Alex “Grizz” Wyllie, former All Black loose forward and coach, has died at the age of 80, at Karaka Heights in Picton, around midnight Saturday.
Wyllie played 40 games, including 11 tests, for the All Blacks between 1970 and 1973. Sports journalist and commentator John McBeth called him one of the hard men of New Zealand rugby.
“He was a standout player for the All Blacks, particularly though for Canterbury.
“He then went on to coach Canterbury to successfully win the Ranfurly Shield. His All Black career went on to a stage where he became an All Black coach because of his success.”
He was an assistant coach to Sir Brian Lochore for the All Blacks’ World Cup victory in 1987.
However, he is most remembered as the joint head coach with John Hart at the 1991 World Cup, which ended in a semi-final loss to the eventual champions the Wallabies.
It was the culmination of a turbulent period for the All Blacks, who had embarked on a 50-match unbeaten streak between the World Cup win and the 1990 season.
Wyllie infamously dropped captain Wayne ‘Buck’ Shelford that year, a move referenced in New Zealand popular culture ever since.
RNZ
Face of the Day
His All Black career went on to a stage where he became an All Black coach because of his success.
Related
Face of the Day
Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf is reporting via multiple sources that Lawson will be replaced by Racing Bulls driver Yuki Tsunoda for the next race in Japan.
Face of the Day
The Minister for RMA Reform Chris Bishop told media on Monday Cabinet had ruled out incorporating a Treaty principles clause in the two bills the government will introduce to replace the RMA.
Face of the Day
“I’ll pay $750 if it goes to the disabled community or it goes to a rest-home or somebody that needs it, not to the council” – Shea
Face of the Day
The Auckland 10-year-old’s funeral will be just like him – “vibrant, fun and all about the people”.
Latest
The Soviet-Style Censorship of NZ Doctors
The censoring of doctors – even the ‘expert’ public health ones.
Is Immigration Really an Economic Positive?
Mass immigration costs us far more than it delivers.
The NZ Herald’s Board Should Be Fired
The Herald’s bias got me into trouble, since Nats started asking why I hated them so much, writing critiques of them and not Labour. The truth was that the critiques of Labour were rejected.