Mourie set to extend All Black tradition

Press, 16 August 1978, Page 22

Mourie set to extend All Black tradition

By

KEVIN McMENAMIN

The appointment of Graham Mourie as the All Black captain for the first test against the Wallabies next Saturday points strongly to a tradition being maintained in the men who have led New Zealand teams on tours of the British Isles. The 18-match visit this year will be the eighth major tour of Britain by the All Blacks and for six of the completed seven the captains have been loose forwards, like Mourie. The 1905 "Originals” and the 1924 “Invincibles” were both led by wing forwards, Dave Gallaher and Cliff Porter respectively. The 1935 captain, Jack Manchester, was a flanker and in 1953 it was a No. 8, Bob Stuart. The odd man out is the 1963 captain, Wilson Whineray, who was a prop. He was followed by another No. 8. Brian Lochore, in 1967, and his successor in 1972 was a flanker, lan Kirkpatrick. And, for good measure, it was another No. 8, Andy Leslie, who led the All Black side that made a short tour of Ireland, Wales and England in 1974. British rugby followers could be excused for thinking that New Zealand is preoccupied with the idea

of having a loose forward as captain, at least on long tours. However, the policy, if one exists, even in the subconscious, has worked well enough and there is

no reason at present to change it. Mourie appears to have no serious challengers for the British appointment, more especially now that he has proved himself worthy of a place on the side of an All Black scrum. Only a dramatic slump in form could deny him the job. As a player, Mourie is the quintessence of the 80minute footballer and he is certainly one of the most efficient tacklers to have graced New Zealand teams

in recent times. He also seems well endowed with most of the other qualities that go towards making a successful captain. Although of a quiet and reserved nature, he showed definite leadership gifts on his “apprenticeship” tours, to Argentina in 1976 and to France last year. On both occasions he was popular with his players and he handled the off-the-field tasks with polished ease, notably by speeches that were thoughtful and sincere. Earlier, in 1975, Mourie was given an opportunity to show his captaincy potential when he led the New Zealand Juniors against the touring Rumanians. He passed the test well enough, but it was not until the third and fourth tests against the Lions last winter that he dispelled doubts about his playing worth. At 25, Mourie could have a number of years ahead of him as New Zealand captain, although the acid test will be how he copes on a tour that will be as demanding as the British tour this year is certain to be. In at least one respect, he seems well fitted for the job. Of farming stock, he now runs a dairy farm in

partnership with his brother in Opunake. But before going on the land he spent some years at Victoria University in Wellington and he therefore follows in the steps of Stuart, Whineray and Kirkpatrick who all had a mixture of farming and academic backgrounds. The big job that the All Blacks face this year, both in the series against the Wallabies and in the British Isles, is building on the sound base that was established on the French expedition last year. The players will remain much the same and giving due weight to both performance and potential Graham Mourie appears the man best equipped to carry the All Blacks into what promises to be a new and exciting era. Another point in his favour is the strong partnership he has forged over the last few years with the present All Black coach, Jack Gleeson. This year’s British tour will undoubtedly be compared with the brilliantly-, successful tour of matching length by Lochore’s 1967 side. Lochore and the coach, Fred Allen, were the guiding lights on that occasion and it may not be too much to hope that Mourie and Gleeson will be their equal.