Pinetree Plays On

Contrary to popular belief, All Black Buck Shelford did not lose a testicle while playing against France but Colin “Pinetree” Meads really did play almost an entire game of rugby with a broken arm. This moment of legendary toughness – or madness, take your pick – happened in 1970 when the All Blacks were in South Africa, playing warm-up matches ahead of the Test Series. South African rugby chief Danie Craven had expressed the hope that the provincial teams would “soften up” the All Blacks. The New Zealanders next game was against cellar-dwellers Eastern Transvaal, a team they didn’t know much about. But halfback Sid Going tells Eyewitness producer Justin Gregory the All Blacks knew right from the first whistle that they were in for a fight.

Pinetree Plays On
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