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Forty years after Trans-Tasman great Des Connor introduced short lineouts to Test rugby, the former Wallabies and All Blacks halfback called for more “shock tactics” in the code.
Connor, today inducted into the Wallabies Hall of Fame, challenged coaches and players to study the game deeper to find more ways of scoring tries.
A big fan of NZ-bred Wallabies coach Robbie Deans, the former Australian captain and coach said his only criticism of the modern game was the lack of five-pointers from set-pieces and free kicks.
“It just takes coaches and players to set their minds to that sort of thing, perhaps as similar to a short lineout, as radical as that,” Connor said today. “The opportunity is there.”
Connor, regarded as the best halfback of his day in the 1950s and `60s, played 12 Tests for the Wallabies before moving to New Zealand to continue his teaching career and played another 12 Tests for the All Blacks.
The Brisbane-raised Connor becomes the 14th former Australian Test player, and fourth halfback, to be admitted to the Wallabies Hall of Fame.
Believed to be the only man to have played Tests for both trans-Tasman nations, he will fittingly be formerly inducted before the Wallabies-All Blacks Tri Nations decider at Suncorp Stadium.
“It’s a great honour to joining the other members of the Hall of Fame,” he said.
“It makes four halfbacks, who of course are the princes of the game so it should only be right there’s four out of 14.
“The friendships, the memories and the experience of the game are probably enough for me with the rugby I’ve been involved in and this is the icing on the cake.”
Nick Farr-Jones was the third former No.9 inducted before Australia’s 34-19 upset of the All Blacks in Sydney two months ago.
The others were John Hipwell and Ken Catchpole, who Connor opposed when he represented NZ.
The former Queensland skipper actually captained the All Blacks against his old state on tour in the early 1960s and was given the surprise honour of reluctantly leading the haka.
“They looked at me and said you’re the captain, you’ve got to lead the bloody thing,” he recalled today.
“So I started the haka facing the (NZ) team saying `kamate, kamate’, and realised I was facing the wrong direction, I better turn round.”
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.