# 1972–73 New Zealand rugby union tour of Britain, Ireland, France and North America

The 1972–73 New Zealand rugby union tour of the Britain, Ireland, France and North America was a collection of rugby union test match games undertaken by the All Blacks against England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and France. The tour also took in several matches against British, Irish, French and North American club, county and invitational teams. This was the seventh tour of the Northern Hemisphere. It was also the first time the All Blacks lost to the invitational Barbarians team.
In the club matches, the team only lost to Llanelli, North-Western Counties, Midland Counties (West), and the Barbarians, and drew with Munster. In the tests played the team won against Wales, Scotland and England, drew with Ireland and lost to France. This was their fifth "Grand Slam tour" after 1905–06 (lost to Wales), 1935–36 (lost to Wales and England), 1953–54 (lost to Wales), 1963–64 (Drew with Scotland). They had to wait until 1978 for a "Grand Slam".

## Touring party

* Manager: Ernie Todd
* Assistant Manager: Bob Duff
* Captain: Ian Kirkpatrick

### Backs

* Joe Karam (Wellington)
* Trevor Morris (Nelson-Bays)
* Bryan Williams (Auckland)
* Grant Batty (Wellington)
* Duncan Hales (Canterbury)
* George Skudder (Waikato)
* Bruce Robertson (Counties)
* Ian Hurst (Canterbury)
* Mike Parkinson (Poverty Bay)
* Mark Sayers (Wellington)
* Bob Burgess (Manawatu)
* Ian Stevens (Wellington)
* Sid Going (North Auckland)
* Lin Colling (Otago)

### Forwards

* Alan Sutherland (Marlborough)
* Alex Wyllie (Canterbury)
* Bevan Holmes (North Auckland)
* Ian Kirkpatrick (Poverty Bay)
* Ken Stewart (Southland)
* Alistair Scown (Taranaki)
* Hamish Macdonald (Canterbury)
* Ian Eliason (Taranaki)
* Andy Haden (Auckland)
* Peter Whiting (Auckland)
* Keith Murdoch (Otago)
* Jeff Matheson (Otago)
* Kent Lambert (Manawatu)
* Graham Whiting (King Country)
* Ron Urlich (Auckland)
* Tane Norton (Canterbury)
* Lindsay Clark (Otago), replacement during tour
* Sandy McNicol (Wanganui), replacement during tour

## Test matches
### Wales

* 2 December 1972
| Wales | 16–19 | New Zealand |
| Bevan (4 – 1t) Bennett (12 – 4pg) | Report | (4 – 1t) Murdoch (15 – 5pg) Karam |
* Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff Referee: R. F. Johnson (England)
| FB | 15 | J.P.R. Williams |
| RW | 14 | Gerald Davies |
| IC | 13 | Jim Shanklin |
| OC | 12 | Roy Bergiers |
| LW | 11 | John Bevan |
| FH | 10 | Phil Bennett |
| SH | 9 | Gareth Edwards |
| LP | 1 | Glyn Shaw |
| HK | 2 | Jeff Young |
| TP | 3 | Barry Llewelyn |
| LL | 4 | Derek Quinnell |
| RL | 5 | Delme Thomas (c) |
| BF | 6 | Dai Morris |
| OF | 7 | John Taylor |
| N8 | 8 | Mervyn Davies |
| FB | 15 | Joe Karam |
| RW | 14 | Bryan Williams |
| IC | 13 | Duncan Hales |
| OC | 12 | Mike Parkinson |
| LW | 11 | Grant Batty |
| FH | 10 | Bob Burgess |
| SH | 9 | Sid Going |
| LP | 1 | Jeff Matheson |
| HK | 2 | Tane Norton |
| TP | 3 | Keith Murdoch |
| LL | 4 | Hamish Macdonald |
| RL | 5 | Peter Whiting |
| BF | 6 | Alex Wyllie |
| OF | 7 | Ian Kirkpatrick (c) |
| N8 | 8 | Alan Sutherland |

### Scotland

* 16 December 1972
| Scotland | 9–14 | New Zealand |
| Irvine (6 – 2pg) McGeechan (3 – 1dg) | Report | (4 – 1t) Batty (4 – 1t) Going (4 – 1t) Wyllie (2 – 1c) Karam |
* Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh Referee: G. Domercq (France)
| FB | 15 | Andy Irvine |
| RW | 14 | William Steele |
| IC | 13 | Ian Forsyth |
| OC | 12 | Jim Renwick |
| LW | 11 | David Shedden |
| FH | 10 | Ian McGeechan |
| SH | 9 | Ian McCrae |
| LP | 1 | Ian McLauchlan |
| HK | 2 | Robert Clark |
| TP | 3 | Sandy Carmichael |
| LL | 4 | Alastair McHarg |
| RL | 5 | Gordon Brown |
| BF | 6 | Nairn MacEwan |
| OF | 7 | Rodger Arneil |
| N8 | 8 | Peter Brown (c) |
| FB | 15 | Joe Karam |
| RW | 14 | Bryan Williams |
| IC | 13 | Bruce Robertson |
| OC | 12 | Mike Parkinson |
| LW | 11 | Grant Batty |
| FH | 10 | Ian Stevens |
| SH | 9 | Sid Going |
| LP | 1 | Graham Whiting |
| HK | 2 | Tane Norton |
| TP | 3 | Jeff Matheson |
| LL | 4 | Peter Whiting |
| RL | 5 | Hamish Macdonald |
| BF | 6 | Alistair Scown |
| OF | 7 | Ian Kirkpatrick (c) |
| N8 | 8 | Alex Wyllie |

### England

* 6 January 1973
| England | 0–9 | New Zealand |
| | Report | (4 – 1t) Kirkpatrick (2 – 1c) Karam (3 – 1dg) Williams |
* Twickenham Stadium, London Referee: J. Young (Scotland)
| FB | 15 | Sam Doble |
| RW | 14 | Alan Morley |
| IC | 13 | Peter Preece |
| OC | 12 | Peter Warfield |
| LW | 11 | David Duckham |
| FH | 10 | John Finlan |
| SH | 9 | Jan Webster |
| LP | 1 | Stack Stevens |
| HK | 2 | John Pullin (c) |
| TP | 3 | Frank Anderson |
| LL | 4 | Peter Larter |
| RL | 5 | Chris Ralston |
| BF | 6 | John Watkins |
| OF | 7 | Tony Neary |
| N8 | 8 | Andy Ripley |
| FB | 15 | Joe Karam |
| RW | 14 | Bryan Williams |
| IC | 13 | Bruce Robertson |
| OC | 12 | Mike Parkinson |
| LW | 11 | Grant Batty |
| FH | 10 | Ian Stevens |
| SH | 9 | Sid Going |
| LP | 1 | Graham Whiting |
| HK | 2 | Tane Norton |
| TP | 3 | Kent Lambert |
| LL | 4 | Hamish Macdonald |
| RL | 5 | Peter Whiting |
| BF | 6 | Alex Wyllie |
| OF | 7 | Ian Kirkpatrick (c) |
| N8 | 8 | Alan Sutherland |

### Ireland

* 20 January 1973
| Ireland | 10–10 | New Zealand |
| Grace (4 – 1t) McGann (6 – 2pg) | Report | (4 – 1t) Going (4 – 1t) Alex Wyllie (2 – 1c) Karam |
* Lansdowne Road, Dublin Referee: M. Joseph (Wales)
| FB | 15 | Tom Kiernan (c) |
| RW | 14 | Tom Grace |
| IC | 13 | Kevin Flynn |
| OC | 12 | Mike Gibson |
| LW | 11 | Wallace McMaster |
| FH | 10 | Barry McGann |
| SH | 9 | John Moloney |
| LP | 1 | Ray McLoughlin |
| HK | 2 | Ken Kennedy |
| TP | 3 | Sean Lynch |
| LL | 4 | Willie John McBride |
| RL | 5 | Kevin Mays |
| BF | 6 | Jimmy Davidson |
| OF | 7 | Fergus Slattery |
| N8 | 8 | Terry Moore |
| FB | 15 | Joe Karam |
| RW | 14 | Bryan Williams |
| IC | 13 | Bruce Robertson |
| OC | 12 | Ian Hurst |
| LW | 11 | Grant Batty |
| FH | 10 | Ian Stevens |
| SH | 9 | Sid Going |
| LP | 1 | Graham Whiting |
| HK | 2 | Tane Norton |
| TP | 3 | Kent Lambert |
| LL | 4 | Peter Whiting |
| RL | 5 | Hamish Macdonald |
| BF | 6 | Alex Wyllie |
| OF | 7 | Ian Kirkpatrick (c) |
| N8 | 8 | Alan Sutherland |

### France

* 10 February 1973
| France | 13–6 | New Zealand |
| Bertranne (4 – 1t) Dourthe (4 – 1t) Romeu (5 – 1c, 1pg) | Report | (6 – 2pg) Karam |
* Parc des Princes, Paris Referee: D. P. d'Arcy (Ireland)
| FB | 15 | Jack Cantoni |
| RW | 14 | Roland Bertranne |
| IC | 13 | Claude Dourthe |
| OC | 12 | Jean-Pierre Lux |
| LW | 11 | Andre Campaes |
| FH | 10 | Jean-Pierre Romeu |
| SH | 9 | Max Barrau |
| LP | 1 | Jean-Louis Azarete |
| HK | 2 | René Bénésis |
| TP | 3 | Jean Iraçabal |
| LL | 4 | Élie Cester |
| RL | 5 | Alain Estève |
| BF | 6 | Olivier Saïsset |
| OF | 7 | Pierre Biemouret |
| N8 | 8 | Walter Spanghero (c) |
| FB | 15 | Joe Karam |
| RW | 14 | Bryan Williams |
| IC | 13 | Bruce Robertson |
| OC | 12 | Ian Hurst |
| LW | 11 | Grant Batty |
| FH | 10 | Ian Stevens |
| SH | 9 | Sid Going |
| LP | 1 | Graham Whiting |
| HK | 2 | Tane Norton |
| TP | 3 | Kent Lambert |
| LL | 4 | Peter Whiting |
| RL | 5 | Hamish Macdonald |
| BF | 6 | Alex Wyllie |
| OF | 7 | Ian Kirkpatrick (c) |
| N8 | 8 | Alan Sutherland |

## Non-international matches

    Scores and results list New Zealand's points tally first.
| N° | Opposing Team | F | A | Date | Venue | Captain |
| 1 | British Columbia | 31 | 9 | 19 October 1972 | Brockton Oval, Vancouver | Ian Kirkpatrick |
| 2 | New York Metropolitan | 41 | 9 | 21 October 1972 | Downing Stadium, New York | Sid Going |
| 3 | Western Counties | 39 | 12 | 28 October 1972 | Kingsholm, Gloucester | Ian Kirkpatrick |
| 4 | Llanelli | 3 | 9 | 31 October 1972 | Stradey Park, Llanelli | Ian Kirkpatrick |
| 5 | Cardiff | 20 | 4 | 4 November 1972 | Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff | Ian Kirkpatrick |
| 6 | Cambridge University | 34 | 3 | 8 November 1972 | Grange Road, Cambridge | Sid Going |
| 7 | London Counties | 24 | 3 | 11 November 1972 | Twickenham, London | Ian Kirkpatrick |
| 8 | Leinster | 17 | 9 | 15 November 1972 | Lansdowne Road, Dublin | Sid Going |
| 9 | Ulster | 19 | 6 | 18 November 1972 | Ravenhill, Belfast | Ian Kirkpatrick |
| 10 | North-Western Counties | 14 | 16 | 21 November 1972 | Ellis Sports Ground, Workington | Ian Kirkpatrick |
| 11 | Rest of Scottish Districts | 26 | 6 | 23 November 1972 | Mansfield Park, Hawick | Ian Kirkpatrick |
| 12 | Gwent | 16 | 7 | 28 November 1972 | Welfare Sports Ground, Ebbw Vale | Ian Kirkpatrick |
| 13 | Midland Counties (West) | 8 | 16 | 6 December 1972 | The Reddings, Moseley | Ian Kirkpatrick |
| 14 | North-Eastern Counties | 9 | 3 | 9 December 1972 | Lidget Green, Bradford | Ian Kirkpatrick |
| 15 | Glasgow - Edinburgh | 16 | 10 | 12 December 1972 | Little Hughenden Park, Glasgow | Alex Wyllie |
| 16 | Southern Counties | 23 | 6 | 20 December 1972 | Iffley Road, Oxford | Ian Kirkpatrick |
| 17 | Combined Services | 31 | 10 | 26 December 1972 | Twickenham, London | Alex Wyllie |
| 18 | East Glamorgan | 20 | 9 | 30 December 1972 | Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff | Ian Kirkpatrick |
| 19 | South-Western Counties | 30 | 7 | 2 January 1973 | The Recreation Ground, Redruth | Ian Kirkpatrick |
| 20 | Newport | 20 | 15 | 10 January 1973 | Rodney Parade, Newport | Sid Going |
| 21 | Midland Counties (East) | 43 | 12 | 13 January 1973 | Welford Road, Leicester | Ian Kirkpatrick |
| 22 | Munster | 3 | 3 | 16 January 1973 | Musgrave Park, Cork | Alex Wyllie |
| 23 | Neath and Aberavon | 43 | 3 | 24 January 1973 | The Gnoll, Neath | Ian Kirkpatrick |
| 24 | Barbarians | 11 | 23 | 27 January 1973 | Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff | Ian Kirkpatrick |
| 25 | South-West Selection | 12 | 3 | 31 January 1973 | Tarbes Stadium, Tarbes | Ian Kirkpatrick |
| 26 | France 'B' | 23 | 8 | 3 February 1973 | Stade Municipal, Lyon | Ian Kirkpatrick |
| 27 | French Selection | 6 | 3 | 7 February 1973 | Stade Marcel Michelin, Clermont-Ferrand | Sid Going |

### Barbarians

* 27 January 1973
| Barbarians | 23–11 | New Zealand |
| Try: Edwards Slattery Bevan Williams Con: Bennett (2) Pen: Bennett | Report | Try: Batty (2) Pen: Karam |
* National Stadium, Cardiff Referee: Georges Domercq (France)
| FB | 15 | J. P. R. Williams |
| RW | 14 | David Duckham |
| OC | 13 | John Dawes (c) |
| IC | 12 | Mike Gibson |
| LW | 11 | John Bevan |
| FH | 10 | Phil Bennett |
| SH | 9 | Gareth Edwards |
| LP | 1 | Ray McLoughlin |
| HK | 2 | John Pullin |
| TP | 3 | Sandy Carmichael |
| LL | 4 | Willie John McBride |
| RL | 5 | Bob Wilkinson |
| BF | 6 | Tommy David |
| OF | 7 | Fergus Slattery |
| N8 | 8 | Derek Quinnell |
| FB | 15 | Joe Karam |
| RW | 14 | Bryan Williams |
| OC | 13 | Bruce Robertson |
| IC | 12 | Ian Hurst |
| LW | 11 | Grant Batty |
| FH | 10 | Bob Burgess |
| SH | 9 | Sid Going |
| LP | 1 | Graham Whiting |
| HK | 2 | Ron Urlich |
| TP | 3 | Kent Lambert |
| LL | 4 | Hamish Macdonald |
| RL | 5 | Peter Whiting |
| BF | 6 | Alistair Scown |
| OF | 7 | Ian Kirkpatrick (c) |
| N8 | 8 | Alex Wyllie |