“The Wallabies’ plan for Bledisloe 1 is going to be simple. They are going to try and bash the All Blacks…” – Paul Cully, rugby columnist, Sydney Morning Herald.
Simple plan is right. Try insane, unless Cully was writing with his tongue firmly in his cheek. I blinked several times after reading it nonetheless.
If ever there was a lobbed incendiary device to fire up the All Blacks ahead of Bledisloe 1 this weekend, it was that statement. It will be writ large and plastered all over the All Blacks dressing room walls that day, you can count on it.
But no-one bashes the All Blacks these days and gets away with it, let alone a win from it. Rather the reverse; they have a track record in doing it over the years. ‘Do unto others what they better not do unto you’ – something like that.
‘All Blacks, thy name is hypocrisy.’
For example, there was a certain Jaapie Bekker, a rugged, feared 1956 Springbok prop who had packed down against recalled veteran All Black prop Kevin Skinner during the third Test in Christchurch.
In the first scrum up against Skinner, Bekker’s head sort of bounced and bobbed after packing down. Moments later he came away reeling, bloodied and emphatically ‘civilised.’
This was not surprising; Kevin Skinner was the former heavyweight boxing champion of New Zealand and needed only a few centimetres to throw a lethal punch. He later claimed he threw only one (at Bekker).
Jaapie Bekker (first from left, middle row) found himself bloodied and bruised very early. (Photo: S&G/PA Images via Getty Images)
Earlier, in the first lineout of the game, Skinner had given the same treatment to the other Springbok prop, Chris Koch – one punch was all it took (typically in ‘retaliation’ for something that had not yet happened).
The All Blacks won that infamously violent, injury-strewn match and then won the fourth game to become the only team to have beaten the Springboks in a Test series, ever.
It was a defining moment in New Zealand rugby and I remember it well. The whole country was ablaze – united – with rugby fervour. It was more like a war footing than a sporting contest. In a sense, it was also the moment the All Blacks laid down a marker that stands to this day.
But in hindsight, it was built on the biff – that is the truth of it. And I now believe in my advancing, more reflective years, the now late Kevin Skinner wrongly became a rugby legend for it.
The next to try and bash the All Blacks some 34 years later was one of Australia’s own; Wallaby lock Peter Fitzsimons. As a budding historian, perhaps he should have read his rugby history more closely.
He was promptly sent off – probably for his own protection – although I note with interest that Fitzsimons apparently believes the send-off was one of his finest rugby moments.
Kevin Skinner (back row, third from the left) ‘civilised’ the Springboks. (Photo: S&G/PA Images via Getty Images)
Go figure, not least because his rush of blood and wild haymakers left 14 mates on the field that day to defend themselves against the All Blacks.
I wonder though about Paul Cully’s choice of words – and I am an admirer of his rugby writing – especially in his use of the word ‘bash’. It’s inflammatory because imputes the illegal, unsporting use of fists.
VERB:
strike hard and violently.
NOUN:
heavy blow.
At the risk of being didactic, I wonder whether the word ‘smash’ is more appropriate given rugby union is a body contact sport.
“Let’s smash the All Blacks” is more in keeping with what the game is about – and it’s legal. It is also possible given the size of the present Wallabies forwards pack, not least of the rising, and exciting, young 135kg monster, Taniela Tupou.
Better though, why not simply outplay them – run them off their feet? Razzle-dazzle Wallabies rugby like they played at Athletic Park, Wellington, in 1964 on a golden, sunny afternoon when they beat – thrashed – the All Blacks 20-5 in one of the best games of rugby played anywhere, ever.
At the end of that game the Kiwi crowd, me among them, rose as one and uncommonly applauded the Wallabies in their vibrant gold-and-green strips from the field.
Just wonderful – and not a single punch thrown, so far as I am aware.
Henry Honey Balls
Guest
Average AB side? I don't think so. Yes I also think it will pass but at some stage the ABs dominance will too even if it has been impressively long.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Yeah, but how long will it last, another 6-8 months a la England? Here youre getting the best Irish period in existence still yet to par it with an average AB side. As with all things, itll pass...always does.
Banjo Kelly
Roar Rookie
Everyone is right on this one... born in NZ, raised in Northern Ireland, worked mainly in Australia now based in UK! Still the best for mine, followed closely by Roarer, Nicholas Bishop. Paul Culley wrote that back in July so i’m thinking Leonard has been sitting on this one until the eve to poke the bear...
Henry Honey Balls
Guest
Dominated? The aggregate score over three games is 71 - 74 to the ABs. That's not really domination is it? I agree the ABs are still much the better side over all but the Irish pack has in my view been better overall than the AB pack.
Hurles
Roar Rookie
Haha, I like it Tman. It’s never worked before but maybe if we keep doing it,eventually it will come off.
Vesi Tagoiagea
Roar Rookie
and the AB dominated the Irish on the scoreboard
Henry Honey Balls
Guest
Nice article. Enjoyed it. I had heard of the AB boxer v SA, great story though. The Australia pack are pretty good to be fair. I'm an Ireland fan and watch closely during the Ireland series and the Aussie pack probably provided our biggest test this year which is something you don't always get from the Aussies particularly in the scrum. Very interested in how their pack goes against NZ. I'm well aware that most on a SH journal will disagree with me when I say it but I believe that the Irish pack has dominated the ABs pack in their last three head to heads particularly at the breakdown, for me Cane is a weakness that Australia can exploit with their two pilferers. Given the above and the fact that Australia was a real test for the Ireland pack albeit against a 4th choice 7 I think Australia will provide a good test for NZ provided they have a solid well executed game plan.
Kirky
Roar Rookie
Atawhai Drive! ~ I had a good look at that photo also and realised that Skinner was the fourth guy from the left as you say! Man what a tour that was, I was only 17 years old at the time but remember it vividly and you'd know mate the brutality of it all! It was started really by the incidents in the First Test when Frank MacAtamney having his first game for the All Blacks was flattened by the two Bok' front rowers Jaap Bekker and Chris Koch and right from the start they objected to the fact that they had to play against our brilliant Maori All Black boys like it or not! After all the crap and scrapping that went on in the First Test won by the Boks, Kevin Skinner was brought in, ~ whether or not he was brought in to deal to these guys in the Second Test or because MacAtamney couldn't play is debateable, always had been, ~ but in saying that Kevin Skinner was one hell of a good front rower! Anyway Tiny White got flattened by almost having his back broken in a lineout deliberately, then Bill Grey got badly knocked around a short while later, Bekker came out from under somewhere with a split lip and what looked like a broken nose, then a similar thing happened against Chris Koch, the other front rower,! ~ Kevin Skinner carried on as if nothing had happened and the All Blacks played with absolute ferocity from then on in, no doubt worked right up because of the intimidation and won the game! The Kiwis won the Series which was the First Series loss by the Boks for sixty years and the great Danie Craven who was the Coach bitched about the filthy play by the All Blacks and would never play them again! ~ But it was really a case of getting their own back by the Kiwis because the 1949 Test Series was rigged which is well documented if you search hard enough and the All Blacks on that tour were mauled like you wouldn't believe, so they weren't about to let that occur again particularly in their own Country! By all accounts though the 1956 Boks Team was never a happy one from before even leaving South Africa as it was believed to have been selected by putting in heaps of Nationalist players and not necessarily the best players,~ the Skipper was a top Nationalist and was rumoured to be the fifth or sixth best Fullback in South African rugby and seemingly the Tour was fraught with players bickering and scrapping amongst themselves as the Tour went on! The Springboks never really were the team they used to be after that tour.
aussikiwi
Guest
"Un-Australian activities". Must be the new catchphrase of the rabid right? Good to see McCarthyism is making a comeback. Because the SAS is above the law, and should never be investigated, obviously.
Morsie
Guest
Paul Cully from the same news room that brings us the witch hunt into the SAS. The home un-Australian activities. So glad they're going up against the wall.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Interesting comment saying how the competition here is full of kiwis given the spread of Australian players in the Mitre 10 Cup right now. Not sure what anybody’s national origin has to do with anything, other than give a reason for potential clouded views.
Tock
Guest
Thanks Leonard Absolutely fascinating reading about those great contests of yore. I really enjoyed the other contributors as well to a great story/yarn. On a more sombre note (no not the passing of Aretha but that was sad too) I am extremely worried about the front row selection for Australia. I hope I am wrong but I simply don't think Tom Robertson has the ability to match the AB front row and the selection of Tatafu Polota-Nau is far too conservative and backwoods looking. I will be supporting them to the hilt when they run on, but I guess I still don't trust Cheika's judgement in these areas.
Kirky
Roar Rookie
TWAS, of course you'd know being a New Zealander! ~ but perhaps I put it down wrong and used the proper perspective being 'Millenniums ahead' ~ Tell us all buttercup where there is a better Provincial/Club Competition! You know as well as I do that there's nothing here in Australia that even comes close, or anywhere else for that matter, ~ Quality rugby I'm talking about here and there's very little of that here in Australia, whatever the Competition is here, it's full of Kiwis anyway, like the T est team!
Leonard Lee
Guest
I do! Poor Lonnie was one of the Lees from the wrong side of the bed. The other was Leapy Lee.
concerned supporter
Guest
Sorry, Leonard, Initially, I thought you were Lonnie Lee, attempting rugby journalism. Remember him?
Kirky
Roar Rookie
For the life of me, (and I hope I'm wrong) I just can't see the Wallabies matching the All Blacks scrum in any facet at all, ~ That Black pack is an awesome unit as has been proved time and again, the tight five won't be beaten and the Loosies of Cane, Read, and Squire are right on their game also!
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Nah it's not eons ahead. The non-Super Rugby players are better because of career professionals at NPC level but it's hardly eons ahead. Similar lead in, similar spread of Super Rugby players, similar season length and similar programs. The salary in Mitre 10 cup is eons ahead though.
Kirky
Roar Rookie
Wal' ~ If they used their noggin', they'd be better served staying where they are for at least two Seasons as that Mitre10 environment is eons ahead of any Competition they have in Australia! They will come back better players for that experience of playing in possibly the most 'out there' Provincial and Club Competition in the World, bar none! I have always been of the opinion that any aspiring Aussie rugby player with a grasp of the game and is showing a bit of talent, should get themselves over to New Zealand and experience rugby in an environment vastly different from what they're used to, but I can assure you the training is pretty much not for the faint hearted, but it could only improve the player so he could possibly be a more than attractive proposition for the National Selectors back here in Aussie'! I'm pretty sure that if any player just gets in contact with any of the Provincial Team's base, eg: Auckland, Taranaki Manawatu and the like, state their case and go from there, I know that any Australian Rugby player if he considers any such move is welcomed by any set up in New Zealand as the Aussie' rugby player wanting to give it a go, (there are a number over there right now) are always well accepted and are regarded as one of their own on fitting in well and enjoying the company while doing something they love!
jimbo81
Guest
moon the haka
Ralph
Roar Guru
+1 well done Leonard.