The Silver Fern

I have only just read Chris B.’s post of three days ago, in the context of some posts about the Grizz Wylie era. The number 7 through that Shield era, and against the 1971 Lions, was Alex Matheson.
Alex unfortunately passed two weeks ago.
He used to say that the violent legend of that game was exaggerated and mostly created by the northern media.
Fergie had a certain changing room reputation which you may have heard, Chris?

@Catogrande I lived 12 years in Primrose Hill, by the Zoo. The only animals we heard regularly were the wolves.

@Bovidae
How do I recognise it?

Even better, at Murphys.

@Bovidae
Yep. I'm going.
Wind and snow in the high country.
Needs must, a warm-up pint of IPA at Murpys.

@taniwharugby
When Mark Shaw was 20, he was playing for Belsize Park RFC in London. Rare was the Saturday when the opposing forward pack was not enraged and outraged. He had a talent for generating power with a punch that travelled no more than 12 inches.

Has anyone seen Schmidt and Foster speak to, or even look at, each other? In the coaches box Foster always turns left for comment, with Ryan.
It is almost as if Schmidt has had enough of being subordinate to a weak fool.
Can’t wait for the memoir.

@broughie
What a cleverly worked political reference. Is it also your judgement that, if unsubstantiated insults work for Donald Trump, they are fine for a rugby forum?

@booboo Thank you. Not that you are asking, but a) neglecting homework, b) being a smart-arse, c) three strokes.
Respect to Ross Taylor and for his fine achievements.

@higgins
Jack Alabaster was my maths teacher at Southland Boys, I had the privilege of being caned by him. There was no mistaking that legspin tweak in the delivery.

@Kirwan
As with magpie above, I have the same questions.
Did you reply to him?

New Zealanders.

The Fern lets me through the defences again, to unload some ancient history.
What about that fourth test against the Boks in 1956?
It was a time when New Zealand had a monolithic rugby culture. There was national unity in the desire to beat these more-than-lifesized invaders. That desire was the highest form of passion allowed a Kiwi bloke.
Selwyn Toogood commentated. Peter Jones scored the clinching try. And we heard the word “buggered” for the first time on air.
I argue that no game since has mattered as deeply to a larger percentage of New Zealander’s.

@mn5
They like to stay at Home House, a club, with rooms, in Portman Square. Check it out, and its prices.