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Under a cloud

Graeme Bachop on the 1995 RWC

Richard Knowler

Next weekend the All Blacks will play the Springboks at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.

It’s a venue that evokes mixed memories for Graeme Bachop, who played at halfback for the All Blacks when they clashed with the Springboks in the World Cup final in 1995.

Bachop, who possessed a bullet pass that could almost split concrete, and his All Blacks’ team-mates lost 15-12 when Springboks first five-eighth Joel Stransky kicked a drop goal in extra time. So Backchat catches up with the self-employed builder, who lives in Christchurch, about his memories of that day.

It has been well documented that a lot of the All Blacks were unwell during the build-up to the final. When did you first learn that something wasn’t right?

We went to the movies on a Thursday night with a bunch of boys, and I do remember [prop] Richard Loe getting out of the car when we arrived back at the hotel and he started spewing all over the pavement. I didn’t think too much of it at the time. But when we woke up on the Friday, a lot of the boys were crook.’’

Were you ill?

Yes. I wasn’t as bad as some of the boys. I just had the aches and the hot and cold sweats. Some of the others had it coming out both ends. I was rooming with Mehrts (Andrew Mehrtens). He was pretty crook. The team doctor told us to go into separate rooms. There was a wee bit of chaos. When you get the aches and shivers, you just felt going to bed and sleeping. We just had to try to be positive.

Before the game a South African Airways 747 jet flew over the stadium with the words ‘‘Good Luck Bokke’’ inscribed on the undercarriage. And then Nelson Mandela shook the hands of the players from both teams. How did you deal with that ahead of such a massive test? I was still in the changing shed when the plane flew over. It was a bit of a haze for me, because I still wasn’t quite 100%. I walked out on the paddock and just felt a wee bit docile.

It must have been a tough shift. You were recovering from illness, playing at 1753m above sea level and in front of 62,000 noisy fans. How did the body cope with that?

I got cramp in both calves at one point, and couldn’t actually move. It was pretty tough, but I thought we did alright to hang in there as well as we did.

Have you watched a replay of that final?

Oh, not for a long time. I don’t like watching that. It hurts. You get a bit of a sick feeling in your guts (laughs).

Did you keep your All Blacks jersey from that final?

I have kept that one and my first jersey.

Were you ever tempted to become a rugby coach?

No, I was never that interested, actually. I have the odd session with halfbacks. I have been down to Christchurch Boys’ High School in the past and go and help out, I don’t mind doing that.

What do you make of the state of rugby nowadays?

I get a bit frustrated at times. Everyone from my era seems to be of the same view, that it can be a bit hard to watch. The red and yellow card decisions are frustrating. If you have 14 versus 15, it’s pretty hard to win isn’t it? If there is no intent, there should just be a penalty or a yellow card. We are seeing red cards for accidents.

I do remember Richard Loe getting out of the car when we arrived back at the hotel and he started spewing all over the pavement.

Do you still play sport?

I have been playing soccer for about 14 years. I played rugby for my Lyttelton club in division two until I was in my early 40s. Now a bunch of us, all exrugby players, we play in the Masters soccer grade on Saturdays. I play in the midfield or on the wing. I enjoy all the running in soccer, just giving the old lungs a good blow-out. And that team spirit thing, I like it; just getting out there and then having a beer afterwards.

Have you had many injuries chasing the round ball?

Not too bad. I actually tweaked my hamstring, recently, for the first time ever (laughs). Other than that, I have been quite lucky.

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2022-08-07T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-08-07T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://fairfaxmedia.pressreader.com/article/282716230763377

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