Graham MOURIE

Graham Mourie is widely acknowledged as being one of the best three All Black captains, the others being Wilson Whineray and Brian Lochore. His greatest qualities were his intelligent approach to the game and an ability to inspire and instil confidence amongst those around him, particularly younger team-mates for whom becoming an All Black was a daunting experience. A fast and constructive player, Graham was also one of the best flankers New Zealand has ever produced and this enabled him to lead by example at all times. He made his debut in 1977 when he came on as a substitute for Keith Eveleigh in the third test against the British Lions, and it was his tackle in the fourth that helped set up Laurie Knight's series clinching try.

His performances earned him the captaincy for the tour of France later in the year, and that drawn two test series would be the first of six encounters against the Cockerels. It is also marked the beginning of a personal battle for supremacy with opposite number Jean-Pierre Rives for whom he held enormous respect. Mourie missed the 1978 series against Australia with a back injury, but returned to lead his side on their historic visit to the UK in the Autumn of that year. In partnership with legendary coach Jack Gleeson, Graham orchestrated victories over all four home nations, and was named player of the tour. In 1979 the French arrived in New Zealand and were able to draw the series 1-1 with Graham blaming the second test loss on lineout problems. That game saw Mourie score the first of four test tries when he capitalised on good work by Murray Taylor near the end of the game. However, the season ended rather disappointingly when he captained the All Blacks to a 12-6 defeat in Sydney, their first loss on Australian soil for thirty years. (Jon Collins)

Graham Mourie was unavailable for the 1980 tour of Australia, but was made captain again for a highly successful visit to Wales later in the year. Graham earned rave reviews both for his play and the manner in which he conducted himself off the field, and the tour did much to restore the frayed relations between the countries. The big one was the Centenary Test at Cardiff Arms Park, and in a dominant All Black victory, it was appropriate that Graham should score the first try.

In 1981 he played against Scotland and scored another try in the second test in Auckland, but declined to play against the touring South Africans later in the season, the result being that the captaincy was given to Andy Dalton. After New Zealand's 2-1 victory, Graham feared that he might now be surplus to requirements or would be resented if he came back. He needn't have worried for Dalton was man enough to hand the captain's armband back gracefully and Graham lead the side on a tour of Romania and France later in the year. All that remained to fulfill his career was victory over the Wallabies and the perfect opportunity came when Australia toured in 1982.

Graham knew that it would probably be his last chance to beat the old foe and he stamped his authority on the series by scoring a try in the first test. It all came about when full back Roger Gould's clearance kick was charged down, and David Campese and Mark Ella made a hash of gathering the loose ball. Showing a remarkably cool head amongst this mayhem, Mourie collected the ball, dummied superbly and then dived over for the score. The series was eventually won 2-1 and Graham announced his retirement soon afterwards. He played 21 tests in total, 19 of them as captain. (Jon Collins)

1977 v British Lions (Auckland) W 10-9

1977 v France (Paris) W 15-3

1978 v Scotland (Murrayfield) W 18-9

1980 v Wales (Cardiff) W 23-3

1981 v Scotland (Dunedin) W 11-4

1981 v France (Paris) W 18-6