All Blacks owed big debt

Press, 20 November 1981, Page 28

All Blacks owed big debt

NZPA London Europe owed a big debt to the All Blacks, a rugby writer, John Mason, wrote in the “Daily Telegraph” yesterday. “For a decade New Zealand rugby players haye visited Britain and France regularly on representative tours,” he said. “They have honoured centenaries, and have deputised at short notice for other intended guests. “Next winter, too, the Maoris on a rare overseas visit, will be in Wales. The northern hemisphere’s gratitude for all this activity should be boundless.

“After the Maori tour, the most travelled rugby players in the world, amateur sportsmen with understanding employers and families, take a rest. They will not be this way again for five years at least.” Mason added: “So Saturday’s match against France in Paris has a significance far removed from the touchy, claustrophobic atmosphere of the present tour. Not too many players will be back as such.” The All Blacks have made seven visits to Europe since 1972, involving 17 tests. The Lions will go to New Zealand in 1983 and the All Blacks at present are not due

in Britain again before 1990, although there is a short tour of France in 1986. Meanwhile a mini-crisis over the question of the referee to control the second test between New Zealand and France on Saturday was averted yesterday when the All Blacks asked for Scottish referee, Jake Short, to be appointed. Mr Short, who last controlled the All Blacks during their fine 33-7 win over the Midlands during the 1979 tour to England and Scotland was selected only after the French Rugby Federation bowed to New Zealand demands for a new, four-man panel.

The situation developed when the All Blacks’ preferred referee, the Welshman, Clive Norling, who controlled the first test, was forced out of the Paris encounter because of a leg injury. The All Black management then requested an Englishman, Laurie Prideaux, one of the other members of the four-man panel of referees appointed for the two test series. When Mr Prideaux was also found to be unavailable, the All Black manager, Pat Gill, demanded the addition of two replacement referees to the panel to bring it up to

the original four-man quota. After some tough talking on Tuesday, during which Mr Gill threatened to withdraw the All Blacks from the game at La Rochelle if the request was not met, the French Federation agreed to the demands and two Englishmen, Alan Welsby and Peter Trigg, joined Mr Short and an Irishman, Dave Burnett, on the panel. Mr Gill said yesterday he had been concerned that the new panel contained no Welsh replacement for Mr Norling but would ask for the appointment of Mr Short without further disputing of the matter.