Good Rugby Reads
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Just read Beavers Book. I enjoyed it.
Gave me an appreciation of what a player can go through when chips are down.
One thing that I was a little surprised about was teh Siti used to play dumb on camera in the hope he wouldn't be asked for interview but was quite bright. If ever he came up with a play in training, everyone would just jump on it because it was always the right thing. Had a massive rugby brain and vision.
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http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?objectid=11944442&ref=twitter
The Big Read: Teammate Lee Byrne reveals the last years of former All Black Jerry Collins
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I loved this article by Dylan Cleaver.
About the 1992 NZ Schoolboys team that included 10 guys who played test rugby for NZ including Carlos Spencer et all & 2 of the best ever in Lomu & Jeff Wilson. Plus 2 guys who played test rugby for Samoa.
The article is about the guys 'who didn't make it", fascinating. The amateur and semi-pro paths some of them took, the bad luck, the options etc
Interesting how many of them rated Todd Miller so highly. I'd first seen/heard of Todd Miller when he played for NZ schoolboys as a 15 year old 2 years earlier and scored a great solo try in a rare televised game. Then he disappeared for a few years doing mormon stuff, before re-appearing at NPC level for Waikato.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/indepth/sport/the-greatest-rugby-team-you-never-saw-the-nearly-men/
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@taniwharugby That was choice, cheers!
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This isn't a rugby read, is a Vietnam War read.
Rugby connection is former Counties Manukau and Fiji (and Blues assistant) coach Mac MacCallion was part of this 6 man SAS patrol, just a teenager at the time with the cliched "lied about his true age ..." thing.
I met Bill Taare, fine man, glad for him to get recognition.
https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/99283095/forgotten-sas-vietnam-war-hero-denied-medal
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The walrus column today - I think it's worth a read as he raises many a point about the state if the game
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@majorrage said in Good Rugby Reads:
The walrus column today - I think it's worth a read as he raises many a point about the state if the game
While you’re at it please post your username and password for the times site. We’d be much obliged. Cheers
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Mac was a fine player in his day as well. Good Manurewa club man, hard arse flanker, NZ Maori rep (captain as well).
Here's another story related to the one above.
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@rapido said in Good Rugby Reads:
This isn't a rugby read, is a Vietnam War read.
Rugby connection is former Counties Manukau and Fiji (and Blues assistant) coach Mac MacCallion was part of this 6 man SAS patrol, just a teenager at the time with the cliched "lied about his true age ..." thing.
I met Bill Taare, fine man, glad for him to get recognition.
https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/99283095/forgotten-sas-vietnam-war-hero-denied-medal
Peter Fatialofa had one of the better Rugby books I've read and he said he was terrified when he had to play against Mac McCallion ( although he was quoted as well and said he was scared of Fats too )
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@crucial said in Good Rugby Reads:
Mac was a fine player in his day as well. Good Manurewa club man, hard arse flanker, NZ Maori rep (captain as well).
Here's another story related to the one above.
EDIT: changed my post re: Mac's age..
On Wiki Mac was born 1950, so he joined army in 1964 as a ;17 year old' but was actually 14. Was aged 17 when he joined SAS soldier, and aged 19 at the tie of this incident.A 2 hour fighting withdrawal while carrying their comrade.
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@kiwimurph saw that on Twitter this morning, cool story!
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@mn5 said in Good Rugby Reads:
@mikedogz said in Good Rugby Reads:
Sounds like there were two Mac McCallions. The guy in the herald article looks too nice to be the former counties coach.
Yep definitely a different bloke. Amazing coincidence though.
Turns out the other guy is Wayne McCallion, his brother.
