The last All Blacks tour: Looking back on the 1997 tour and the All Blacks’ near-miss with perfection

PremiumCameron McMillanDeputy Head of Sport·NZ Herald·6 Aug, 2026 05:01 AM8 mins to read‌Jonah Lomu on the charge during the final test of the 1997 tour of Britain and Ireland. Photo / PhotosportJonah Lomu on the charge during the final test of the 1997 tour of Britain and Ireland. Photo / Photosport Oh, the days of the dirt-trackers. The midweek All Blacks, lost to rugby, only to be dusted off 29 years later. On Saturday, the All Blacks will play their first game (a non-test) since 2017, when they faced the France XV and the Barbarians in the