KeithQuinnRugby
Thinking and talking about rugby every day for 50+ years
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MY TAKE ON SOME OF THE RUGBY NEWS STORIES WHICH COME INTO MY WORLD.
8 July 2015
This is a piece I wrote for a history of the 1991 Rugby World Cup. I tried to capture with dignity (and fairness!?) one of rugby's most memorable days. Though perhaps Welsh fans might not agree! Read more »
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25 June 2015
So what about that 1995 Rugby World Cup - and especially the final? Well, the whole thing was a great event with the All Blacks playing by far the best rugby of any team at the tournament. That of course was never better shown then in the way they demolished England by 45-29 in the semi-final at Cape Town. Read more »
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10 June 2015
My story on the late Jerry Collins having to front for a TV interview straight after an All Blacks World Cup defeat in 2003 has been picked up and run on the New Zealand Herald. As a result of that the All Blacks media manager from that New Zealand team has sent his version of events. I thank Matt McIlraith and publish his comments. Read more »
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9 June 2015
My rugby writing friend Frankie Deges of Buenos Aires has this week wondered why I did not include in my website 'tribute' to the life Jerry Collins any mention of the time I was furious with the way Collins was treated by the management of an All Black team which he had just given his guts on the field for... so I publish that story right here. Read more »
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8 June 2015
Many warm words have been written in recent days about the life of Jerry Collins. However some of the tributes have been of the once-over-lightly variety. This one is written by a Kiwi who prefers to be called 'Inky.' - nothing more nothing lees. I know who Inky is by name and I'll vouch for him as a rugby authority. I liked his tribute so much, with all its excellent new information about Jerry, that I thought i'd run again it here. I know I've kinda pinched it, but thanks Inky old mate! Read more »
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Graham McNally, always working for rugby, especially in Dubai. And a great friend and judge of New Zealand rugby too.
4 June 2015
There we were the other day; two blokes sitting at home on a rainy afternoon in Wellington. We had nothing to do except pass the time of day away. The wives were out shopping and like the diligent husbands we are we were waiting at home for them. It was too early for a beer, there was tea in the pot and a new cake on the plate. But when we started talking about the composition of the 2015 All Blacks World Cup team the cake got ignored and the tea went cold. Read more »
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And there's a many a Kiwi who has rung him on this day in the years since - after he grew to be one of our greatest All Blacks.
ALLAN, TREVOR
New South Wales and Australia
14 internationals for Australia 1946–49
A brilliant centre three-quarter, Trevor Allan was, in two seasons in particular, one of Australia’s most successful test captains. He assumed the leadership of the Wallabies on the 1947–48 tour of Britain after the original skipper, Bill McLean, suffered a broken leg.
At just 21, Allan was the youngest of all international touring captains. That Wallaby team may not have won the Grand Slam over the four home unions, but it maintained a record of not conceding a try in those games.
The injury to McLean meant the young man was put in charge of a team made up mainly of World War II veterans. Yet Allan was enormously success with them and the team displayed tremendous loyalty to him.
In 1949 Allan led Australia to its first away win in the Bledisloe Cup series against New Zealand, although New Zealanders will be quick to point out that the leading 30 All Blacks of that year were involved in another series in South Africa at the same time.
Trevor Allan quit rugby for the professional game in 1951, playing rugby league in England for Leigh. He named a daughter after the town of that name.
After retiring from all football in 1954 he became a respected television rugby commentator.
Which nation came third in the 1987 Rugby World Cup played in New Zealand?
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