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Scrum-Half Jon Preston was originally understudy to Graeme Bachop and the first of his ten tests came
in a 46-6 group stages win against the USA in the 1991 World Cup. Jon mostly sat on the bench in 1992, but played in the 27-24 win over South Africa in Johannesburg near the end of the season, the first official test between these old rivals for eleven years. In 1993 he was first choice against the British Lions, but it was a difficult series and in common with several other players, Jon received severe media criticism.
Indeed, in the build up to any All Black test, it is a tradition for the team to be sent letters, faxes (and now emails!) from supporters. One such communication received before the third test was a 100 page long diatribe from a Christchurch radio station demanding Bachop's recall and calling into question Jon's credentials by asking the rhetorical question "Preston who?" Perhaps in response to the slur, Jon played a blinder and scored a try in New Zealand's dominant 30-13 victory, a perfect answer to the critics.
New Zealand's "backs against the wall" performance was made all the more admirable by the fact they were down by ten points after only a few minutes. Following his heroics against the Lions, Jon also contributed to New Zealand's Bledisloe Cup victory in Dunedin, a game won 25-10. As it turned out, the '93 season would prove his finest, for Graeme Bachop did indeed return in 1994, and following his retirement the young Justin Marshall became the preferred half back.
Thus, after 1993 Jon would only make three more appearances as an All Black, all of which were as a replacement, his last test coming against England in 1997 at Old Trafford. (Jon Collins)
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