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Isn't THIS a Better Way to Accept Defeat?
20 August 2014
John Roughan in the New Zealand Herald recently wondered if the All Blacks of today have lost the art of losing gracefully. The great Fred Allen was a hard man who drove his team's hard for test wins. Nothing else mattered but to win. His teams played tough for 80 minutes. Yet see how he lost so generously here in 1949 - with the South African captain Felix du Plessis. And Fred's team lost all four tests in a row on that tour!
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Every day there is Rugby History 9 December 1978
Click to show The first All Black 'Grand Slam' - though we hardly saw it coming!
The light was so dense and dark the fans couldn't see v Scotland. Through the murk NZ won 18-9, finishing a run of 4 wins over UK unions on the same tour.
A-Z of Rugby
Click to show DANOS, PIERRE
DANOS, PIERRE
Toulon, Béziers and France
17 internationals for France 1954–60
A café proprietor from Béziers, Danos was a key member of the famous French team which beat the Springboks in South Africa in 1958. He was the darting, diving scrumhalf of the team, committed to sharp running and passing, as well as being a dropped-goal specialist. It was his goal at Newlands which drew the first test for a French XV which had looked in danger of defeat. Indeed, it was said that Danos had such a sharp eye that he only ever drop-kicked for goal when he was certain it would go over. On that tour he made three attempts for three goals.
Danos is remembered for coining one of rugby’s classic quotes. Describing the differences between the various physical types who could play rugby, Danos simplified them to being just two types – ‘Those who play pianos and those who shift them.’
10 Questions to well known sporting people
Today's KQ Rugby Quiz
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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