Rugby: Drama follows Springboks in Hamilton

All Black great Don Clarke was part of the Waikato side that upset the Springboks 14-10 in Hamilton in 1956. Photo / NZ Herald

Springboks visits to Hamilton have provided no shortage of drama over the years, including among the brightest and darkest moments in New Zealand rugby history. And none have involved the All Blacks.

Waikato Stadium hosts its biggest test on Saturday and the first involving South Africa when the world rugby heavyweights square off in front of a sold out crowd of 31,000.

It's the same number who witnessed a game in 1956 which retains a prominent place in New Zealand sporting folklore.

At what was then Rugby Park, Waikato upset the Springboks 14-10, a win still regarded by many as the greatest by a New Zealand provincial team over a touring side.

Contrast that with scenes at the ground 25 years later, when protesters and helmeted police clashed en masse, resulting in the cancellation of the Waikato-Springboks tour match - the most controversial day of the 1981 tour that divided a nation.

The Springboks have since returned to Hamilton, winning their 1994 tour match over Waikato, meaning their only loss in a city which they have opted to steer clear of until late this week remains that first match of the famous 1956 visit.

They arrived as unquestionably the world's leading side, having whitewashed the All Blacks 4-0 in their previous test series in South Africa.

While the All Blacks would exact revenge 3-1 in the test series, the challenge went out to all New Zealand's provincial sides before then to topple the giant men in green.

Waikato did exactly that on a rousing afternoon, racing to a 14-0 lead on the back of a rabid forward display that knocked the visitors off their feet, before withstanding a Springboks fightback.

Captained brilliantly by the diminutive Alan "Ponty" Reid and boasting the All Blacks' famous Clarke brothers - fullback Don and prop Ian - Waikato played with fervour matched only by the crowd.

The roar was deafening soon after fulltime when South African captain Jan Pickard presented Reid with the ceremonial Springboks head, an award for the first successful provincial side on tour.

Celebrated New Zealand rugby writer TP McLean captured the essence of the game in a chapter of his book, Great Days in New Zealand Rugby.

The Waikato forward effort was captured by McLean from the opening kickoff, fielded by Springboks prop Harry Walker stood under the opening kickoff.

"They thereupon, all eight of them, arrived at Walker at the same time as the ball," McLean wrote.

"It was a long time before Walker smiled after that, I can tell you."

In his inimitable way, McLean singled out Reid and Don Clarke as special heroes.

"There was a halfback, Reid, knee-high to a grasshopper and as tough as Palestinian Parchment.

"There was Donald Clarke, now as big as a small castle. He kicked goals even more accurately than racecourse punters kicked themselves for not backing the right horse."

The occasion was the last thing on the mind of anti-tour protesters in 1981, who marched on the streets outside Rugby Park before a group of about 350 bust through fences and invaded the pitch.

Police arrested about 50 of them over a period of an hour but were concerned that they could not control the rugby crowd, who were throwing bottles and other objects at the protesters.

Following reports that a light plane was approaching the stadium, the match was cancelled.

Vitriol continued for the rest of the day in Hamilton, with some angry rugby supporters waiting outside the Hamilton police station for arrested protesters to be processed and released. Other protesters were assaulted on the street.

Apartheid has ended and South Africa are a long-accepted part of the professional age.

Rugby Park has also moved with the times, its tired appearance redeveloped in 2000 to become one of the country's premier facilities.

It has hosted five tests since 2002 but ironically the most memorable game there was another tour match, when a passionate New Zealand Maori side downed the British and Irish Lions 19-13 in 2005.

The ground was overlooked for playoff matches at the 2011 World Cup but will host three pool games, including two involving Wales and another between the All Blacks and the top Asian qualifiers.

Waikato Stadium (formerly Rugby Park) test matches

1987 - Fiji 28 Argentina 9 (World Cup)
2002 - NZ 64 Italy 10
2003 - NZ 55 Wales 3
2004 - NZ 41 Argentina 7
2006 - NZ 34 Ireland 23
2007 - NZ 64 Canada 13

- NZPA