1972 England rugby union tour of South Africa

This first tour undertaken by England to South Africa was organised with a demanding schedule, although with only one Test Match. Within two weeks and three days, seven matches were to be played, the first four at sea level, and the final three, including the Test Match, at the altitude in the highveld with only two days to acclimatise before a demanding fixture against Northern Transvaal. From the outset, under captain John Pullin and the management of Alec Lewis and John Elders, there was a buoyant and optimistic spirit in the squad, as if they were determined to erase the memories of the last few seasons of undistinguished English performances.

Apartheid backdrop and controversy
The tour took place against the backdrop of widespread condemnation of the apartheid regime. Under pressure from other African nations, the International Olympic Committee had excluded South Africa from competing in the Summer Games since 1964, and there had also been protests against visiting sporting teams from South Africa.

In 1971, an international cricket boycott was instituted against South Africa to voice global disapproval of their selection policies and apartheid in general. South Africa subsequently became a world sporting pariah, and were excluded from the Olympics, the FIFA World Cup, test cricket, and a host of other sports.

There were protests against the 1972 England rugby tour, including a blockade of their hotel to try to prevent them leaving, in which 14 people were arrested.

Matches

 * Scores and results list England's points tally first.

Test Match
Piet Greyling led a combination of Springboks who seemed hopelessly unsure of themselves. Dawie Snyman collected all the South African points with three penalties while England, with unspectacular competence, grabbed every scoring chance. Fullback Sam Doble converted a try by wing Alan Morley and also booted four penalties.

Touring party

 * Manager: Alec Lewis
 * Assistant Manager: John Elders
 * Captain: John Pullin (Bristol) 24 caps

Full Backs

 * Sam Doble (Moseley) No caps
 * David Whibley (Leicester) No caps

Three-Quarters

 * Jeremy Janion (Bedford) 8 caps
 * Peter Knight (Bristol) 2 caps
 * Alan Morley (Bristol) No caps
 * Peter Preece (Coventry) No caps
 * Tony Richards (Fylde) No caps
 * John Spencer (Headingley) 15 caps

Half-Backs

 * Alan Old (Middlesbrough) 4 caps
 * Tom Palmer (Gloucester) No caps
 * Lionel Weston (West of Scotland) 2 caps
 * Jan Webster (Moseley) 2 caps
 * Steve Smith (Wilmslow) No caps (Replacement for L. E. Weston)

Forwards

 * John Barton (Coventry) 4 caps
 * Tony Boddy (Metropolitan Police) No caps
 * Mike Burton (Gloucester) 4 caps
 * Fran Cotton (Loughborough College) 3 caps
 * Tim Cowell (Rugby) No caps
 * Peter Larter (Northampton) 21 caps
 * Tony Neary (Broughton Park) 4 caps
 * John Pullin (Bristol) 24 caps
 * Chris Ralston (Richmond) 6 caps
 * Andy Ripley (Rosslyn Park) 4 caps
 * Stack Stevens (Harlequins) 9 caps
 * John Watkins (Gloucester) No caps
 * Dave Watt (Bristol) 4 caps