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AB tour diary: Day 3 in London. 7 November 2014
My picture of the WW1 commemorative poppies - and the crowds - at the Tower of London today.
8 November 2014
All Black Diary Day 3; In London, Friday.
There is a general feeling that Steve Hansen is putting out his best All Black XV for tomorrow's game at Twickenham. I'm particularly pleased that Sonny Bill Williams is in to play. He will mark Kyle Eastmond in the midfield and the difference in style will be massive - as well as in sheer size. SBW is 6ft 4inches tall and Eastmond is only 5ft 7. Both come from a rugby league background so will be tough but I see the presence of Williams being a new real plus for the excellence already set this year by New Zealand.
The 'Quinn Group' of the Williment tour did the day trip to see the WWI poppies display today. While it was wonderful to see, for me the size of the crowds pressing the rails and vantage points, just to get a glimpse made it a rather uncomfortable experience. I'm not sure I can cope in crowds like that.
However don't get me wrong; I was very glad to have made the effort. In a matter of days we will see how the French commemorate the same war. But very impressive today.
Tonight our two groups met at gain at the local Stanhope Hotel, which we are already calling 'our local.' More touring conviviality took place. Everyone is very excited by the prospects of going out to the famous 'Twickers' ground tomorrow. For a high percentage it will be a first for them; a rugby fan's highlight, surely.
For me it is another visit from the first I made to Twickenham in 1978. What a privilege it will be to go to 'HQ,' as they call it here - once again!
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Every day there is Rugby History 5 June 2105
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A 48 test veteran Jerry Collins tragically died in a car crash in Southern France aged only 34.
A-Z of Rugby
Click to show GAINSFORD, JOHN
GAINSFORD, JOHN
Western Province and South Africa
33 internationals for Sth Africa 1960–67
One of South Africa’s greatest players, John Gainsford played in what was then a record number of internationals for a centre in the Springbok colours.
A big, strong-running centre with positive instincts for attack, he made his first-class debut as a 19-year-old, before joining the Junior Springboks for their 1959 tour of Argentina. He came into the South African test team in 1960, when he appeared in the only test against the Scotland touring team and in all four games the same season against the All Blacks. Thereafter, until 1967, only injury kept him out of test teams.
In his seven seasons as a Springbok, Gainsford earned world-wide respect. After only five years he became the highest-capped South African player, beating the old mark of 28 tests, held by Johan Claassen, in the third test at Christchurch on the 1965 New Zealand tour. This was a feat which he celebrated by scoring two brilliant tries as the Springboks came back from 5–16 at half-time to score a notable victory.
At the time of his retirement, after the 1967 tour by France, Gainsford was also South Africa’s top test try-scorer, with eight tries. Both his appearances and try tally records were broken in subsequent years, but it took until 2001 before Japie Mulder passed his record for being South Africa’s highest-capped centre.
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Which nation came third in the 1987 Rugby World Cup played in New Zealand?
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