Wynne Gray's 50 greatest rugby moments: No.43

Mike Brewer missed the 1991 World Cup after failing a medical. Photo - Russell Cheyne/Allsport

Until he went for his medical, Mike Brewer was vice-captain of the All Blacks and preparing to go to his first World Cup in 1991.

He sat out a tour to Argentina earlier in the year because of a plantar fascia problem in his foot and had only played two games since.

Brewer had been talking regularly to coach Alex Wyllie about the injury, explaining it was improving and with several weeks of hard training and practice sessions he would be ready for the World Cup quarterfinals.

Wyllie was happy with that situation however the five man medical panel had a different view.

They were asked to determine whether the loose forward could undergo daily training sessions and play five or six games in a month and their unanimous verdict was that Brewer's injury would not sustain the World Cup workload. Brewer failed the medical and controversy erupted.

Both Wyllie and Brewer questioned why the flanker had not been allowed to strap his foot for the medical while others like Michael Jones and Zinzan Brooke were given that dispensation.

Team Dr John Mayhew said there were no specific NZR instructions about the examination but Brewer failed the medical when he refused to stand on one foot and jump off the ground.

Colin Calcinai, chairman of the NZR medical advisory committee said Brewer could not raise himself onto his toes without the help of strapping and with that restricted range of movement, he was unfit for the demands of a World Cup.

Wyllie and his recently co-opted assistant John Hart were in rare harmony to challenge that decision while Mayhew argued that assessments were pointless if the medical committee decision was discounted.

There was a massive overnight flurry of activity with telephone discussions between the All Blacks, NZR and medics. NZR chairman Eddie Tonks backed the medical committee and said if Brewer broke down on tour, everyone would look ridiculous.

Eventually Brewer was left at home but the arguments about his omission did not fade because while the All Blacks were away, Brewer played several games for Otago who won the provincial title.