The Test

Television (Excerpts) – 2003

Some of the great names of All Blacks rugby appear in this documentary, which was made before the 2003 World Cup. They tell the story of the highs and lows of New Zealand’s national game across a century of tours. From cruel violence in the early days to the skills of a top team in full flight, The Test provides the views of players, commentators and coaches. This excerpt concentrates on sometimes bruising encounters between the All Blacks and the Springboks, from the 1920s up to 1956. The Test was named Best TV Sports Programme at the 2003 Qantas Media Awards.

If you had tried any funny business you knew damn well that you were going to get the wrong end of the stick sooner or later ... that’s what some of them did have a crack at, and I objected to it.
– All Black Kevin Skinner on facing the Springboks in 1956

Key Cast & Crew

Peter Elliott

Narrator

Steven Orsbourn

Sound Production, Producer, Cinematographer

David Crerar

Director

Paul Anderson

Editor

Peter Sugden

Archive Research

Keith Quinn

Subject

See all 13 credits

Produced by

TVNZ
Oxygen Television

Source

Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision - TVNZ Collection

Acknowledgements

Thanks to the following organisations for allowing NZ On Screen to reproduce stills and footage featured in the title on this website: NZ Rugby Museum and New Zealand Rugby.