WALES 16 NEW ZEALAND 19 (at Cardiff Arms Park, 2/12/1972).
This was not the best match in the series between the two countries, but it was controversial and very little separated the sides at the finish.
New Zealand’s points came from debutant full back Joe Karam (five penalty goals) and prop forward Keith Murdoch (try).
Murdoch was later that night in an incident with a security guard at a Cardiff hotel and the New Zealand team management sent him home in disgrace, though he was to get off the plane in Australia and disappear for several years.
Fly half Phil Bennett placed four penalty goals for Wales and wing John Bevan crossed for a try, but it was the try that was not awarded that raised most of the controversy.
Referee ‘Johnnie’ Johnson had given Murdoch’s try, but in almost similar circumstances he denied a score for Wales full back J.P.R. Williams, who he decided had not used momentum to cross the line. It brought back memories of the Deans ‘try’ of 1905 and made fans eagerly await the next meeting.
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Wales v New Zealand Classics – 1905
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