All Black great dies

NEWS: All Black great Sid Going has died at the age of 80, New Zealand Rugby said Saturday.

“It’s incredibly sad to hear of Sid’s passing,” the governing body’s chief executive Mark Robinson said in a statement.

“He was a dynamic player and one of the greatest halfbacks in All Blacks history.”

Going died on Friday and will be buried in Maromaku, Northland.

Nicknamed “Super Sid”, the scrumhalf was a powerful runner with the ball in hand and a fearless tackler of forwards, who often towered over him.

Going played 86 matches for the All Blacks, including 29 Tests, over a decade-long span until 1977.

He captained New Zealand five times.

Going scored 10 tries in Test matches, including two by darting past French defenders inside the opening 30 minutes to seal a 19-12 win over Les Bleus at Eden Park in 1968.

“Sid was a special player and man in our game,” All Blacks coach Scott Robertson said.

“He lit up the field with his ability and energy. He lit up people’s hearts off it – that was his trademark.”

One of the finest scrumhalves of the amateur era, Going enjoyed many a tussle with Welsh legend Gareth Edwards in All Blacks matches against Wales and the British & Irish Lions.

The pair were key players in the 1971 series between the All Blacks and Lions when the British tourists sealed a famous 2-1 victory after the fourth Test finished in a draw.

Going scored one of the All Blacks’ five tries during a 22-12 win in the second Test held in Christchurch which had leveled the series in the famous battle of the rugby heavyweights.

Going also jinxed past a posse of red shirts for a superb individual try against the visiting Lions in 1977, helping the All Blacks to a 3-1 home series win.

He retired from international rugby soon after, aged 33.