Oliver defends his book and claims backing of peers

The author of sport's most controversial biography in recent years believes he has observed all the principles and ethos that comes with being an All Black.

Last week Anton Oliver lifted the lid on some of the less appealing aspects of being an All Black and has attracted criticism from some quarters, most notably Laurie Mains, for selling out his mates.

Oliver, in Hamilton for the Otago-Waikato NPC match, disputes the assertion.

"While people are saying it's massively candid and revealing, I don't think it's revealing at all.

"I don't feel I've lifted the lid on much of myself or what's going on in the All Blacks. There's plenty left to be said on both accounts. And it doesn't actually need to be said.

"Anyone that is espousing that view has got something to hide; I've got nothing to hide. Having that kind of attitude is only pushing the All Blacks further away from the public.

"Of course there are some things that happen while you're in the team that are intensely private and don't need to be shared with any organisation, but I don't think anything I've talked about is hugely revealing.

"The alcohol and All Black culture is nothing new. It has been said time and time again.

"I talked to Wayne Smith last Sunday morning. He congratulated me and said this is brilliant; it's about time a player has talked about this because Andrew Martin has talked about it, Doc Mayhew has talked about it, but no one listened. He thanked me for having the courage to talk about it and hopefully we'll get some significant dialogue and change about the whole issue.

"So here's a current All Black coach saying he doesn't mind the lid being lifted and you can juxtapose that against a former one."

Oliver said the process of writing the book was never about selling copies or selling an image of himself across to the public. Instead, he admits the genesis of the idea came from a very narrow focus.

"The reason I wrote the book initially was to talk about the 2003 Highlander incidents. I don't try to hide from that because I felt such an injustice was done.

"I was very naive because once that chapter was finished I thought 'well, that's all I really need to do'. Suddenly it hit me that I might have to talk about me and some of the things I've done, but in many ways I still don't really think I've talked about me, I've just talked about incidents I've been involved in. I guess you can extrapolate from that and make assumptions about whom I am."

Oliver maintains he is not too worried about what people think of him as a person after reading the book, but is interested in feedback about what they thought of him as a writer.

"I'd think, 'I've said this, now how am I going to back it up and how does that relate to what I've already said?' I was concerned with how it tied in with everything else I'd said to make it a cohesive, well-structured book. I tried to put myself in the shoes of a reader."

The reader gets more than they usually do from a New Zealand sports book, including quite detailed accounts of Oliver's displeasure at some aspects of his team-mates' behaviour. Icons like Josh Kronfeld and Andrew Mehrtens are not spared.

"On Sunday I tried to get hold of everyone I'd spoken about, I wouldn't say derisively, but with what could be construed as criticism, and I got a hold of Josh. I gave him a book and he read it and he said 'Nah, sweet. As long as it happened then it is fair'."

While most choose the path of least resistance, it is clear that Oliver prefers friends and foe alike. He can dish it out, but said he doesn't mind taking it, either. He has appreciated the at-times blunt assessments of his personality flaws.

"Yeah, a lot of coaches have mentioned it. Taine [Randell] has because he and I have been pretty tight through the years. Josh has done the same, Tana [Umaga] has told me to pull my head in, Merhts has offered me enlightenment. Maxey's [Norm Maxwell] talked a few home truths to me as well.

"It's not a problem, not at all. They're all good people. I like and respect all of them. Anyone who is saying they're against candour and well-constructed opinion has taken the path of least resistance. Let's all have mindless minions running around letting others doing our bidding," he said mockingly.

"But players who can think for themselves off the field will do the same on the field, so when things are hitting the fan they are able to make the right decisions."

- HERALD ON SUNDAY