Biography:
A selection oddity in the 1949 All Black team team to South Africa was the choice of three first-fives. Two, Jimmy Kearney and Red Delamore, were old hands, but Nev Black was very much a new chum. Born at Kawakawa on April 25,1925 and christened Neville Wyatt, he was one of the youngest, one of the smallest and, by some margin, the least experienced man in the back division. Including three trials, Black had only appeared in 10 first-class matches before selection.
Black had been one of the stars in Ponsonby's great team of 1948, distributing ball cleanly and efficiently to his outsides, while he was always ready to accept his own chances. He had come to Ponies the long way, being schooled in Rotorua and originally turning out for Te Papapa, a new club in post-war Auckland, but one which was unable to offer senior football. Like any ambitious young man. Black wanted to better himself, and Ponsonby reaped the benefit.
Before 1948 was very old, the New Zealand Herald was constantly noting his good play as Ponsonby cut loose. The Auckland selectors also noticed, because he was whistled up for the union's second match of the season. Auckland had a good year - the first team lost only once - and the young first-five attracted widespread attention for his free-running play.
In reviewing the season, the Rugby Almanack noted: 'Black ... played his way into the New Zealand side by consistent football, characterised by sharp attack, straight running, and sound defence.' Surprisingly, since the editors named him as a reserve to their New Zealand XV, hewasn't a Promising Player of the Year.
On tour in South Africa, as was expected, Black wasn't a first-stringer while Delamore hardly played at all. Kearney got the big games and all the harassment Hennie Muller and his mates could bring to bear.
In view of the team's lousy record - they lost seven and drew three of 24 fixtures - Black was in an unusual position in the party; the All Blacks were unbeaten in the first ten fixtures he played. Without being spectacular, he was doing the little things well, despite some slow service from inside. Thereby hangs a tale.
The All Blacks had real problems at halfback, which had started well before the side boarded their ship. Tetzlaffwas unavailable while Vince Bevan was excluded on the 'no Maoris' clause. These two were, by some distance, the best in the country, and Des Barchard, who would have been a candidate, had transferred to league. The cupboard was pretty bare.
The chosen halfbacks, Larry Savage and Bill Conrad, were hammered up and down the Republic. Their first-fives suffered with them. Savage had no great length on his pass while Conrad was too slow clearing the ball. In desperation, Black was given a run behind the pack against North-Eastern Districts, the 20th match of the tour.
Admittedly the opposition was amongst the weakest encountered all tour, but the All Black backs functioned well. Black's passes were described as 'long and generally accurate' after a shaky start. It was felt that the experiment, while overdue, was worth repeating and he got the Orange Free State game as well. Again the All Black backs went smoothly, playing their best rugby of the tour in these two matches.
Ron Aldridge, a leading South African critic, noted that the tourists' backs 'played spectacular rugby' against North-Eastern, while Black was 'a success in his unaccustomed position' against Free State, and 'whenever the backline had the ball they were dangerous', due to the speed of their passing.
Not surprisingly, Black won the test job for the vital third match. There was a world of difference between provincial sides and the Springboks, however, and he had a tough day. In a match dominated by the home team's aggressive defence, the Boks were unconvincing 9-3 winners. In the circumstances, Black's less-than-impressive outing was understandable. Less understandable was the fact he was never to play for his country again, despite his youth.
Ignored in 1950, when New Zealand had all kinds of trouble filling the first-five role, he was described as 'always reliable if not as brilliant as two years before'. A year later he didn't have one of his better seasons, not helped by the Auckland selectors shuffling through an extraordinary number of five-eighth combinations. At the end of 1951 he accepted an offer from British rugby league club Wigan, and had six seasons in England.
A slight man, at 5' 6" (1.68m) and 11 stone (70kg), Black was one of the attacking types of five-eighth who struggled to stand up to marauding flankers. After reports of Muller's success, this player popped up all over New Zealand. Some were constructive, as Muller was, but many simply made running rugby a painful experience. Defence ruled, and would do so for the next 20 years.
Inside backs became Aunt Sallys, and it took some resilience, and an educated boot, to play there. A running five-eighth took his playing life into his hands every time he had a dart. Over the next two decades, as New Zealand back play slipped into a deep trough, the loss of the Neville Black-type player was keenly lamented.
On his return to New Zealand Neville Black played league for the Ngongataha club 1957-60. Initially a woolclasser he went into business in Rotorua as a garage proprietor.
Links
Hide