40 years ago it was in at the deep end

Grahame Thorne

Nearly 40 years ago Grahame Stuart Thorne decided to give rugby another crack after two years playing cricket.

In a searing comeback, the 21-year-old was picked as the understudy centre for the 1967 All Blacks on the evidence of a handful of trial and university matches.

As he trawled through some of those memories this week, Thorne admitted he was completely out of his depth in coping with his promotion and the demands of the 17-game tour.

He envied the more gradual induction Isaia Toeava had been given to the All Blacks and the greater rugby education he had received to prepare him for tonight's Bledisloe Cup.

"It was a big step up for me and as much as I seemed confident to people, I spewed before some games," Thorne said.

"I was supposed to have the talent but the funny thing was the more games you played for the All Blacks the more conservative you became, the more scared to try things.

"Luckily I had the innocence of youth. I knew I could play to a certain level, I was just scared I wouldn't."

Thorne had the talent Fred Allen could not ignore even if the master coach confessed this week he had not seen a great deal of the youngster before he picked him for his debut trip to Canada, the British Isles and France.

Allen had watched Thorne in a few club matches and trial games and the coach's select spying network reinforced his thoughts.

"I knew he had it, though he needed a lot of trimming," Allen recalled, "a helluva lot of trimming actually. But that joker had the goods."

Neither Allen nor Thorne have seen Toeava play much since he was picked for last year's Grand Slam tour. But they tip their lids to his selection tonight at Eden Park. If Graham Henry thinks the kid has the class, that is good enough for Allen and Thorne.

"Graham is a top judge of talent and a top coach," said Allen.

"He's obviously sorted this boy out. Toeava has probably shown enough although there are one or two others like Casey Laulala and that boy Conrad Smith hanging round too."

Thorne said the key element was matching skill and temperament. Toeava must have that mix otherwise Henry would not have persevered with him. Big-match temperament was crucial, finding players who felt they belonged on the big stage.

No matter his training though, he was sure Toeava would be incredibly nervous.

"This is a Bledisloe Cup test, Australia are our enemy, this is the big one.

"But the All Blacks are on a roll. It is not as if they are putting him in to save the team."