Very true

He ran the ball better than he kicked... a long-forgotten fact. Unbelievable pace and the best hands in the Bok backline ever.

Didn't do so well in the NFL though. Mind you, he is a 24 carat gold legend

good point.

Yeah but look at the cheating involved, including training on same ground, and the cheap shots , open your eyes

This is not an AB test side.

That’s simply not true there were many international tours to SA immediately preceding the cavaliers tour. SA tour South America France to SA Lions to SA Ireland to SA SA to NZ SA to USA South American Jaguars to SA England to SA South America & Spain to SA

Where is Gerber not respected exactly? Anyone who knows his name understands he was the best centre ever to play in a Springbok jersey.

@@johnnyhammer not to state the obvious, those who know him does respect him, but too many "experts" don't know him. That is the point 🙄

It's hard to get recognition when the world bans you. Thank god they ended apartheid. Look at the depth of talent they have now

@@huepix so Danie Gerber isn't seen as the absolute superstar that he was because he was born in the wronf country. Are you asinine? That is such a stupid thing to say.

It was great footie...lots of brutal stuff plus great backplay

You ain't seen nothing son!

1956

Ja the Natal game was something else.I remember Tony Watson running away from their left wing.Ive just come from the WP game and the behaved like choirboys in comparison

@@gregbooth1551 ,I think i meant in my era im not that old 😁

It was NOT a test series full stop...nothing to do with NZR, IRB never recognised it, and the AB's who went there were not given clearance...was all about money and a desire to see the old rivalry back. You can call it a test series all you like, but the NZ team was an NZ XV

agree@@gregbooth1551

It was the International Rugby Board (IRB) now know as World Rugby which deems if games are recognised as international fixtures or not. These matches were not deemed to be international games at the time.

agree@@seamusweber8298

​@@gregbooth1551 the official New Zealand team selected a squad of 30 to tour South Africa the previous season. The tour never happened but 28 of the 30 were in this squad the following season.

Probably the best Bok backline I have ever seen - they were brilliant.

they would ny of beaten the 87-88 NZ side . They were in a different class altogether from this Cavaliers side who were all the older all blacks looking for a retirement payout.

@@MrAhuapai Greetings...yep that All Black side which won the 1987 World Cup in New Zealand were a great combination. But never the less..most of them were on the 1986 Cavaliers tour..and in all probability were prepared by experiencing the tough Tests against the Boks..to go on and do well in the 87 tournament.

@@kevinoliver6237 as I have said...the 1987 AB side would have THRASHED the 1986 team

And, yes the Cavaliers tour both helped and hindered our cause. We had the Geratrics (cavaliers) and the young bucks "Baby Blacks" and when they combined they STILL got dusted by a very powerful Wallaby side. There was lots of tension between both AB teams, but in 1987 they cleared the air and nailed EVERYTHING

It was a nice period indeed

@@nepiahemopo1702 during the 70s the All Blacks played in South Africa and I can remember Sid Going fondly! Nearly every primary school scrumhalf wanted to pass the ball between their legs at scrums. Those days rugby coaches used the rope on their whistle to stripe a bottom a quick one for making a mistake.

There are definitely Afrikaans commentary somewhere on the web, I have seen that Danie Gerber try with Afrikaans commentary somewhere in my life. Also, that Reinach sprint down the touchline is the famous "hier is spoed hier is spoed" Viviers commentary?

FAT CHANCE!

​@@gregbooth1551No one can say but these matches show there was more than a chance

Here is my reasoning: The Boks were deserved victors in this series. What seems to get lost in the "who was the best team in 1987" conversation, is this Cavaliers team was largly past it's best as was proven when this old guard replaced the "Baby Blacks" v Wallabies and lost...The Wallabies and Boks of 1986 were the best at the time. (The Wallabies were anyway, but the Boks won at home which as we all know is a massive advantage for them) 1987 the All Blacks learned so much and along with a great coaching team, superior fitness, some fresh blood including the immortal Michael Jones took the game to a whole new level, FAR beyond the 1986 standards. As proven when they won the world cup easily, then thrashed the Wallabies by a massive margin. (That was an awesome Wallaby team - although arrogant) Yes there was a chance for the Boks, but not a big one. Please do not overlook the fact that there were TWO NZ Rugby teams in 1986, neither was great. 1987 were GREAT - because they learnt the lessons from the year before and brought in new standards of fitness, and blended both teams beautifully.

@@gregbooth1551 Fine, but who's to say Springboks wouldn't have done the same? Beside, 7 players from 1987 were Cavaliers. They improved, but so could have done the Springboks. Could have the Bokke won? Who knows. They weren't there, but had they been they could have

In Theory, but logically VERY unlikely. 1/ It was not a test series in any way, it was the Boks against an NZ XV 2/That era of Boks were pretty arrogant. So why improve when "Us Boks proved that we were the best by beating the Cavaliers" 3/ The first world cup was played in NZ/Oz. Boks do not have a great history in this part of the world apart from the great 1937 team led by Danie Craven. I think u underestimate the MASSIVE growth we had to do to reclaim our number one position in world rugby, after dominating the early 80's apart from the greatest Wallabies 1979-1980 - Mark Ella and co had a massive impact on our game.

Loveridge was the GOAT

A New Zealander complaining about referee decisions going against them, almost 40 years ago 😂😂😂 jeez you guys are bad losers 🤦‍♂️

How many of these players played in the 87’ World Cup for the AB’s? I’m curious as I don’t know,

Most of them did, I think only John Kirwan and Stu Wilson declined

The Cavaliers weren't the All Blacks . The series did the ABs a favour because they were able to leave players at the end of their career out of the RWC squad. .There were only 4 players from this Cavaliers side that would make the AB RWC team the following year. That sort of turnover would be unheard of in Rugby Union now.

​@@MrAhuapai I thought the same initially but actually 7 Cavaliers made the sensational 1987 world cup squad. However was a combo of old and new players, a vastly better team culture plus a revolutionary fitness regime that tranformed the 1987 team into something "next level"

@@gregbooth1551 4 players in the starting team for the final to be clear . Fox,Taylor Whetton and Green. Quite a significant difference I have heard SA fans declare they would of won the RWC in 87 because of the success against the cavaliers . As we know The 87 team was a different beast altogether

@@MrAhuapai The 1987/1988 AB's would have thrashed the 1986 version by 20-30 points easily. I'm with ya on this one.

@@gregbooth1551 no contest

Unfortunately for you SA acknowledged it as a test series and awarded test colours to the their players. Nobody cared if NZ did the same or not. The majority of the Cavalier players at that time were 1st choice All Blacks and some went on to win the WC a year later (helped by the absence of SA of course). Those players gave their best on the tour, played amazing rugby and were great ambassadors for their country.

Not a test match, hand picked referees, umm?

​@@tonywybrow2767"hand picked" like those in 1981 series?

Sorry, what is your point here? Clive Norling Welsh ref was unbiased, he did not give a rats who won.

@@gregbooth1551 I'm sorry, are you talking to me? I think I illustrated my point already in our discussion.