![]() A harrowing Louis Luyt –attending most of the matches- and the South African public was not convinced that test matches can be won by throwing the ball around. Neither did the team’s inability to maintain momentum because it lacked discipline and structure at the tackle ball. The fact that South Africa played a more attractive brand of rugby than the All Blacks but still lost –due to lack of a recognised kicker- did not help McIntosh to keep his job. Coach McIntosh was battling to convince players and administrators of the merits of 15-man rugby. Ultimately, it was the fact that SA rugby was still struggling with the demons of 13 years of isolation that caused South Africa to lose a series that could have been won. The worst mistake was going on tour without a recognised goal kicker both the first and third test matches could have been won if not for missed penalty kicks. In hindsight a number of aspects can be isolated which went wrong on the 1994 tour there was squad selection injuries coach under pressure players not being streetwise enough and referee/ill-discipline issues all of which played a role in the team’s inability to find rhythm and score tries in tight situations. They had won only 5 out of 13 test matches since losing the return match against the All Blacks at Ellispark in 1992. The Springboks had yet to reassert themselves as a top rugby-playing nation. South Africa, however, was not brimming with confidence upon arrival in New Zealand on Tuesday, 21 June 1994. In the dressing room before the test Captain Sean Fitzpatrick told his players that it was a case of winning or being issued with razor blades committing hara-kiri. It was a test that New Zealand simply could not afford to lose. It was a tentative but desperate New Zealand side lacking confidence that lined-up for the first test of the series against South Africa. By the time of the first test between South Africa and New Zealand eventuated the All Blacks had lost both test matches against France at home. The multiple amounts of debates raging over talkback radio, television and newspapers indicated that the election of the All Black coach was of more importance to the nation than any parliamentary election. The French were playing an exciting and attractive style of rugby scoring brilliant tries and the New Zealand public were getting increasingly annoyed with All Black team’s inability to field an effective backline combination particularly in the midfield.Ĭoach Laurie Mains was under pressure and fending a strong challenge from Auckland coach John Hart. The All Blacks were playing in an overlapping series against France and where besieged with problems of their own. In addition there was an aura of expectation with regard to the New Zealand tour amongst the connoisseur rugby followers in South Africa because New Zealand -at the time- seemed absolutely ripe for the plucking. From that backdrop there was understandingly an expectation that SA rugby and particular the Springboks will shed the impact of the isolation years and begin to adjust to the requirements of the international rugby if not win test matches. In addition they played two test matches against England at the start of the 1994 season losing the first one 15-32 at Loftus Versfeld and winning the second one 27-9 at Newlands in Cape Town. They won one test in Australia and both test matches in Argentina with reasonable good margins. It was nonetheless a disappointing result considering the fact that this team also completed tours -with the same coach, Ian McIntosh- through Australia and Argentina in 1993. ![]() ![]() Compared to the 1965 Springboks probably a better overall result excluding the fact that they couldn’t win a test match. In total they lost 3 matches and drew one out of 14 matches. They were unable to win a single test –losing the first two and drawing the 3 rd test- and losing one provincial match out of 11 against Otago (12-19). The 1994 Springbok team is regarded as the worst Springbok side visiting New Zealand. ![]()
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