Pinetree

Colin Meads has died. I never really saw him in action but he's held in very special regard by those who played with him, against him or just saw him on the field. Wouldn't want this forum not to acknowledge his passing. He was 81.

Sad news, but 81 is a good innings. I love that when they raised a statue to him in his home town he argued it should've been holding a pint and not a rugby ball. A true rugby man.

A great man of rugby and of New Zealand. He is and will always remain a rugby legend. I am sure the All Blacks will want to do him proud next weekend.

RIP Colin Meads

Today's class of NZ players just pale by comparison to this giant of the game.

You just can't help yourself, Gwlad. A true legend of the game and you have to serve your own pathetic private agenda.

You know Colin Meads was the second All Black in history to be sent off for a reckless and dangerous kick? Just goes to show anybody's capable of doing something stupid.

But the truly stupid only keep making the same error.

A giant of the forest has gone. But as the Maori proverb says:

Whatungarongaro te tangata toitū te whenua.

He was supposed to be fairly useful. Played at a different time with a different set of rules and one I haven't really seen to be fair. Some good tales one or two horrendous ones.

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:You just can't help yourself, Gwlad. A true legend of the game and you have to serve your own pathetic private agenda.

Yeah hes always trying to run down Gatlands achievements

What comes across clearly in the tributes is just how much of a commanding presence he had as a man. Players who were tough as teak in their own way, all deferred to him. As old age took hold, he was still treated with enormous respect, and he didn't abuse that status.

The obituaries don't sugar coat the darker episodes either. The incident where he ended Ken Catchpole's career crossed the line even by the far looser standards of his day. It's a measure of his stature that it hasn't eclipsed his other achievements.

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:You just can't help yourself, Gwlad. A true legend of the game and you have to serve your own pathetic private agenda.

You know Colin Meads was the second All Black in history to be sent off for a reckless and dangerous kick? Just goes to show anybody's capable of doing something stupid.

But the truly stupid only keep making the same error.

A giant of the forest has gone. But as the Maori proverb says:

Whatungarongaro te tangata toitū te whenua.

 The only reason Gwlad comes on to this forum is to insult people and as you say to repeat stupidity.

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:You just can't help yourself, Gwlad. A true legend of the game and you have to serve your own pathetic private agenda.

You know Colin Meads was the second All Black in history to be sent off for a reckless and dangerous kick? Just goes to show anybody's capable of doing something stupid.

But the truly stupid only keep making the same error.

A giant of the forest has gone. But as the Maori proverb says:

Whatungarongaro te tangata toitū te whenua.

? You what when?

Try turning on your spell checker

R.I.P Pinetree,the Teatree still survives at 79,A among Greats,Brother Stan,Allan Stewart,Ken Grey,Kevin Skinner,Bob Duff,Tiny White,Peter Jones,Wilson Whineray,
Ron Hemi,Dad Young,Tiny Hill,The Clarke Brothers and the Great Kel Tremain,John
Graham,Brian Lochore ,Waka Nathan.
The age of reality when teams sorted out problems if the Ref didn't in an age of
Hometown Refs.
Colin Meads had a reputation as a hard man and did things he maybe had cause
to regret afterwards.He wasn't alone the Boks had Hugo Van Zyl,Johan Claasen,
Chris Koch,Martin Pelser,Jaapie Bekker,Piet Du toit,The Irish Willie John Mc Bride
Bill Mulcachy,NoelMurphy.France the smiling assassins Cholley,Domenech and Paparemborde.
As to the sending off in 1967 he made a wild kick at the ball and fell over,Alex
Hastie ran into it.He was sent off more for his reputation than the act and I can
say I saw it live can you?
A great player in the greatest teams I`ve ever seen NZ 1963-8 not to mention
his works post playing.

My all time hero, I have had the privilege of sitting with Sir Colin on more than one occasion and drinking quite a lot of beer. He was a mans man, a giant of a man with an amazing work ethic. It broke his heart when he had to give up the farm but still went there to get the water from the spring, he swore by it. The last time I saw him was in Napier when the AB's played the Puma's, the evening before the game he just sat at the same table and after I got over the shock I said hello and he was happy to chat and it was my dream come true. The astonishing thing was before he left that night he said "Shall I see you here after the game?" Naturally I was there and he gave me the nod and shake of the hand and another dream evening was had. The 'selfie' that was taken that night is one of my treasures and a copy is framed and pride of place in my home.
I am driving up to 'Meadsville' for the public service and to say farewell to my all time hero. Life will be a sadder place now I will not have the pleasure of bumping into Pinetree.