Black’s back forces retirement

Press, 27 May 1981, Page 30

Black’s back forces retirement

By

KEVIN McMENAMIN

Officially, John Black has retired from all rugby. Unofficially, he could well be sighted in the next few weeks acting as a reserve for the University A senior team. The truth of the matter is that Black is making a reluctant departure from a playing career which has had its fair number of highs andlows. A back injury, suffered in France in 1977, has reached the stage where Black, at 29, has nn choice but retirement. He has since Christmas been in a Catch 22 situation. It is distance running that aggravates the injury, yet without roadwork Black cannot get~himself match-fit.

“I have had two tries this year to get myself fit enough to play, but each time I have failed. I guess I have just got to accept the fact that my playing days are over.” ■ Black’s disappointment is heightened by the fact that 310-one seems able to pinpoint his injury problem. Xrays have shown there is nothing seriously wrong and despite varied treatments it seems that only time will effect a full cure.

Black made his retirement decision about a month ago, but agreed to the persuasions of his University A coach, Laurie O’Reilly, that he act as a reserve until the side got some of its players off the injured list. Outsiders have wondered if having an All Black in the reserves may have been a psychological ploy on Mr O’Reilly's behalf.

However, two Saturdays ago Black took the field as a replacement and it was not just the reporters covering the match who were greatly impressed by his display. Mr O’Reilly and a number of University players are firmly of the opinion that Black, this day, played one of his best games in the maroon jersey. Such praise does not help Black leave his boots, once and for all, on a nail in the garage, but twinges after that game convinced him that he would be foolish to give any more thought to playing." ‘‘l am suffering serious withdrawal Symptoms and retaining an association with the University side as a reserve might help me over-

come them,” said Black. “Then, after we win the senior championship, I can front up for the team photograph,” he quipped. Black had an unusual career in that for a long time he was more highly regarded in other parts of New Zealand than he was in his home province of Canterbury. He actually grew up in South Canterbury, but made ah almost immediate impression when he joined the Canterbury University club in 1970. He was spotted first by the University senior coach of the time, and a former All Black hooker, John Creighton. ‘I was lucky to get a start under a coach like John Creighton; he taught me a lot,” said Black. He also holds Mr O’Reilly in high regard and while some people might joke about the way Mr O’Reilly sings the praises of his players, Black said this was something he and the team as a whole appreciated. “With Laurie, and with' John too for that matter, you

always knew’ they were 100 per cent behind you. I be■lieve it is important that there is a loyalty between players and -coaches and this is one of the reasons why the University A side has been so closely knit.”

Black became a New Zealand Colt in 1972, but it was in 1973 that his career really started to bloom. He made his debut for Canterbury, played in the two farewell games for Colin Meads and was one of the Junior All Blacks who beat the All Blacks at Carisbrook. Black was a Junior All Black again in 1974 and it was in these two Juniors sides that he first played alongside Graham Mourie.

It was with Mourie’s side to Argentina in 1976 that Black first pulled on the All Black jersey and he was with Mourie again on the tours to France in 1977, Australia 1978 and the grand slam tour of Britain later that year. His other, and final, All Black tour was the long one of Australia last year, but because of his worsening

back injury Black does not rate this tour as highly as he does the others.

In all, Black played 26 times for the All Blacks, but he had only three tests and, without being unkind to the ‘man, it should, perhaps, be noted that these were three tests New Zealand lost. The first was in Toulouse in 1977, the second the sole test in Australia in 1978 and third was the final test in Sydney last year. After nine games for Canterbury in 1973 and 1974, Black seemed to lose favour with the provincial selectors and it was not until Tane Norton was on the verge of retirement in 1977 that he came back into the side.

Higher calls and injuries limited his appearances in the last few seasons and really the only full season he had with Canterbury was 1978. His total of 38 games is, therefore, low for a player who was in top rugby for so long.

Black rates Alain Paco, the Frenchman he opposed in 1977, as the toughest rival he faced, bu the is quick to add that the competition he faced in Christchurch in the early

and mid ’7os was little removed from the highest level.

He mentions in particular, Bruce Francis, a Christchurch club player who never rose above Canterbury B, as a hooker for whom he had the utmost respect. If Black retires with any regret apart from the one that he has to retire at all, it would be that he missed the 1976 All Black tour to South Africa, after having, what he felt, was his bept All Black trial. But like others who missed that trip and, instead, went to Argentina, the second prize turned out to be rather special. Despite his four seasons as an All Black, John Black never got to wear the colours on a New Zealand ground. And on his tours away, he always seemed to be cast in someone else’s shadow.

But if the rugby public remembers John Black as a lightning fast striker and a very mobile hooker with excellent ball skills, his playing partners would also add that he harboured a will to win that few sportsmen anywhere could match.