Andy Haden ‘makes way for youth’

Press, 5 February 1987, Page 34

Andy Haden ‘makes way for youth’

PA Auckland The All Black lock, Andy Haden, who played 117 games for New Zealand including 41 teste, has announced his retirement from rugby. Haden, who played first-class rugby for 16 years, said: “I have either played my last game, or I will play another game or two. I have no intention of playing for New Zealand, Auckland or Ponsonby as a regular player again. "I’ve enjoyed it. It has been a great 16 years, but I will be 37 at the end of the year and I think it is time I made way for those who are coming along.” Haden said his most enjoyable tour had been with Graham Mourie’s “Grand Slam” All Blacks in the British Isles in 1978. Fine management, astute leadership and a surplus of quality players had produced a team of true international class, he said. Every team of international quality needed a nucleus of five exceptional players. In his view, no more than one or two All Blacks at present had that quality. “Speaking as a lock, I would say that only Murray Pierce * and Gary Whetton, and, possibly Albert Anderson, could rank as great or specially good players in the position,’.’ Haden said. Compared with his earlier days, the New Zealand game lacked grafters and toilers such as lan Eliason and Frank Oliver - men who appreciated that their duty was to push right to the end of the game, he said. Haden said jie. has the warmest respect for John Haft as a coach and for

the Auckland teams he had put on to the field. “The quality of the team was so high that it was a joy to play in it "John had, and has, the reputation of being a topnotch motivator. "I came to know him aS an expert manipulator with a genius for sending each man on to the field imbued with an absolute determination to give Of his best. “We have held the Rarifurly Shield because of individuals going out to make their own, total, individual application to the game. “That was John Hart’s contribution. When he was chosen as a New Zealand selector, in congratulating him I said: ’At last we have someone who knows something about back play’.” Haden said that, philosophically, he had supported the visit of the Springboks in 1981, just as he actively backed the socalled rebel tour of South Africa last year. < He said the tour was undertaken because the New Zealand Rugby Football Union, at the recommendation of its many followers, had, in fact, tried to promote a tour. When this was thwarted by a legal Injunction, the players, as individuals, decided they would substitute their own tour. Individualism. was stressed at a meeting aboard an aircraft headr ing for Johannesburg and players resolved they would never allow thenv selves to be known as All Blacks. ' Haden said they had canvassed each other in search of a suitable name for their side; and gladly fastened on to "Cavaliers” when this was