Black—from sidelines to N.Z. scrum

Press, 12 November 1977, Page 56

Black—from sidelines to N.Z. scrum

From JOHN BROOKS, on tour with the All Blacks

The All Blacks’ appropriately named hooker in today's test in Toulouse, John Black, had given up hope four months ago of playing firstclass rugby again. Omitted from the Canter bury squad after two seasons as a member in 1973-74, Black had to wait until August this year to be recalled to the provincial side. He was brought back just before Tane Norton left for South Africa to play for the world XV.

From then on his luck turned. He was chosen for the South Island, had a good game in Dunedin, and won a place in the All Blacks side or France.

“The big break though was getting back in the Canterbury side,” he said in Toulouse. “Before that I thought it was the end. Even after touring Argentina with the New Zealand side I was not getting anywhere. I did not get a game against the Lions; Dave Syms was the hooker for New Zealand Universities and he played well, but I never thought of tossing the game away because I enjoy my club rugby so much.” Black had the unusual experience of winning a New Zealand blazer before he qualified for one from Canterbury. He had two years in the national junior side and enjoyed considerable success playing for the president’s XV against the 1973 AU Blacks.

"At that stage everything started to flow my way and I think in retrospect that I took things a bit for granted.

Unconsciously, perhaps, my game fell away because of

"Then I decided that if I was going to get anywhere in rugby I would have to get stuck in. I was helped by the fact that there are seven or eight really good hookers in Canterbury. It is a good breeding ground for hookers because it is so competitive.” While he felt his chances of advancement in the game had evaporated, Black was happy with his form for the University seniors this year. His big chance, he said, came when Norton left for South Africa, thus missing some national championship games. “The Canterbury team was performing so well that I could’t help but succeed,” he said.

Black is known for hi: mobility as a forward and he attributed this to the big . mileage put in on the road in training. “But I have no record as a track runner. I I tried the decathlon once and got tied up in knots. I felt I ■ couldn’t walk for two weeks.”

The new test hooker spent his final waiting hours before the test in similar fashion to any other game — writing letters and thinking about the match.

Alain Paco (his French opponent) is a good hooker and a good forward. “He took three tightheads off Peter Wheeler, the Lion, in the president’s match in Paris. Any hooker who car do that must be somethin,? special,” Black said.