France vs New Zealand (first test, 1961)

Peppered by colourful commentary this newsreel shows highlights of the first rugby test in the 1961 series between the French tourists and the All Blacks. Fans queue outside Eden Park, playing cards or reading Lady Chatterley's Lover. Don "the mighty boot" Clarke kicks off and the ABs score right away, but Pierre "Monsieur Drop" Albaladejo pots two field goals for a French lead. The All Blacks fight back for a 13 - 6 win to delight 60,000 locals. An intercept try escapes the camera: before live broadcast developed, action was sometimes missed while changing film.

It’s like trying to break down a brick wall and every time New Zealand smothers the attack.

– ... from the commentary

Key Cast & Crew

David H Fowler

Writer

Claude Wickstead

Sound

Brian Cross

Camera

John Hutchinson

Camera