THAT try 40 years ago
It is just on 40 years since the most famous try in the history of the game happened at Cardiff Arms Park. Since then there have been lots of 'improvements' that had not equalled it.
Stadiums have improved – shining buildings with turf that cuts up by the scrum. And laws have apparently been improved to make the game faster, livelier, more fun, and they have not achieved a try like that. The truth is that no amount of titivating stadiums or tampering with the laws if the there is not in players' souls the desire to be adventurous and in their bodies the skill to put that adventure into action.
Ask a thousand people over 50 to name the greatest try ever scored and they will tell with awe of the try Gareth scored against the All Blacks on a Cardiff afternoon in 1973. THAT try!
It is the try made in gold and diamond, precious and glittering. To all who have seen it, it is the best of rugby, the epitome of the Barbarian spirit of adventure.
Now the Barbarians are to play the All Blacks again, and people will stream along, all hoping for another Cardiff happening – a rugby epiphany.
The Barbarians, founded in 1890, first played the All Blacks. They have played them eight times, but it is THAT match which matters in men's hearts and minds and above all THAT try in THAT match.
Here is just some account of it but those who saw it – live or on a screen somewhere – will have it etched in his own mind as his mind saw it and engraved it on his soul.
The match was only a couple of minutes old. Ian Kirkpatrick, great flank, passed to Bryan Williams, great wing. Up against the touch-line and just on the half-way line, Williams hoofed a high kick down into the Barbarians' 22.
Phil Bennett, the Barbarians's flyhalf in the red socks of Llanelli, scurried after the ball as it bounced towards his posts, as ominous All Blacks chased.
Bennett picked up the ball some ten yards from his line and moved to his right as flank Alastair Scown approached with intent. Bennett turned with the ball and moved to his right, outflanking Scown. But as he did so centre Ian Hurst approached with intent. In a flash Bennett jinked to his left. Peter Whiting charged at him. Bennett jinked again to his left. Ian Kirkpatrick charged at him. Again Bennett jinked out of harm's way but hooker Ron Urlich came at him. In a flash Bennett passed to his right, to fullback JPR Williams. The pass went in a flash, a miracle of skill.
As JPR got the ball Bryan Williams got him high. JPR stayed on his feet, twisted round and gave the ball to hooker Peter Pullin. Pullin waved the ball about as he made a few yards. He passed to John Dawes who sped over the Barbarians' 25. Dawes dummied and went inside Grant Batty, passing inside to burly, uncapped Tommy David who went over the half-way line and slung a dipping pass at Derek Quinnell.
Somehow the big man dipped and caught the ball, straightening up to pass it to his left – towards big-striding David Duckham on the left-wing.
The ball did not reach Duckham for Gareth Edwards intercepted the pass and sped some thirty yards down the field to dive in Batty's diving tackle and score the greatest try ever.
What a moment of gold and diamond!
It was a rugby moment of gold and diamond for those players got no other reward other than the thrill of the moment – no points or cups, and the aftermath is a wonder to behold in these days of hugging and extravagant gestured of triumph.
Edwards rose, gestureless, expressionless and started jogging back to his line. The player nearest him, Irish flank Fergus Slattery, in passing slapped his right forearm with his right hand, and then he, too, wandered back. There were no hugs – just the most precious rugby moment of all time.
The television commentator was the great Cliff Morgan with all the wonderful words of Wales, who came in as a late replacement when Bill McLaren withdrew on the Friday night. Cliff, too, let the visuals do the work.
This is his commentary:
"Kirkpatrick to Williams. This is great stuff. Phil Bennett covering, chased by Alastair Scown.
"Brilliant! Oh, that's brilliant!
"John Williams, Pullin, John Dawes.
"Great dummy! David. Tom David, the half-way line.
"Brilliant by Quinnell. This is Gareth Edwards.
"A dramatic start. What a score!"
It was the first score of the match, which the Barbarians won 23-11.
Scorers:
For the Barbarians:
Tries: Edwards, Slattery, Bevan, Williams
Cons: Bennett 2
Pen: Bennett
For the All Blacks:
Tries: Batty 2
Pen: Karam
The teams
Barbarians: 15 JPR Williams (London Welsh), 14 John Bevan (Cardiff), 13 John Dawes (London Welsh) (captain), 12 Mike Gibson (NIFC), 11 David Duckham (Coventry), 10 Phil Bennett (Llanelli), 9 Gareth Edwards (Cardiff), 8 Derek Quinnell (Llanelli), 7 Fergus Slattery (Blackrock College), 6 Tommy David (Llanelli), 5 RM Wilkinson (Cambridge University), 4 Willie John McBride, 3 Sandy Carmichael (West of Scotland), 2 John Pullin (Bristol), 1 Ray McLoughlin (Blackrock College).
All Blacks: 15 Joe Karam, 14 Bryan Williams, 13 Bruce Robertson, 12 Ian Hurst, 11 Grant Batty, 10 Bob Burgess, 9 Sid Going, 8 Al:ex Wyllie, 7 Ian Kirkpatrick (captain), 6 Alastair Scown, 5 Peter Whiting, 4 Hamish Macdonald, 3 Ken Lambert, 2 Ron Urlich, 1 Graham Whiting,
Referee: George Domercq (France)
Let Gareth have the last word: "The game against the All Blacks is one I will never forget and those of us who played in it will never be allowed to forget.
"People tend only to remember the first four minutes of the game because of the try, but what they forgot is the great deal of good rugby played afterwards, much of which came from the All Blacks.
"After the success of the 1971 Lions tour, which captured the imagination of the whole country, it was an opportunity to bring a lot of that side together again."
