1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,427 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:11,747 Speaker 1: from Newstalk ZEDB. 3 00:00:12,667 --> 00:00:15,067 Speaker 2: As we've been reporting in the last half hour or so, 4 00:00:15,227 --> 00:00:18,667 Speaker 2: former All Black and All Black's head coach Griws Wiley 5 00:00:18,827 --> 00:00:22,187 Speaker 2: has passed away at the age of eighty. 6 00:00:22,027 --> 00:00:24,667 Speaker 1: Canas even get this, the Garland's all up at the 7 00:00:24,707 --> 00:00:27,147 Speaker 1: ball comes this way, love, but all the Glaside Burgers 8 00:00:27,187 --> 00:00:28,907 Speaker 1: can get there SIPs. It didn't do a kiss. 9 00:00:29,467 --> 00:00:31,227 Speaker 3: Alex walle. 10 00:00:37,147 --> 00:00:42,347 Speaker 1: Well, the Canterbury captain up there at the precise moment 11 00:00:42,547 --> 00:00:45,187 Speaker 1: to check what was a precision past. 12 00:00:45,467 --> 00:00:48,187 Speaker 2: Alex Wiley played forty times for the All Blacks, including 13 00:00:48,267 --> 00:00:52,267 Speaker 2: eleven Test matches, over two hundred appearances for Canterbury, including 14 00:00:52,307 --> 00:00:55,067 Speaker 2: more than a century of games as captain. He was 15 00:00:55,147 --> 00:00:56,987 Speaker 2: part of the side that won the Ranfilly Shield in 16 00:00:57,067 --> 00:01:00,507 Speaker 2: nineteen sixty nine and nineteen seventy two, and captained his 17 00:01:00,627 --> 00:01:03,787 Speaker 2: province to wins over England, Scotland and Ireland on their 18 00:01:03,867 --> 00:01:06,627 Speaker 2: tours to New Zealand. He moved into coaching the Red 19 00:01:06,667 --> 00:01:09,347 Speaker 2: and Blacks in nineteen eighty two and led Canterbury to 20 00:01:09,347 --> 00:01:13,267 Speaker 2: the Ranfilly Shield that year, successfully defending New Zealand rugby's 21 00:01:13,547 --> 00:01:16,587 Speaker 2: most prestigious prize for a record equalling at that time 22 00:01:16,707 --> 00:01:19,827 Speaker 2: three years, as well as the NPC title in nineteen 23 00:01:19,827 --> 00:01:22,427 Speaker 2: eighty three and a win over the touring British and 24 00:01:22,547 --> 00:01:25,867 Speaker 2: Irish Lions that same year. Stepping up to the All Blacks, 25 00:01:25,947 --> 00:01:29,507 Speaker 2: Griswiley was an assistant to Sir Brian Lahore for New 26 00:01:29,587 --> 00:01:33,147 Speaker 2: Zealand's nineteen eighty seven Rugby World Cup victory and succeeded 27 00:01:33,227 --> 00:01:36,307 Speaker 2: him as head coach one year later. Alex Whiley coached 28 00:01:36,347 --> 00:01:39,427 Speaker 2: the All Blacks for sixty four matches fifty eight wins, 29 00:01:39,747 --> 00:01:42,827 Speaker 2: five losses and a draw between nineteen eighty eight and 30 00:01:42,907 --> 00:01:46,267 Speaker 2: nineteen ninety one, a success rate of ninety one percent. 31 00:01:46,587 --> 00:01:49,947 Speaker 2: Of those matches. Twenty nine were tests, twenty five wins, 32 00:01:50,027 --> 00:01:52,987 Speaker 2: three losses and a drawer, a win percentage in test 33 00:01:53,027 --> 00:01:56,627 Speaker 2: matches of eighty six point two percent. Of all the 34 00:01:56,627 --> 00:01:59,707 Speaker 2: coaches to lead the All Blacks on more than ten occasions, 35 00:02:00,027 --> 00:02:03,227 Speaker 2: only Fred Allen and Sir Steve Hansen boast a greater 36 00:02:03,307 --> 00:02:07,747 Speaker 2: winning percentage than Griswiley. He also led Argentina to their 37 00:02:07,787 --> 00:02:11,027 Speaker 2: first World Cup quarterfinal in nineteen ninety nine and returned 38 00:02:11,027 --> 00:02:14,467 Speaker 2: home to coach Marlborough and North Canterbury and away from rugby, 39 00:02:14,867 --> 00:02:19,067 Speaker 2: gris Wiley also represented Canterbury in lawn bowls during his 40 00:02:19,187 --> 00:02:23,107 Speaker 2: later years. Gris Wiley was eighty. Let's bring in one 41 00:02:23,147 --> 00:02:26,307 Speaker 2: of our foremost rugby commentators, John macbeth. John, thanks for 42 00:02:26,387 --> 00:02:28,747 Speaker 2: joining us at short notice. Let's start with gris Wiley 43 00:02:29,187 --> 00:02:33,067 Speaker 2: the player. What do you remember about Griswiley as a player. 44 00:02:34,347 --> 00:02:36,947 Speaker 3: As a player, I always thought to myself, I'm pleased 45 00:02:36,987 --> 00:02:40,267 Speaker 3: I'm not playing against them. You know, he was so 46 00:02:40,467 --> 00:02:42,947 Speaker 3: hard and there are so many stories about him, Jason, 47 00:02:43,027 --> 00:02:46,787 Speaker 3: about the fact that he was physical, he didn't take 48 00:02:46,787 --> 00:02:50,147 Speaker 3: a backward step. There's many an inside back in New 49 00:02:50,227 --> 00:02:53,467 Speaker 3: Zealand who were playing their early games and representative player 50 00:02:53,467 --> 00:02:56,227 Speaker 3: and they came up against Alex Whyley, Alec Whyley, and 51 00:02:56,267 --> 00:03:00,547 Speaker 3: they just knew that they'd come off remembering that for 52 00:03:00,587 --> 00:03:03,347 Speaker 3: all the wrong reasons. He was a tough player. He 53 00:03:03,547 --> 00:03:07,107 Speaker 3: was really rugged of that Canterbury mole. He played in 54 00:03:07,147 --> 00:03:11,907 Speaker 3: the Canterbury teams which were renowned for being hard forward players. 55 00:03:12,467 --> 00:03:16,467 Speaker 3: The backs got the ball occasionally, so it always surprised 56 00:03:16,627 --> 00:03:20,667 Speaker 3: many people when he became a coach that he encouraged 57 00:03:21,347 --> 00:03:25,227 Speaker 3: and developed such wonderful backplay within the Canterbury team. 58 00:03:25,347 --> 00:03:27,227 Speaker 2: When he was a player and then went on to 59 00:03:27,227 --> 00:03:30,507 Speaker 2: become a coach. You talked about a his coaching philosophy, John, 60 00:03:30,547 --> 00:03:33,227 Speaker 2: but but when he became a coach, did that seem 61 00:03:33,507 --> 00:03:36,347 Speaker 2: to you like a natural progression? Did he always seem 62 00:03:36,387 --> 00:03:37,947 Speaker 2: like he would go into coaching. 63 00:03:38,867 --> 00:03:42,907 Speaker 3: I was always surprised about that, because you know, he 64 00:03:42,947 --> 00:03:45,227 Speaker 3: was busy man on the farm and things, and they'd 65 00:03:45,267 --> 00:03:48,867 Speaker 3: played two hundred plus games for Canterbury. He'd spent so 66 00:03:48,987 --> 00:03:51,627 Speaker 3: much time with rugby and he took a bit of 67 00:03:51,707 --> 00:03:54,187 Speaker 3: time out. But then he immediately got that well. I 68 00:03:54,267 --> 00:03:58,027 Speaker 3: soon got back into his Glenmark club and then his 69 00:03:58,587 --> 00:04:02,547 Speaker 3: immediate success I think just inspired him to go a 70 00:04:02,587 --> 00:04:06,387 Speaker 3: bit further. And goodness me, what a great start he 71 00:04:06,427 --> 00:04:08,387 Speaker 3: had to his coaching career, you know, winning the ram 72 00:04:08,467 --> 00:04:12,827 Speaker 3: Thury Shield then Canterbury held it for a record equitting 73 00:04:12,907 --> 00:04:18,387 Speaker 3: number of defenses. So Aleck Wiley, from rough hard player 74 00:04:18,467 --> 00:04:21,427 Speaker 3: who only made a dozen I think appearances for the 75 00:04:21,467 --> 00:04:25,667 Speaker 3: All Blacks amidst great opposition from other high quality players 76 00:04:25,907 --> 00:04:30,347 Speaker 3: to step up and become a top quality coach really 77 00:04:30,387 --> 00:04:33,467 Speaker 3: did catch some people by surprise. But Hewby did such. 78 00:04:33,347 --> 00:04:35,787 Speaker 2: A good job of it absolutely, and then onto the 79 00:04:35,827 --> 00:04:38,987 Speaker 2: All Blacks first as Sir Brian Law's assistant at eighty seven. 80 00:04:39,067 --> 00:04:40,827 Speaker 2: But I don't know, John, You've watched a lot of 81 00:04:40,867 --> 00:04:43,387 Speaker 2: All Blacks rugby, but the All Black sides under grews 82 00:04:43,427 --> 00:04:47,467 Speaker 2: Wiley in nineteen eighty eight, nineteen eighty nine. I can't remember, 83 00:04:47,947 --> 00:04:51,107 Speaker 2: certainly in my lifetime a more exciting brand of rugby 84 00:04:51,147 --> 00:04:54,747 Speaker 2: at that time. How do you assess Gris as an 85 00:04:54,787 --> 00:04:55,667 Speaker 2: All Blacks head coach? 86 00:04:56,747 --> 00:04:59,107 Speaker 3: Well, when he got off the out of that eighty 87 00:04:59,147 --> 00:05:02,067 Speaker 3: seven Rugby World Cup team, when he was helping to 88 00:05:02,107 --> 00:05:06,267 Speaker 3: coach that and became the sole coach or not sol 89 00:05:06,547 --> 00:05:11,107 Speaker 3: but certainly the head coach, he instigated a really different 90 00:05:11,147 --> 00:05:15,227 Speaker 3: regime for the players. And I you know, several of 91 00:05:15,307 --> 00:05:18,467 Speaker 3: us older people were away on the Turtle Australia for 92 00:05:18,467 --> 00:05:21,307 Speaker 3: example in nineteen eighty eight when they went so well. 93 00:05:21,347 --> 00:05:25,787 Speaker 3: They just drew one match against Australia, but they won 94 00:05:25,867 --> 00:05:31,427 Speaker 3: everything else under Whiley, and they had some interesting training sessions, 95 00:05:31,467 --> 00:05:34,307 Speaker 3: you know, And it's been well documented that when the 96 00:05:34,307 --> 00:05:37,707 Speaker 3: players didn't play well, he worked them pretty hard. But 97 00:05:37,827 --> 00:05:41,027 Speaker 3: then he also bought in some unusual aspects of training, 98 00:05:41,107 --> 00:05:43,147 Speaker 3: such as rud o boys, we're going to have a 99 00:05:43,227 --> 00:05:46,987 Speaker 3: bnare And that was frowned upon by a lot within 100 00:05:47,067 --> 00:05:50,107 Speaker 3: the New Zealand Rugby Union and within the rugby fraternity. 101 00:05:50,427 --> 00:05:52,227 Speaker 3: But it had been a method that it worked for 102 00:05:52,307 --> 00:05:55,067 Speaker 3: him for Canterbury, and I don't think it was a 103 00:05:55,107 --> 00:05:57,947 Speaker 3: failure with the orbacks either. Some players weren't used to 104 00:05:57,987 --> 00:06:00,667 Speaker 3: it and some said what the hell's going on, But 105 00:06:00,827 --> 00:06:03,427 Speaker 3: eventually they would all say, you know, Grius had a 106 00:06:03,427 --> 00:06:06,347 Speaker 3: different method and on reflection it worked. 107 00:06:06,867 --> 00:06:12,147 Speaker 2: What was his relationship like with the media, Well. 108 00:06:11,987 --> 00:06:13,947 Speaker 3: I had no hussles with them, you know. I think 109 00:06:13,987 --> 00:06:17,867 Speaker 3: it was because he was gruff and he was not 110 00:06:17,947 --> 00:06:21,747 Speaker 3: the most eloquent, eloquent of people. He was one of 111 00:06:21,787 --> 00:06:23,787 Speaker 3: those people who just wanted to get in and do 112 00:06:23,827 --> 00:06:27,347 Speaker 3: the job. And he knew he had a commitment on 113 00:06:27,507 --> 00:06:30,667 Speaker 3: obligation to the media to promote rugby and to let 114 00:06:30,707 --> 00:06:33,667 Speaker 3: people know what was going on, but he never really 115 00:06:33,667 --> 00:06:36,827 Speaker 3: felt comfortable with it, and there were many examples of 116 00:06:36,907 --> 00:06:40,027 Speaker 3: him looking to be a bit flustered up there and 117 00:06:40,067 --> 00:06:42,987 Speaker 3: not really wanting to talk any you know, to any 118 00:06:43,027 --> 00:06:47,147 Speaker 3: great extent. But getting him one on one was a delight, 119 00:06:48,347 --> 00:06:50,787 Speaker 3: you know, as a radio reporter back in the time, 120 00:06:50,867 --> 00:06:53,227 Speaker 3: I had learned so much about what he was trying 121 00:06:53,227 --> 00:06:56,307 Speaker 3: to achieve, it about rugby in general, from just having 122 00:06:56,307 --> 00:06:59,027 Speaker 3: a sit down with him and occasionally that involved to 123 00:06:59,067 --> 00:07:02,707 Speaker 3: be it that I found that I knew where he 124 00:07:02,787 --> 00:07:06,427 Speaker 3: was coming from with his reluctance to talk to the 125 00:07:06,507 --> 00:07:10,427 Speaker 3: media much. But it was mainly because he just felt 126 00:07:10,707 --> 00:07:13,347 Speaker 3: a but I don't think I'm inadequate, so we but 127 00:07:13,427 --> 00:07:15,827 Speaker 3: he just felt uncomfortable with it. He wanted to. He 128 00:07:15,907 --> 00:07:18,867 Speaker 3: was a good coach, very good coach. The media side 129 00:07:18,907 --> 00:07:20,747 Speaker 3: of it wasn't quite so comfortable for him. 130 00:07:21,027 --> 00:07:24,147 Speaker 2: And just to finish another of your great love's lawn bowls, 131 00:07:24,147 --> 00:07:26,387 Speaker 2: so he went into that as well. Was a handy 132 00:07:26,467 --> 00:07:27,147 Speaker 2: lawn bowler. 133 00:07:27,267 --> 00:07:31,627 Speaker 3: Grizz Oh. I played with him in the National Championships 134 00:07:31,907 --> 00:07:36,147 Speaker 3: down in Alexandra four or five years ago with him 135 00:07:36,147 --> 00:07:39,907 Speaker 3: and his team from North Canterbury. He loved his bowls 136 00:07:39,907 --> 00:07:42,467 Speaker 3: and I did an interview with him about it and 137 00:07:42,467 --> 00:07:44,787 Speaker 3: that he said, you know, I just can't believe I 138 00:07:44,827 --> 00:07:50,067 Speaker 3: never saw how exciting and how invigorating bowls could be. 139 00:07:50,147 --> 00:07:52,587 Speaker 3: I just wish I'd started playing it a hell of 140 00:07:52,627 --> 00:07:55,827 Speaker 3: a lot earlier. He appeared on the initial television series 141 00:07:55,827 --> 00:08:00,107 Speaker 3: of bowls three five with his partner Jenny Anderson, and 142 00:08:00,147 --> 00:08:02,867 Speaker 3: who's herself a very good bowler, and some of the 143 00:08:02,907 --> 00:08:06,667 Speaker 3: guys from the wood End Club in North Canterbury and Grise. 144 00:08:07,067 --> 00:08:09,307 Speaker 3: There'll be so many bowlers out there now just nodding 145 00:08:09,307 --> 00:08:11,627 Speaker 3: their heads and say we played against him. He came 146 00:08:11,667 --> 00:08:13,907 Speaker 3: to our tournament up north, he came to our tournament 147 00:08:13,947 --> 00:08:16,987 Speaker 3: down south. He loved his balls. And the bowling greens 148 00:08:16,987 --> 00:08:19,947 Speaker 3: will be a lot quieter and a lot more somble 149 00:08:19,987 --> 00:08:20,907 Speaker 3: without Grizz around. 150 00:08:21,347 --> 00:08:23,627 Speaker 2: John, thanks for joining us to pay tribute to Gris Wiley. 151 00:08:23,667 --> 00:08:25,947 Speaker 2: I know you've got some balls to play or to oversea, 152 00:08:26,067 --> 00:08:27,987 Speaker 2: so let you get back to that. But thanks for 153 00:08:27,987 --> 00:08:29,107 Speaker 2: taking the time this afternoon. 154 00:08:29,307 --> 00:08:31,627 Speaker 3: Just just one moment, Jason, say, am I'm still there? 155 00:08:31,667 --> 00:08:35,667 Speaker 3: I just on Saturday or so yesterday Gris sat there 156 00:08:35,667 --> 00:08:38,387 Speaker 3: with his family and they watched the Crusaders under twenty 157 00:08:38,467 --> 00:08:42,747 Speaker 3: team win their match and his grandson Cinde McCloud was 158 00:08:42,787 --> 00:08:46,107 Speaker 3: playing number eight for Canterbury, so with a Crusaders so 159 00:08:46,667 --> 00:08:48,467 Speaker 3: he would have had a smile on his face towards 160 00:08:48,467 --> 00:08:48,747 Speaker 3: the end. 161 00:08:48,907 --> 00:08:50,947 Speaker 2: Brilliant stuff. John, Thank you for joining us in what 162 00:08:50,987 --> 00:08:53,467 Speaker 2: a way to finish the chat. Really appreciate you taking 163 00:08:53,507 --> 00:08:56,227 Speaker 2: the time. John Macbeth paying tribute to Gris Wiley, who 164 00:08:56,267 --> 00:08:59,147 Speaker 2: passed away overnight at the age of eighty. 165 00:09:00,027 --> 00:09:03,227 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 166 00:09:03,307 --> 00:09:06,747 Speaker 1: to News Talk z B weekends from midday. Follow the 167 00:09:06,787 --> 00:09:08,227 Speaker 1: podcast on iHeartRadio.