'Match of the century' just another day at the office for Rich

By WYNNE GRAY

A sign of the times, a mark of the man or just the way it really was?

Those questions come through when Glenn Rich discusses his memories of Auckland's historic trip to defeat Canterbury for the Ranfurly Shield in 1985.

For Rich, a magnificent loose forward who was unlucky not to earn a black jersey to go with the blue-and-white hoops he wore 89 times, that mid-September match was another day at the office.

"At the end of the day it was a provincial game, it was another job to be done," he said.

"I really think Auckland had much better results against the Lions and then England, when we gave them a hiding and "Harty" [coach John Hart] was upset we did not beat them by more."

Although Rich does not get wound up by recollections of the shield challenge, he does acknowledge the generosity and sense of occasion Canterbury showed by putting their run of 25 defences up against Auckland, with whom they shared the record.

It was also a chance for Rich and his team-mates to avenge the 1983 challenge, when they were hammered by Canterbury.

Up 24-0 at halftime, Auckland added a try to Steve McDowell which pushed them to a 28-4 lead playing into the breeze in the second spell before Canterbury roared back to be pipped 28-23 at the final whistle.

For many it was the match of the century and was so titled in that fine book Shield Fever, a chronicle of the trophy's history by seasoned rugby writer Lindsay Knight.

For Rich, it was just "sweet" to make up for 1983. Auckland had a huge pool of talent and in Hart "the best coach I ever had."

The atmosphere was tense and after gaining such a huge advantage, Rich felt Auckland just sat on the lead.

They did not mean to, it just happened.

"We went into a defensive mode and it almost cost us.

"We closed up shop instead of still attacking. But Canterbury were a good side, too."

Rich modestly described his contribution as making a few tackles and working the "Willie Aways" from the lineouts.

Until he made a rare venture to an NPC game at Eden Park last weekend, Rich did not even know Auckland were challenging Canterbury for the shield again today.

"And I think I could only name or recognise a handful of players such as Carlos Spencer, Robin Brooke, Eroni Clarke, Xavier Rush, Doug Howlett and Mils Muliaina.

"It is just a case of my priorities changing, and rugby is not one of those."

But the 47-year-old father of two young daughters did coach this year, when he helped a friend and his Rangitoto College fifth-grade side to win the competition.

"It was just about putting something back into rugby.

"But apart from that, I do not do much with the game unless John Hart jacks up some time and a few of us old mates get together."

Rich lost interest in rugby about 1987 when, against his judgment, he was persuaded to turn out again for Auckland, and it did not appeal.

"When I found myself running towards the corner flag and thinking, 'that winger deserves a try,' I knew my hunger for the game had gone."

The managing director of Ca'Bella Construction Company, Rich does not rush home to watch rugby on television, although he does try to catch test matches.

"It is a frustrating game now," he said. "Every time the whistle blows the players all look at the referee to see what the ruling is.

"In our day you knew if you had done something wrong."