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With one test win each NZ and South Africa battled on this day to a 0-0 game in the mud and slush of Athletic Park in Wellington; and the test series is tied.
BAIRD, ROGER
Kelso and Scotland
27 internationals for Scotland 1981–88
4 internationals for British Isles 1983
A winger who might be best remembered by statisticians as the man who played for Scotland in 27 tests but never managed to score a try.
The baby-faced Baird, a former schools scrumhalf and an expert in the sevens game, was blessed with many talents. He was fast and elusive, and although slightly built, he had courage beyond his size. His speed was real: he once cleaned up three Scottish Borders track and field titles in one afternoon.
As a try-scorer, Baird had impressive credentials at every level other than for Scotland in test matches. His total of tries for the South of Scotland was a record, and he scored many in sevens rugby, including at the Melrose Sevens and on trips to the Hong Kong tournament.
Baird did have one test try-scoring moment but it was for the British Isles in New Zealand in 1983 in the third test in Dunedin.
Which well-known sevens rugby coach made this memorable quotation? 'At the Hong Kong sevens bowls and plates are only for eating off - not playing for?'
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