A bruised and battered All Black hero

It has gone down in All Black folklore as one of the bravest triumphs over injury.

Ron Elvidge, the bulky Otago second five-eighths and All Black captain, scored the try that put the series beyond the 1950 Lions.

At the third test in Wellington, the All Blacks faced a Lions team which had the unusual aspect (these days) of containing only one Englishman (their team for the fourth test didn't contain any). In fact, there were only three Englishmen in the whole tour party.

The first test had been drawn 9-9, courtesy of an Elvidge try in the last minute, and New Zealand won the second 8-0. You will have deduced the Super 12 was not around then.

The Lions led 3-0 at halftime from a penalty and, only a few minutes into the second half, Elvidge was involved in a sickening head clash with a Lions centre, needing four stitches. He also injured his collarbone and had to go off.

But when a serious knee injury to All Black prop Johnny Simpson saw the All Blacks reduced to 13 men (this being the days of zero substitutions, even for injury), a heroic Elvidge decided to come back on, in spite of the pain.

The all Blacks had to defend desperately and Elvidge had one arm hanging loose from his collarbone problem. He acted as a sweeper behind the back line, doing what he could on defence.

Then the All Blacks had a rare attack from a kick from halfback Vince Bevan. The ball was sent along the back line and Elvidge ghosted up, seemingly from nowhere. He dived through a tackle and crash-landed to score the try that tied the test - won when the great Bob Scott goaled a penalty.

The Lions had a chance to tie the scores with their own penalty but missed. Elvidge's try went into All Black history as the bravest of the brave and the series - won by the All Blacks - increased the already intense rivalry.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY