KeithQuinnRugby
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15 August 2014
Yes, I know you'll all be screaming, 'here's old Quinn in the first week of his rugby website now asking us to believe he has a hare-brained story which involves him and the late Lauren Bacall!
But its true! It really is! And it has a rugby connection!
So let me first say that I feel very sad for dear Lauren Bacall who has recently passed away. What a great and glamorous career she had and what a great star she really was.
I met her way back in the late 70s or early 80s (I've got to be honest here and say I can't recall exactly what year). She was invited to come to New Zealand to take part in the local fund-raising 'Telethon' series.
New Zealanders of a certain age will remember these shows. They were basically a nation-wide hook up of TV stations where local TV talent (some local people were called 'TV stars' - though not me) and they sat on a 'panel' in front of the cameras and did silly things on screen after fans at home had pledged to pay to see them do it. The money raised over about 24 hours all went into a very worthy cause for that particular year. These telethons went on for years until like a lot of things on TV they 'ran out of puff.'
This particular time about five or six well-known TV personalities from USA and Britain were flown to New Zealand to take part and one by one they were distributed to each of the four main centres. The great Lauren Bacall came to Wellington and at the Wellington Show buildings in Newtown I was introduced to her. I was also to be a panellist that night.
Of course she had absolutely no idea who I was (a New Zealand rugby commentator would hardly be ringing any bells in Hollywood right?) but I was thrilled to meet her. I had seen a lot of her movies, as we all had. She really was big time!
And she was really nice. As I recall she had no minders or anything like that - just Lauren sitting there waiting as we all were to do our 'thing' on screen.
Soon it came for a new 'panel' to go out in front of the cameras. As I had been in a conversation with Lauren (see how easily I am calling her by her first name?) I ducked in behind her as we walked out into the lights.
As I recall there were four of us in the panel. While I can't recall who the fourth was I do remember that the 1974-76 All Black captain Andy Leslie was right there too. We all sat down and for about half an hour we joshed with the public and did silly things. The phones ran hot and money was raised. I was right next to the Hollywood star - and lovin' it!
At one point someone rang up and said they'd donate $50 to see the 'panel do 20 press-ups each.' As that would have been grossly unfair and undignified to ask a real lady to be involved in that activity the rest of the panel got down on the floor and huffed our way through them. Andy I remember did his no sweat but your friendly commentator was wheezing heavily by about press-up number six! I think I got through in the end but red-faced and puffing I went back to my seat.
Lauren played her part superbly in another section of 'our time together.' A local hotel donated a dish for us each to eat on screen. That would be easy I thought; even then eating was one of my hobbies.
Four young men in with large chef's hats then elegantly brought out four silver platters and one each was placed in front of us. The cover plates were whisked away and there - was garnished tripe and onions in all its - ugh -glory!
Me being a committed pie and chips man in those days I nearly gagged and really struggled to chaw down a couple of tiny mouthfuls. Grinning at the cameras through clenched teeth.
But next to me the worldly Bacall ate (most of hers) in a truly delicate, graceful and delightful way. 'Tripe,' she said, 'was one of her favourites.' People in the live audience clapped and cheered and a whole bunch of money from north to south was donated. Shortly after that our time on screen was over we were all hurried off set.
Out the back, with a bit of a 'goodbye' but without so much as a peck on the cheek the star was whisked away. Out to a car she went being rushed to the airport to later turn up at much the same show in Christchurch.
And my fleeting time with Humphrey Bogart's wife was over.
I must salute my family here; they have put up with my re-telling off this tale many times over the years. They'll be shrugging if they're reading now. Only today on the occasion of the great lady's death has my story gone public. Though I often wonder in those years of loneliness up in Hollywood did the great lady ever think of me?
Na - probably she liked the smooth All Black captain much more! Damn him!
By the way if you want checking to see if my story here is true, give Andy Leslie a call - gee I hope he remembers!
Or else head into the dusty halls of TV1s archive building. Maybe the tapes of the epic meeting between one great person and one would-be-if-he-could-be are still there, waiting to be re-told.
Comments 0
It was 145-17 in Bloemfontein. Marc Ellis scored 6 tries and Simon Culhane kicked 20 conversions. Plus from others there was a lot more!
EALES, JOHN
Queensland and Australia
86 internationals for Australia 1991-2001
One of Australian rugby’s most recognizable and powerful rugby personalities, the modest, lanky Queenslander John Eales had a career at the top which spanned more than a decade and included playing in three World Cups. That in itself is a superb achievement but when the winning of the World Cup twice, as well as being captain once, are added in, his world status is further elevated.
John Eales was a 21 year old in just his second season of senior football when he played his first test on his home ground of Ballymore in Brisbane, against Wales in July of 1991. The Wallabies won 63-6 and followed that with a 40-15 win six days later in the second test in Sydney. A fortnight later and young Eales had outjumped the fast-rising New Zealand lock forward Ian Jones as Australia stormed to a 21-12.
The speed of his rise continued. By November that year he had played a World Cup final and after only being an international player for just a week over three months he had shared in the 12-6 win over England at Twickenham.
In many respects his career never looked back from that heady start. His play, as a tall leaping lock forward was always strong and authoritative, his goal-kicking from the lock forward position was often a real bonus to his Queensland and Australian teams. One time, early in his career, in a Brisbane club game, he let fly with a dropped goal attempt from half way. The ball flew high and true between the posts. The modest Eales dismissed the kick as if it were nothing. When he took over the captaincy of his country he was almost as laconic in accepting the honour. Not that Eales wasn’t proud, he was quietly delighted. He took to leadership as if to the manner born. It brought out in himself an ability to also bring quiet influence, confidence and respect from his teammates. A number of seasoned Australian writers rate him among their very best captains of all time. Those same writers say he is the best forward that country has ever produced.
Certainly as a player Eales was a true utility, playing in more than one position in the forward pack, (lock and number eight forward) yet he was also a multi-skilled performer around the field. He had such talent that somewhere on one of his journeys one of his mates called him ‘Nobody’ but it was not a reference to his quiet and shy manner. The name was a shortened version of ‘nobody’s perfect.’ The name was a backhanded compliment to his rare gifts.
John Eales played everywhere in the rugby world and, as already listed, had probably more success than any other player. By the time he reached the 1999 Rugby World Cup he was one of the most familiar faces of the world game. But retirement was looming. He had only reached the final’s series after a long and careful buildup recovering from a shoulder injury. But he played the World Cup with more than his usual authority and vigour; at one point it the final against Wales in Cardiff he demanded of the referee; Andre Watson of South Africa, that he should look closely at the tactics of the French players; ‘if you do not look at their foul play I will take my team off the field.’ Coming from Eales it was absolute that something was going on.
When the Wallabies won by the resounding margin of 35-12 John Eales took the Cup from Queens Elizabeth II and held it high. Though he played on for one more season that was the summit of his superb career.
His total of 86 test matches was then a Wallaby record for a forward; only the winger David Campese had played more. (Only Tim Horan and Jason Little were also in two World Cup winning teams; but does Eales being captain in one final just lift him a little higher?)
Dr Danie Craven is often called 'The Father of South African Rugby' - what was he a doctor of?
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