AS the years go by the memories fade but one incident that people always mention when talking to me about rugby, which helps to bring them back to life, is the infamous Andy Haden dive in 1978. We were beating the All Blacks at the time and the game was going our way. But with about six to seven minutes to go, a long raking kick went into touch, just outside our 25, and they had a lineout.
It was thrown in but called again, and on the second call, Andy Haden, who was standing opposite me, appeared to jump and landed on the floor. Most people probably thought I’d elbowed him or pushed him. In my mind, I thought Jeff Squire, who was behind me, had whacked him. The ref penalised Jeff for leaning on, even though this had been happening all game without any action taken, and Brian McKechnie kicked the penalty and it was game over. We lost 1312. I got to know Andy quite well over the years but he never admitted to cheating! He was a great lock forward and a great rugby thinker.
McKechnie was a straight-on (or toepoke) kicker like me. I don’t recall being a lock and a kicker as that big a deal back then as it would be now. I just enjoyed kicking the ball and was quite good at it, I don’t really know why other than the fact I loved playing football growing up and I would spend hours practising curling corners in down at Port Talbot FC pretending to be my Swans hero Ivor Allchurch. When I first started kicking for Aberavon and Wales, we used leather balls, which took some shifting once they got wet and heavy. But I still preferred them to the synthetic balls that came in, they were hopeless for me because they weren’t made of a living material and there was no ‘action reaction’ and they just fell away around the corner.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة March 21, 2021 من The Rugby Paper.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة March 21, 2021 من The Rugby Paper.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
YOUNG GUNS
SEANKERR HARLEQUINS & ENGLAND U20 CENTRE
PGP deal is nothing but a waste of time
I CAN’T help thinking that the new Professional Game Partnership (PGP) is nothing but a waste of time as I can’t see how it is going to make any difference to how the game operates or how it will actually help clubs keep players and reduce the financial strain they are under.
Tries galore as Jake leads the Crusaders title party
WITH Dings stalwarts Charlie Taylor and Jake Holcombe reaching the milestones of 250 and 200 appearances respectively, the massive win over Camborne was a fitting end to the season.
It's title delight for the Titans!
ROTHERHAM Titans are the champions!
Lions survive as Patrick heroics seal late glory
THE final throws of the 2023-24 season saw Sale take on Leicester Lions at Heywood Road, with the visitors looking for a victory to ensure their survival.
35 years on and Tim's charity still full of hope
IF YOU believe rugby is the ultimate team sport – which I still do – it is tempting to superimpose all its many fine qualities into other team environments.
'Ireland in blue' will provide stiffest test
PHIL Dowson and Leo Cullen first crossed paths in European action 10 seasons ago when Northampton did something they had never done before nor since: beating Leinster in Dublin.
Cardiff left in a mess by lively Edinburgh
CARDIFF’S last appearance at the Arms Park this season ended miserably as Edinburgh picked up a valuable four points in their quest for an end of season playoff spot.
RED ROSES
MADDIE FEAUNATI EXETER CHIEFS BACK ROW
Sharks look to have edge in Diamond derby
SALE boss Alex Sanderson has thanked Steve Diamond, his opposite number at Newcastle, for giving him extra motivation to win what has been dubbed ‘the Diamond derby’.