Phil Gifford: Loyal:The Todd Blackadder story

By WYNNE GRAY*

Only once does Todd Blackadder veer towards any controversy, in only one chapter does he raise some consistent rancour.

In strong contrast to a recent book by one of his All Black contemporaries, Blackadder chooses to tell the traditional tale of a departing or retiring rugby player. It is pretty standard fare from his origins, his schooldays, growing up, finding footy, the NPC, Super 12 and his time in the All Blacks.

Nothing wrong with that and indeed, it would not be the real Blackadder if he were to adopt the Norm Hewitt-style revelations.

Blackadder defends Hewitt in one part when he believes his teammate had been unfairly substituted by coach John Hart at Wembley in 1997. That episode does not take up too much space or sustained animosity.

However, two-thirds of the way through the book Blackadder snipes at Hart for humiliating him in much the same way, the first time he started an All Black test. It is a brief attack but for Blackadder, the tone is far more critical than the rest of the book.

He sensed that Eden Park test was not going to be an occasion he or his family would appreciate. When he walked from the field early in the second half after being substituted, Blackadder said he smiled to hide his rage.

Blackadder did not have major personality clashes with Hart, but he felt the coach did not rate him. His treatment that day underlined his opinion.

"It was hard work to be in my very first test and to do that to someone, I thought was pretty shitty. I still do.

"You can say what you like, but you give someone a fair go, and to walk off there just after halftime wasn't nice. I felt bloody let down."

With Blackadder what you see is about what you get in this book. We meet a country bloke, a young man who grew into rugby and loved the game for the values and mateship it encouraged. He is not going to besmirch the sport he loves so dearly by stirring up any hullabaloo. That is not and was never his style. If you want racy revelations, go elsewhere; if you want a gentle read about the life of a rugby player who fulfilled his All Black dreams, this is for you.

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* Wynne Gray is the Herald rugby writer.