# 1971 Kangaroo tour of New Zealand

The 1971 Kangaroo Tour of New Zealand was a mid-season tour of New Zealand by the Australia national rugby league team. The Australians played three matches on tour, including a test against the New Zealand national rugby league team. The tour began on 22 June and finished on 29 June.

## Leadership

Harry Bath was the coach of the squad, which he had been since 1968 in this particular tenure. St. George Dragons fullback Graeme Langlands was named captain for the tour ahead of 1969 New Zealand Tour leader John Sattler.

## Touring squad

All but three members of the squad played in the New South Wales Rugby League premiership, those players being Wayne Bennett, Brian Fitzsimmons and Jim Murphy. Several tour members represented the Australia national rugby league team but only played in minor matches in New Zealand.
| Player | Club | Position(s) | Games | Tests | Tries | Goals | Points |
| Barry Beath | St. George | Prop | 2 | | | | |
| Wayne Bennett | Ipswich All Whites | Wing | 2 | | 1 | | 3 |
| Ray Branighan | Manly Warringah | Wing | 3 | 1 | | 1 | 2 |
| Tony Branson | St. George | Five-eighth | 1 | 1 | | | |
| Keith Campbell | Parramatta | Centre, Lock | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 17 |
| Ron Costello | Canterbury-Bankstown | Second-row | 2 | 1 | | | |
| Brian Fitzsimmons | Brothers Brisbane | Hooker | 3 | 1 | | | |
| Bob Fulton | Manly Warringah | Centre | 3 | 1 | 5 | | 15 |
| Bob Grant | South Sydney | Halfback | 3 | 1 | | | |
| Graeme Langlands (c) | St. George | Fullback | 1 | 1 | | | |
| Bob McCarthy | South Sydney | Second-row | 3 | 1 | 2 | | 6 |
| Jim Murphy | Western Suburbs | Second-row | 2 | | | | |
| Bob O'Reilly | Parramatta | Prop | 2 | 1 | 1 | | 3 |
| Tom Raudonikis | Western Suburbs | Halfback | 2 | | | | |
| Paul Sait | South Sydney | Centre | 2 | 1 | | | |
| John Sattler | South Sydney | Prop | 1 | 1 | | | |
| Geoff Starling | Balmain | Centre | 2 | | 1 | | 3 |
| Lionel Williamson | Newtown | Wing | 3 | 1 | 1 | | 2 |

## Tour

The Australians played three matches on the tour, winning one match and losing two, including the test match.
* Tuesday 22 June
| New Zealand XIII | 14 – 35 | Australia |
| Tries: Murray Eade, John Whittaker Goals: Don Ladner (4) | | Tries: Bob Fulton (3), Bob McCarthy (2), Wayne Bennett, Geoff Starling Goals: Keith Campbell (7) |
* Davies Park, Huntly Attendance: 3,572

### Test

* Saturday 26 June
| New Zealand | 24 – 3 | Australia |
| Tries: John Whittaker (2) Mocky Brereton Robert Orchard Goals: Henry Tatana (6/7) | | Tries: Keith Campbell Goals: |
* Carlaw Park, Auckland Attendance: 13,917 Referee: John Percival
| New Zealand | Australia |
| FB 1 Mike McClennan RW 2 John Whittaker CE 3 Bernie Lowther CE 4 Roy Christian (c) LW 5 Mocky Brereton FE 6 Gary Woollard HB 7 Ken Stirling LK 13 Eddie Heatley SR 11 Garry Smith SR 12 Tony Kriletich PR 8 Henry Tatana HK 9 Colin O'Neil PR 10 Robert Orchard Coach: Lory Blanchard | FB 1 Graeme Langlands (c) RW 2 Ray Branighan CE 3 Bob Fulton CE 8 Paul Sait LW 5 Lionel Williamson FE 6 Tony Branson HB 7 Bob Grant LF 16 Keith Campbell SR 9 Bob McCarthy SR 10 Ron Costello PR 11 Bob O'Reilly HK 12 Brian Fitzsimmons PR 13 John Sattler Coach: Harry Bath |
* Tuesday 29 June
| Auckland | 15 – 14 | Australia |
| Tries: Murray Eade (2), Ray Williams Goals: Henry Tatana (3) | | 'Tries: Bob Fulton (2), Lionel Williamson, Bob O'Reilly Goals: Ray Branighan |
* Carlaw Park, Auckland Attendance: 11,000