All Blacks trying hard to be liked in U.K.

Press, 24 October 1978, Page 28

All Blacks trying hard to be liked in U.K.

From

KEVIN McMENAMIN,

on tour with the All Blacks

Even at this early stage the All Blacks have gone a long way towards iccomplishing one of the prime goals of their manager (Mr Russell Thomas) of making this year’s tour a new dawning in New Zealand-British rugby relations.

It goes without saying hat behaviour both on and Iff the field was fully distussed before the team left Auckland, with firm guideines laid down. However, there has been no lint of sufferance in the Hanner that the players lave accepted and fulfilled heir social engagements and n this respect Mr Thomas las given a strong lead. He las been out himself just tbout every night talking to ■arious groups and organisaions and his addresses to he Four Home Unions wel-i »me reception and a lunchion arranged by the British Sports Writers’ Club have leen highly praised. His speech at the former: las been described as the lest by a visiting rugby | nanager for many years and t is, perhaps, no accident! !hat his central theme on| loth occasions was the need: for rugby to work harder at: inproving its image.

! Mr Thomas made another 'immediate impact — and ! one that startled many of the stiff shirts of British I rugby — when at the press [conference that followed the team’s arrival in London he went around and shook hands with all the assembled reporters, introducing himself to those he had not met. It was a gesture without precedent. Happily the challenge provided by Mr Thomas has found a ready response in Wales. At all levels there ’has been a conscientious effort to forget the trials and tribulations of the past and begin anew. Very few Welshmen — nor. more surprising, the Welsh press — have showed any interest in raking over the coals of the bitter New Zealand-Cardiff game of six years ago. Or, for that matter does anyone seem very keen to resurrect the Keith Murdoch affair. It was more 1

I visiting New Zealanders who [revived the famous incident by going in search of the Angel Hotel — the All Blacks are staying elsewhere this time —in a sort of pilgrimage to the scene of the incident that led to Murdoch’s expulsion from the 1972-73 All Blacks. According to one New Zealander who checked the place out there are no blood stains to be found and nor could he detect the presence of any evil spirits. Sa far as Cardiff people are concerned the Murdoch affair is over and forgotten. Yet the constant references by senior rugby officials to the importance of this year’s tour ta the game underlines their desire to rehearse the attitudes of the recent past. This concilatqry approach is in fact quite overwhelming and was very evident at the dinner that followed the Cardiff game last ' Saturd?”. The tremendously

proud Cardiff club seemed to find a cushion for defeat in the fact that the game was played in such a fine spirit.

“The game must always be more important than any single result” said one speaker. So long as this attitude prevails then the All Blacks can look forward to a happy tour. It is rumoured among the players that the first one to be seen throwing a punch in a game will have the job of cleaning Mr Thomas’s shoes for the rest of the tour. The guilty party may also expect a tongue-lashing as well, because there is absolutely no doubt that both visitor's and guests alike are bending over backwards to keep the | tour on an even keel and! free of controversy. In this pursuit Mr Thomas has an able ally in the All Black captain, Graham Mourie. Mourie ha already stamped himself as a man with the right blend of firmness, humour and sympathy that goes towards making a outstanding leader. Victory against Cardiff on Saturday was vital to the playing side of the tour and another such result against West Wales on Thursday morning (N.Z time), will put the All Blacks firmly on the path to a most successful! tour. But already the team has gained popularity off the field and if this can be sustained it will undoubtedly make the tour the happy event everyone in authority also earnestly wants it to be.