1972 England rugby union tour of South Africa


This first tour undertaken by England to South Africa was organised with a demanding schedule, although with only one Test Match. Within two weeks and three days, seven matches were to be played, the first four at sea level, and the final three, including the Test Match, at the altitude in the highveld with only two days to acclimatise before a demanding fixture against Northern Transvaal. From the outset, under captain John Pullin and the management of Alec Lewis and John Elders, there was a buoyant and optimistic spirit in the squad, as if they were determined to erase the memories of the last few seasons of undistinguished English performances.

Matches

Opposing TeamForAgainstDateVenueStatus
19017 May 1972DurbanTour match
Western Province9620 May 1972Cape TownTour match
SA Rugby Fed XV11622 May 1972Cape TownTour match
SA Leopards36324 May 1972Port ElizabethTour match
Northern Transvaal131327 May 1972PretoriaTour match
Giqualand West602130 May 1972KimberleyTour match
South Africa1893 June 1972Ellis Park, JohannesburgTest Match

Test Match

Piet Greyling led a combination of Springboks who seemed hopelessly unsure of themselves. Dawie Snyman collected all the South African points with three penalties while England, with unspectacular competence, grabbed every scoring chance. Fullback Sam Doble converted a try by wing Alan Morley and also booted four penalties.

Touring party