Argentina.

Tri Nations and the professional era (1996–2011)

The professional era in rugby union began in 1995, marked by creation of the SANZAR group which was formed with the purpose of selling TV rights for two new competitions, the domestic Super 12 competition and the Tri-Nations.
The first Tri-Nations was contested in 1996, with New Zealand winning all four of their Tests to take the trophy.
In 2000 in Sydney, a record crowd of 109,874 witnessed what some have called 'The Greatest Ever Rugby Match' when the All Blacks defeated The Wallabies 39-35. Twenty one days after their win in Sydney, the All Blacks lost to the Wallabies in front of a home crowd. This meant the Wallabies won The Bledisloe Cup for the third year in a row.
Another one of the most dramatic matches was played on 1 September 2001 at Stadium Australia, in what would be Wallaby great John Eales' last ever test. The Wallabies were hoping to send their skipper off in a grand style. A fairy tale ending was looking possible in the first half as the Wallabies took a 19-6 lead over the All Blacks. However, tries for Doug Howlett and Pita Alatini, along with Andrew Mehrtens kicking, saw the All Blacks back in front 26-22. Then, in the dying moments of the game No.8 Toutai Kefu scored the winning try for the Wallabies. Two years later in 2003 the Wallabies suffered one of their most humiliating losses, being defeated 21-50 by the All Blacks in Sydney.
In 2008, a Bledisloe Cup match was played in Hong Kong, which New Zealand won 19-14. It was rumoured that the United States and Japan would host future Bledisloe Cup matches, and these rumours proved true in the case of Japan, as Tokyo hosted a 2009 Bledisloe match.
The first two Tests of the 2010 series saw the All Blacks extend their winning streak over the Wallabies to 10 games. The third and fourth tests were extremely tight affairs, both being won by late tries. In the Sydney test on 11 September, converted tries by Richie McCaw and Kieran Read in the last 13 minutes allowed the All Blacks to overcome a 9-22 deficit. The win saw New Zealand complete a 100% record in the 2010 Tri-Nations. On 30 October 2010 the sides contested the now-customary fourth annual Bledisloe Cup test at a neutral venue. As in 2009, the match was played in Hong Kong, and as on 11 September the game was won with a dramatic late comeback. On this occasion the Wallabies, having led early in the match, found themselves 19-24 down as the hooter went, but with possession in the All Black 22. The Wallabies recycled through numerous phases of possession, until finally the ball was passed wide to James O'Connor, who beat the scrambling All Black defence to touch down and level the scores. The 20-year-old winger then kicked the resulting conversion to win the match for the Wallabies, ending New Zealand's recent domination of the fixture.
Subsequently, the All Blacks have won eight of the last eleven games played, with two drawn, continuing their domination. This included a crucial 20-6 victory over the Wallabies in the 2011 World Cup Semi-final to enable to All Blacks to progress to the final and subsequently win the World Cup.
On 17 August 2013 the All Blacks celebrated their 100th win over the Wallabies in emphatic style with a 47-29 victory in Sydney. After a shock 12-12 draw in Sydney in the first game of the 2014 series, which ended the All Blacks' attempt at the record of 18 wins straight for a major rugby nation team, the All Blacks posted their highest ever score against Australia with a 51-20 victory at Eden Park on 23 August 2014.

Results

Pre World War I

The first Test between Australia and New Zealand was played on 15 August 1903 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Despite the Wallabies losing 22–3 this tour greatly increased the popularity of rugby and large crowds started attending grade matches in Sydney and Brisbane. New Zealand winger Billy Wallace scored 13 of their 22 points.
No.DateVenueScoreWinnerCompetition
115 August 1903Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney3–22
22 September 1905Tahuna Park, Dunedin14–3
320 July 1907Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney6–26
43 August 1907Woolloongabba Ground, Brisbane5–14
510 August 1907Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney5–5 draw
625 June 1910Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney0–6
727 June 1910Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney11–0
82 July 1910Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney13–28
96 September 1913Athletic Park, Wellington30–5
1013 September 1913Carisbrook, Dunedin25–13
1120 September 1913Lancaster Park, Christchurch5–16
1218 July 1914Sydney Sports Ground, Sydney0–5
131 August 1914Woolloongabba Ground, Brisbane0–17
1415 August 1914Sydney Sports Ground, Sydney7–22

XV results

From 1920 to 1928, 24 matches took place for which Australia retrospectively awarded test caps and test match status. New Zealand did not award test caps. Out of these 24 matches, Australia won 6 to New Zealand's 18.
DateVenueScoreWinnerCompetition
24 July 1920Sydney Sports Ground, Sydney15–26New Zealand XV tour
31 July 1920Sydney Sports Ground, Sydney6–14New Zealand XV tour
7 August 1920Sydney Sports Ground, Sydney13–24New Zealand XV tour
3 September 1921Lancaster Park, Christchurch0–17Australian tour of New Zealand
29 July 1922Royal Agricultural Showground, Sydney19–26New Zealand XV tour
5 August 1922Royal Agricultural Showground, Sydney14–8New Zealand XV tour
7 August 1922Royal Agricultural Showground, Sydney8–6New Zealand XV tour
25 August 1923Carisbrook, Dunedin19–9Australian tour of New Zealand
1 September 1923Lancaster Park, Christchurch34–6Australian tour of New Zealand
15 September 1923Athletic Park, Wellington38–11Australian tour of New Zealand
5 July 1924Royal Agricultural Showground, Sydney20–16New Zealand XV tour
12 July 1924Royal Agricultural Showground, Sydney5–21New Zealand XV tour
16 July 1924Royal Agricultural Showground, Sydney8–38New Zealand XV tour
13 June 1925Royal Agricultural Showground, Sydney3–26New Zealand XV tour
20 June 1925Royal Agricultural Showground, Sydney0–4New Zealand XV tour
23 June 1925Royal Agricultural Showground, Sydney3–11New Zealand XV tour
19 September 1925Eden Park, Auckland36–10Australian tour of New Zealand
10 July 1926Royal Agricultural Showground, Sydney26–20New Zealand XV tour
17 July 1926Royal Agricultural Showground, Sydney6–11New Zealand XV tour
20 July 1926Royal Agricultural Showground, Sydney0–14New Zealand XV tour
29 July 1926Royal Agricultural Showground, Sydney21–28New Zealand XV tour
5 September 1928Athletic Park, Wellington15–12Australian tour of New Zealand
8 September 1928Carisbrook, Dunedin16–14Australian tour of New Zealand
15 September 1928Lancaster Park, Christchurch8–11Australian tour of New Zealand

Between wars

Australia's last Test before World War I was against New Zealand in July 1914. The sports authorities in Australia decided it was unpatriotic to play rugby while thousands of young Australian men were being sent overseas to fight. This resulted in competitions all but closed down in New South Wales and Queensland. In Queensland regular competitions did not commence again until 1928. As a result, players switched to rugby league in large numbers.
Even though there was no Australia/New Zealand game after the war before 1929, 24 games were held between New South Wales and New Zealand from 1920 to 1928. The results were 18 victories against 6 for the All Blacks with 16 games taking place in Sydney, New South Wales and the rest in New Zealand. Those games are counted as Australia/New Zealand on the IRB website.
Also 1931 saw the first game played competing for the Bledisloe Cup.
No.DateVenueScoreWinnerCompetition
156 July 1929Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney8–9
1620 July 1929Exhibition Ground, Brisbane17–9
1727 July 1929Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney15–13
1812 September 1931Eden Park, Auckland20–13
192 July 1932Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney22–171932 Bledisloe Cup
2016 July 1932Exhibition Ground, Brisbane3–211932 Bledisloe Cup
2123 July 1932Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney13–211932 Bledisloe Cup
2211 August 1934Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney25–111934 Bledisloe Cup
2325 August 1934Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney3–3 draw1934 Bledisloe Cup
245 September 1936Athletic Park, Wellington11–61936 Bledisloe Cup
2512 September 1936Carisbrook, Dunedin38–131936 Bledisloe Cup
2623 July 1938Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney9–241938 Bledisloe Cup
276 August 1938Exhibition Ground, Brisbane14–201938 Bledisloe Cup
2813 August 1938Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney6–141938 Bledisloe Cup

Post War (1946–1974)

The first Test following World War Two was played at Carisbrook, Dunedin between Australia and New Zealand in 1946, which New Zealand won 31–8. Australia did not win on the three match tour; beaten 20–0 by New Zealand Maori, and then losing 14–10 to the All Blacks the following week.
The 1949 tour witnessed an infamous All Blacks record – the loss of two Test matches on the same day. This was made possible because New Zealand's first team were touring South Africa at the same time. On the afternoon of 3 September New Zealand captained by J. B. Smith was beaten 11–6 by The Wallabies in Wellington. On 23 September New Zealand also lost their second Test, 16–9, which gave the Wallabies the Bledisloe Cup for the first time.
No.DateVenueScoreWinnerCompetition
2914 September 1946Carisbrook, Dunedin31–81946 Bledisloe Cup
3028 September 1946Eden Park, Auckland14–101946 Bledisloe Cup
3114 June 1947Exhibition Ground, Brisbane5–131947 Bledisloe Cup
3228 June 1947Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney14–271947 Bledisloe Cup
333 September 1949Athletic Park, Wellington6–111949 Bledisloe Cup
3424 September 1949Eden Park, Auckland9–161949 Bledisloe Cup
3523 June 1951Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney0–81951 Bledisloe Cup
367 July 1951Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney11–171951 Bledisloe Cup
3721 July 1951Woolloongabba Ground, Brisbane6–161951 Bledisloe Cup
386 September 1952Lancaster Park, Christchurch9–141952 Bledisloe Cup
3913 September 1952Athletic Park, Wellington15–81952 Bledisloe Cup
4020 August 1955Athletic Park, Wellington16–81955 Bledisloe Cup
413 September 1955Carisbrook, Dunedin8–01955 Bledisloe Cup
4217 September 1955Eden Park, Auckland3–81955 Bledisloe Cup
4325 May 1957Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney11–251957 Bledisloe Cup
441 June 1957Exhibition Ground, Brisbane9–221957 Bledisloe Cup
4523 August 1958Athletic Park, Wellington25–31958 Bledisloe Cup
466 September 1958Lancaster Park, Christchurch3–61958 Bledisloe Cup
4720 September 1958Epsom Showgrounds, Auckland17–81958 Bledisloe Cup
4826 May 1962Exhibition Ground, Brisbane6–201962 Bledisloe Cup
494 June 1962Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney5–141962 Bledisloe Cup
5025 August 1962Athletic Park, Wellington9–9 draw1962 Bledisloe Cup
518 September 1962Carisbrook, Dunedin3–01962 Bledisloe Cup
5222 September 1962Eden Park, Auckland16–81962 Bledisloe Cup
5315 August 1964Carisbrook, Dunedin14–91964 Bledisloe Cup
5422 August 1964Lancaster Park, Christchurch18–31964 Bledisloe Cup
5529 August 1964Athletic Park, Wellington5–201964 Bledisloe Cup
5619 August 1967Athletic Park, Wellington29–91967 Bledisloe Cup
5715 June 1968Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney11–271968 Bledisloe Cup
5822 June 1968Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane18–191968 Bledisloe Cup
5919 August 1972Athletic Park, Wellington29–61972 Bledisloe Cup
602 September 1972Lancaster Park, Christchurch30–171972 Bledisloe Cup
6116 September 1972Eden Park, Auckland38–31972 Bledisloe Cup
6225 May 1974Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney6–111974 Bledisloe Cup
631 June 1974Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane16–16 draw1974 Bledisloe Cup
648 June 1974Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney6–161974 Bledisloe Cup

Full amateur tours (1978–1995)

Professional era (1995–present)