The 1983 New Zealand rugby union tour of Australia was the All Blacks' seventeenth tour of Australia and their first one-off test tour since 1979 (4 years and 23 days). The tour was a one-off match between Australia and New Zealand at the Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney.[2] Considered the better side, and with the odds in their favour (6–4), New Zealand had only won five of their last ten fixtures against the Wallabies (50%).[2] Australia were 9–10 outsiders, however, Wallabies coach Bob Dwyer commented: “The All Black aura of domination of five or six years ago is over... They were once supermen who couldn't be beaten but that All Black bogey doesn't exist any more.”[2] New Zealand won the test 8–18.[3][4] New Zealand coach Bryce Rope said that Australia and New Zealand were the two best rugby union teams in the world before the match.[1] Wallaby coach, Bob Dwyer, insisted that Australia was the only team in the world (at the time) that could beat New Zealand, saying several days before the match, "I honestly reckon we're about the only side in the world who can beat them."[5] The match was also David Campese's fourth match against the All Blacks.
^ abWebster, Jim (19 August 1983). "Astonishing NZ Test plan". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 45, 440 (Late ed.). John Fairfax and Sons. p. 26. Bryce Rope, the NZ coach, rocked an attentive press audience before the All Blacks trained at St John's Oval, Sydney University, yesterday afternoon with his assessment of what he wanted from his team, however great it might be.
^Foster, Michael (21 August 1983). "All Blacks Too Strong". The Canberra Times. Vol. 57, no. 17, 493. Sydney, New South Wales. p. 17. Retrieved 9 March 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
^Webster, Jim (17 August 1983). "Dwyer has total respect for All Blacks, but... 'We can win Test'". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 45, 438 (Late ed.). John Fairfax and Sons. p. 40.
^"Half Time For Action". The Sun-Herald. John Fairfax and Sons. 21 August 1983. p. 83.
Australia
New Zealand