On 15 August 1903, New Zealand played its first rugby international. The game was against Australia, and the New Zealanders won comfortably.
Now, 100 years on, the results are not so predictable. The power base of rugby no longer rests so firmly in the grip of the All Blacks. Professionalism has raised not only the level of the game, it has also raised the stakes and the size of the worldwide audience. One thing hasn't changed, though: the All Blacks are still the biggest drawcard on the international scene.
'All Black Magic' is a celebration of New Zealand's proud rugby history. The centenary is broken down into decades, each of which features an introduction, the match of the decade, All Black of the decade, and overseas player of the decade.
Within each era, the excitement and drama of the games are recreated through the stories of those who were there – and not just the New Zealanders. Key internationals such as David Campese and Nick Farr-Jones offer their opinions on the All Blacks. Other features include the top tries scored for and against the All Blacks, and items on the game's unique characters.
With a full statistical appendix and numerous photographs, 'All Black Magic' is a fitting tribute to the black jersey and the silver fern.
