Rugby: Leslie travels end in Five Nations glory

By Chris Rattue

The Leslie sporting sojourn began 70 years ago.

It reached a mass audience over the weekend when John and Martin Leslie - the sons of a highly respected All Black captain Andy Leslie - capped starring roles for Scotland as the unfancied side won the most enthralling Five Nations rugby championship in many years.

The Leslie travels began in the 1920s when another Andy Leslie, the father of the future All Black captain, came to New Zealand where he married the daughter of fellow Scottish immigrants.

Andy Leslie snr was a fine soccer player who won a couple of Chatham Cups with Petone, and then gained a professional soccer contract with Hibs in Scotland in the 1930s before returning to New Zealand after a couple of seasons, playing four matches for the national side.

"He could have played more games for New Zealand but I think there was some problem with a professional coming back to play for New Zealand," said his son from Wellington yesterday.

"Sadly he died at a fairly young age, 54, but mum died only a couple of years ago. They both would have loved to see their grandsons playing for Scotland."

The Leslie brothers, through grandparent qualification, were influential performers as Scotland won their first title since 1990.

Scotland gave themselves hope of Five Nations glory, with Martin Leslie scoring two tries, as they beat champions France 36-22 at the Stade de France.

The Graham Henry-coached Wales then beat England 32-31 at Wembley to hand Scotland the championship.

Andy Leslie, who was appointed All Black captain on debut in the mid-1970s, said the thrill of watching his sons play for their country of heritage matched any joy he would have felt had they been All Blacks.

He watched the Leslie-Scotland connection by following the New Zealand Maori tour to Europe last year, and he and his wife Lesley were at Murrayfield to watch Scotland beat Wales in the championship opener.

John Leslie helped set the tone of his side's campaign with a try from the opening kickoff in that match.

"It was very emotional for both of us and there were tears in Lesley's eyes," said Andy Leslie, who missed much of the France-Scotland coverage on Sunday because of an incorrect television listing.

"We always wanted to be there if they ever played test football but thought it might be somewhere like Carisbrook or Athletic Park. We had to pool our air points - we never thought it would be in Scotland."

The Leslie brothers reached their test status through different motivation. Martin, a blocklayer who played at loose forward for Wellington, had gone over to "chance his arm" although he was contracted by the Scottish union.

Otago second five-eighths John - a physical education graduate - departed controversially with many observers believing he should have been in the All Black frame.

His stay in Scotland was supposed to be a short one before taking up a Japanese contract, but the Scottish union negotiated a release which will also allow him to play at the World Cup.

A number of the Scottish side, nicknamed the "Kilted Kiwis" as they included wing Shaun Longstaff from Wellington and fullback Glen Metcalfe from Waikato, watched the Welsh victory at a bar owned by Scots team-mate Gregor Townsend.

"All we need to do now is keep going and maybe we can win something more," said Martin Leslie.

The World Cup maybe. If they do, there will be one very proud former All Black captain celebrating with them.