Boot on other foot?

Press, 2 July 1979, Page 30

Boot on other foot?

From J

JOHN BROOKS

The alarm bells were ringing for the All Blacks in the first rugby test in Christchurch next Saturday when the French fullback, Jean-Michel Aguirre, kicked a huge goal from a penalty on his own side of halfway against Wellington. Aguirre had nursed a private ambition to emulate the feat of a former French full-back, Pierre Villepreux, in kicking a goal from about the 60 metres range on the same ground in 1968. Aguirre’s effort was not quite as long from point of impact to the goal posts but It cleared the crossbar with plenty of room to spare and pitched by the dead-ball line. It was arguably a more impressive goal than Villepreux’s because it was achieved with a heavy ball in light conditions. Villepreux kicked his goal with a strong northerly wind at his back. Aguirre laughinglydeclined a frivolous offer of 100 francs for his right boot by a New Zealand journalist after the match. But he cleaned his boots under a cold tap before taking a shower — a clear indication of his regard for his match-winning equipment The impact of Aguirre’s big kick against Wellington was not lost on the national selectors, Messrs Jack Gleeson, Eric Watson and Peter Burke, who watched the match. It 1 almost looked like the dawn of another Don Clarke era — but the boot on the other foot. Aguirre has been rested for the match against Hawkes Bay in Napier tomorrow, which couid be a damp one judging by the wind and rain lashing the city last evening.