Marlborough's Fifth All Black

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31676, 11 May 1968, Page 11

Marlborough's Fifth All Black

J OCK forwards are not a very emotional genre and A. R. Sutherland, Marlborough’s latest All Black, conformed perfectly when his name was announced by Mr T. C. Morrison as one of three locks to tour Australia with the All Blacks in May and June. Except for a slight change In colour, Sutherland remained impassive but there were a few smiles creasing his face as his hand was pumped a few minutes later. The next day this rugged Marlborough player, who has been one of the prime forces in Marlborough lifting itself from lowly minor union status to one of the strongest of the smaller unions, could still only think about the honour that had been brought to Marlborough by his selection.

He was completely unselfish about his selection and undivided in his loyalty to Marlborough and there was some obvious delight from him as the hotel switchboard took its swarm of tolls from his loyal supporters in Blenheim.

A reserved but very pleasant'person, Sutherland had good reason to ponder on the All Black trial system after his name was announced. Last Season he was named as emergency for the All Black team which played Australia in the jubilee match and was in the major trial in the matches played in September. He and W. Currey were the two players from the main trial to miss selection for the 1967 team. In Sutherland’s case the reason was fairly obvious. B, J. Lochore was the No. 8 incumbent and I. A. Kirkpatrick, perhaps the finest- young loose forward in New Zealand of recent years, just could not be left out.

Realising that the loose forward position in New Zealand was the hardest to break into, Sutherland moved to the lock position and duly received a place there in the final trials. \ He was favoured for a place in the All Black team because he had the virtue of being robust enough as a lock and able to double up as a loose forward. In the end his position was made fairly easy. G. J. Pohlen, his main rival as a lock, played badly and Sutherland was chosen as the third lock. He is one of the breed of country players New Zealand alone seems to produce —big, strong, , tough and completely dedicated. His height may stop him from being a regular All Black .lock, but as a tight, driving player he must be

an ideal choice for South Africa in 1970.

In Marlborough Rugby circles he is known as “Big Al” and is now the fifth All Black from Marlborough. The others were C. J. Fitzgerald, 1922; J. J. Best, 1935; I. A. Hammond, 1951-52; P. H. Clarke, 1967. For Marlborough Rugby followers the selection of Sutherland in the All Blacks is the first leg of a double. The second leg? Beating Hawke’s Bay in the Ranfurly Shield challenge on August 24.