By Rob Cole
For those of you who thought ‘Fake News’ was a modern phenomenon, think again. Long before the Russians allegedly began meddling in foreign elections and Donald Trump began barking at the US media the All Blacks were at it on their first tour of the UK.
How else do you explain the actions of Bob Deans in the wake of that legendary 3-0 defeat to Wales in Cardiff on 16 December, 1905. Was it just sour grapes or a face-saving exercise following the first international rugby union defeat suffered by New Zealand.
As every Welsh rugby fan knows, Teddy Morgan scored the ONLY try of that epic clash 112 years ago. So say all of us, and so say the history books. But Deans was having none of it!
After all, the All Blacks had swept all before them on that tour, winning all previous 27 games before facing Wales. Not only that, they had scored an amazing 801 points with just 32 points against. They arrived in Cardiff – 49 days into life as a newly crowned City and still 50 years away from being declared the Welsh capital – having completed 600 minutes without conceding a point in their previous seven and a half matches.
With wins over Australia (14-3) and then on the tour Scotland (12-7), Ireland (15–0) and England (15–0), Dave Gallacher’s side were unbeaten in 1905 and in their previous six internationals. Wales, too, were on a bit of a roll having been crowned Triple Crown champions earlier in the year with wins over England (25-0), Scotland (6-3) and Ireland (10-3).
It really was a battle of champions, a fight to be declared the best team in the world. That Wales were able to win what is often described as the greatest game of international rugby set-up what has become a true ‘rugby bromance’ that has lasted the test of time.
But back to Deans. The Canterbury centre was so convinced he had scored a try in the second half that he sent a telegram to the Daily Mail the next day to tell them so:
“Grounded the ball six inches over line. Some of Welsh players admit try. Hunter and Glasgow can confirm was pulled back by Welshman before referee arrived.”
God bless him, the Scottish referee John Dallas arrived on the scene as quickly as his overcoat would allow him. You won’t find a Welshman who didn’t believe it was a fair decision – No Try, Scrum Five!
So there we have it, the first instance of ‘Fake News’ in sport! A few Welsh players, notable that great centre Rhys Gabe, were obviously suffering from the effects of concussion and should have been subjected to an HIA because they mistakenly thought it was a try as well.
As Welsh fans will remember, or at least those with very long memories, there were victories over New Zealand in 1905, 1935 and 1953. After the feast though, came the very long famine that has existed for 29 games and 64 years to date.
Even so, Wales won three of those first four meetings was some achievement given it took England 30 years to beat the All Blacks, Ireland 111 years, France 72 years and it is 112 and counting for the Scots.
There are only four players left who were involved in the last Wales win. Neath, Wales and British & Irish Lions prop Courtenay Meredith is the sole Welsh survivor and is now 91 and living in Porthcawl. Scrum half Keith Davis (87), centre John Tanner (90) and flanker Bill McCaw (90) are the Kiwi survivors, although rumour has it they don;t talk much about the game itself!
Sir Winston Churchill was Prime Minister the lats time Wales beat New Zealand
For the record, on 19 December, 1953, The Queen was a mere six months into her reign, Sir Winston Churchill was Prime Minister, Frankie Laine was starting a three-week run at No 1 in the music charts with ‘Answer Me’ and a pint of beer was 6p.
Bob Stuart’s All Blacks touring team had already been beaten by Cardiff and the week before the international at the Arms Park they drew with Swansea. The Wales team was only finalised two-and-a-half hours before kick-off when Glyn Davies, the flanker, was ruled out with a back injury after failing a fitness test and replaced by Sid Judd, who went on to score a try.
Clem Thomas, another back row man, was confirmed in the side despite having been involved in a fatal road accident on Thursday night as he travelled to meet up with the team. He put in the cross-kick that led to the Ken Jones try that clinched the 13-8 victory.
That cross-kick has taken on legendary status in Welsh rugby and the former Llanelli, Wales and Lions flanker Ivor Jones, the WRU committee man who was running the touchline claimed credit for the match winning score by saying he had shouted to Clem to kick the ball.
After the game at the post-match dinner, try-scorer Ken Jones was deputised by his team mates to go up to the WRU Secretary, Eric Evans, at the post match dinner at the Park Hotel and ask for some extra beer money given the fact they had won the game.
The response was typical of the age: “I’m surprised at you Jones, asking for more money from the Union for a few extra beers. Don’t you realise we are trying to save money and raise funds to build a new national stadium in Bridgend? I’m afraid there is no more money we can give you.”
They had just beaten New Zealand for the third time and didn’t even get a few extra pints to toast their success. It got worse for Ken as the night went on because he fell asleep on the train to Newport and ended up in Bristol. He caught the milk train back and had to walk the last few miles home.
There are few men or women left alive who can say they were there when Wales last beat New Zealand. What chance of a long overdue fourth victory this weekend?
Well, just bear in mind a few facts. The All Blacks have lost to three different teams in the last calendar year – Ireland, the British & Irish Lions and Australia; they are without several front line players, including their skipper Kieran Read.
Conversely, they have now been at the top of the World Rugby Rankings for eight years, completed back-to-back World Cup wins in 2015 and have only lost twice at the Principality Stadium – to South Africa in the Bronze final at the 1999 World Cup and the and quarter-final of the 2007 tournament against France.