For me it’s always been about the All Blacks. In 1972 the New Zealand touring side landed in Britain determined to revenge the only test series defeat by the British and Irish Lions in their history. And determined they were. Wales had made up the core of that wonderful Lions team coached of course by the rugby genius Carwyn James. For the All Blacks an opportunity to put the record straight lay in front of them in the possibility of a grand slam tour.
In our dreams!
For my father and myself it presented a once in a lifetime chance to see as much of this legendary team at first hand and we saw almost all the games the tourists of 1972/3 played in Wales. This presented a challenge as I was a thirteen year old schoolboy and Dad was a self-employed craftsman who had been inspired by the heroics of Gareth, Barry, JPR, Gerald, Mervyn and co…. in the “land of the long white cloud”. He made sure I missed school to see the midweek games probably guessing quite rightly they would have more impact on my career than my maths lessons!
All the games I saw stand out in my memory. Cardiff at the Arms Park, a brutal encounter, Gwent in Ebbw Vale where we stood with a very young Tommy David on the terraces as he protected us from the rowdy crowd with his impressive frame and a game that no one really saw when the mists descended on the national stadium and East Glamorgan fell to the All Blacks might. But of course, the game that stands out for me is probably the greatest club match in Welsh rugby history. So much has been written about 9-3 but for me personally it was a road to Damascus turning point. Dad couldn’t make it to Stradey Park that day, so I had his ticket and I travelled with a group of people who worked in the shop at the time. I had no idea what I was about to witness and probably didn’t quite realise the relevance of that game until many years later. I can remember the atmosphere and the wonderfully partisan crowd. Being allowed to wander freely and then invade the pitch at the end of that epic encounter is something I’ll never forget…. nor will I forget having my foot trodden on by a giant, unhappy All Black forward as he left the field! I was trying to get as close to captain Delme as possible. Many times I’ve searched through the grainy footage of the King of Stradey being chaired from the field that day… I know I’m in there somewhere.
I’m in there somewhere – honestly!
And then of course I was brought back to ground with a bump. Dad, with the help of his friend and patron Byron James managed to get two tickets for the Welsh game. As a naive schoolboy I assumed Wales would win comfortably. After all I had seen Llanelli beat New Zealand so the whole of Wales would have no trouble. I was about to learn the hard way the difference between a midweek tour game and a full test match. It was my first international and my first time at the old Arms Park. Our seats were in new north stand behind the posts at the Taff end and that day we saw all the action. The infamous Keith Murdoch scored in front of us but JPR was denied by the referee in the same spot for a double movement… I still think the great man scored. The try Wales did score was a classic. John Bevan had a huge impact on the ’71 lions tour equalling Tony O’Reilly’s British and Irish Lions try scoring record of 17 tries. He was dubbed “Thunder on the left” to Gerald’s “Lightening on the right”. On that day he lived up to his title arching outside the defence leaving Joe Karam and Grant Batty clutching at air. But New Zealand were not to be outdone on the day and they snuck it by three points. I was devastated. I honestly believed that my presence had brought us bad luck and I was some kind of jinx.
“Thunder on the left” in action.
Over the next 45 years I came to understand it was nothing to do with me being there…. rather the determination of each New Zealand player not to be a part of a team that loses to Wales, such is the rivalry between the two countries. It did however have an upside for me. Dad could only get one ticket for the famous Barbarians game at the end of the tour which spurred him to buy our debentures, a huge investment for him at the time which payed us back many times over. My father ensured I didn’t miss another home match in Cardiff for the next fifty years.. what a gift. I wasn’t alive the last time Wales beat New Zealand and barring a few very close calls its been one-way traffic but the competition between us has inspired many great Groggs over the years. Figures of Keith Murdoch, Sid Going, and the great Colin Meads were some of my favourite subjects in my teens and they were the first non Welsh figures we made at the Groggshop. We have seen many great All Black sides in Wales over the years, but none have had quite the impact of Ian Kirkpatrick’s Seventh All Blacks on myself.
‘Pinetree’ Meads & a very early Sid Going Grogg.
I will be going to the Principality stadium again on Saturday travelling more in hope than expectation….. I learned my lesson well. Before I leave the shop I will take a quick look at my favourite piece of memorabilia… John Bevan’s sock from my very first international… the one he wore while scoring that fantastic try all those years ago. John generously presented the pair to us in the 1980s and I split the socks giving one to dad and framing mine. Below it is a black and white picture of the man himself thundering past the All Black cover…. it’s sure to get my blood pumping and who knows…….. for Wales and New Zealand…. once again history beckons!
Precious memories & my sock!
