1979 France rugby union tour of Fiji and New Zealand

1979 France rugby union tour of Fiji and New Zealand
Summary
P W D L
Total
11 8 0 3
Test match
4 3 0 1
Opponent
P W D L
 Fiji[1]
1 1 0 0
 New Zealand
2 1 0 1
 Tahiti
1 1 0 0

The 1979 France rugby union tour of Fiji New Zealand Tahiti was a series of ten matches played in June and July 1979 by the France national rugby union team in Fiji, New Zealand and Tahiti. The team won seven matches and lost three, including defeats to provincial teams Waikato and Southland. They drew their two-match test series against New Zealand national rugby union team, losing the first test but winning the second. The victory in the second test was France's first away victory against New Zealand, gained at the eighth attempt.

Results

Scores and results list France's points tally first.
Date Opponent Location Result Score
Match 1 16 June Fiji Fiji Buckhurst Park, Suva Won 13–4
Match 2 20 June Marlborough Lansdowne Park, Blenheim Won 35–15
Match 3 23 June Waikato Rugby Park, Hamilton Lost 15–18
Match 4 27 June North Auckland Okara Park, Whangārei Won 16–3
Match 5 30 June Wellington Athletic Park, Wellington Won 14–9
Match 6 3 July Hawke's Bay McLean Park, Napier Won 31–13
Match 7 7 July New Zealand New Zealand Lancaster Park, Christchurch Lost 9–23
Match 8 10 July Southland Rugby Park, Invercargill Lost 11–12
Match 9 14 July New Zealand New Zealand Eden Park, Auckland Won 24–19
Match 10 16 July French Polynesia Tahiti Papeete Won 92–12

Test matches

First Test

7 July 1979
New Zealand 23–9 France
B. Wilson (11 – 3pg, 1c)
Wilson (4 – 1t)
Donaldson (4 – 1t)
Watts (4 – 1t)		(4 – 1t) Mesny
(3 – 1dg) Caussade
(2 – 1c) Aguirre
Lancaster Park, Christchurch
Attendance: 40,000
Referee: John West (IRFU)

NEW ZEALAND: Bevan Wilson, Stu Wilson, Bruce Robertson, Lyn Jaffray, Murray Watts, Murray Taylor, Mark Donaldson, Brad Johnstone, Andy Dalton, Gary Knight, Frank Oliver (rep Wayne Graham), Andy Haden, Leicester Rutledge, Gary Seear, Graham Mourie (c)

FRANCE: Jean-Michel Aguirre, Frédéric Costes, Didier Codorniou, Patrick Mesny, Jean-Luc Averous, Alain Caussade, Yves Laffarge, Robert Paparemborde, Philippe Dintrans, Christian Colomine, Francis Haget, Patrick Salas, Jean-Pierre Rives (c), Christian Beguerie, Jean-Luc Joinel.

Second Test

14 July 1979
New Zealand 19–24 France
B. Wilson (11 – 3pg, 1c)
S. Wilson (4 – 1t)
Mourie (4 – 1t)		(9 – 1t, 1c, 1dg) Caussade
(4 – 1t) Gallion
(4 – 1t) Averous
(4 – 1t) Codorniou
(3 – 1pg) Aguirre
Eden Park, Auckland
Attendance: 55,000
Referee: John West (IRFU)

NEW ZEALAND: Bevan Wilson, Stu Wilson, Bruce Robertson, Lyn Jaffray, Murray Watts, Murray Taylor, Mark Donaldson, Brad Johnstone, Andy Dalton, Gary Knight, Frank Oliver, Andy Haden, Leicester Rutledge, Gary Seear, Graham Mourie (c)

FRANCE: Jean-Michel Aguirre, Frédéric Costes, Didier Codorniou, Patrick Mesny, Jean-Luc Averous, Alain Caussade, Jérôme Gallion, Robert Paparemborde, Philippe Dintrans, Daniel Dubroca, Francis Haget, Alain Maleg, Jean-Pierre Rives (c), Christian Beguerie, Jean-Luc Joinel.

Touring party

Full backs

Three-quarters

Half-backs

Forwards

References

  1. ^ Not recognized as official by FFR.
  • Jenkins, Vivian, ed. (1980). Rothmans Rugby Yearbook 1980–81. Queen Anne Press. pp. 33–38. ISBN 0-362-02018-3.