The mighty Totara has fallen. RIP BJ Lochore
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Sad news . Him and his family were clients of my dads firm when I was a kid so he was sometimes in their social circle . I remember pretty much everyone being in awe of him and it wasn’t a surprise when Wairarapa college found itself falling behind that the board and parents voted to make him the guy they trusted to be in charge of turning things around .
He deserved a better end to his test career than the one he got even though it does add to the legend a bit.
Respect
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Apropos to nothing really but I recall playing in a primary school tournament and Sir BJ's son was the captain of Wairarapa sub union.
I was a barely good enough THP for Bush.
Thinking it was 1981.
I recall Mrs Boo Snr (Mama) who was sitting at table with Mrs SIr BJ telling me that Mrs Sir BJ reminded BJ Jr to thank the refs by pretending to blow on a whistle. Was cool, but I didn't realise quite HOW cool, that Sir BJ was there.
Vale Sir BJ. One of the greatest.
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@jegga said in The mighty Totara has fallen. RIP BJ Lochore:
Sad news . Him and his family were clients of my dads firm when I was a kid so he was sometimes in their social circle . I remember pretty much everyone being in awe of him and it wasn’t a surprise when Wairarapa college found itself falling behind that the board and parents voted to make him the guy they trusted to be in charge of turning things around .
He deserved a better end to his test career than the one he got even though it does add to the legend a bit.
Respect
Dude leaves the Mrs a note:
"Off to Wellington to play in the test ... see you Sunday. Put my tea in the oven ... "Ok, so everything after the "..." may have been made up ... but fucking legend!!!
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@booboo said in The mighty Totara has fallen. RIP BJ Lochore:
@jegga said in The mighty Totara has fallen. RIP BJ Lochore:
Sad news . Him and his family were clients of my dads firm when I was a kid so he was sometimes in their social circle . I remember pretty much everyone being in awe of him and it wasn’t a surprise when Wairarapa college found itself falling behind that the board and parents voted to make him the guy they trusted to be in charge of turning things around .
He deserved a better end to his test career than the one he got even though it does add to the legend a bit.
Respect
Dude leaves the Mrs a note:
"Off to Wellington to play in the test ... see you Sunday. Put my tea in the oven ... "Ok, so everything after the "..." may have been made up ... but fucking legend!!!
He played out of position in that test at lock too I think ?
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@jegga said in The mighty Totara has fallen. RIP BJ Lochore:
He deserved a better end to his test career than the one he got even though it does add to the legend a bit.
Think it was the 3rd Test at Athletic Park. If so it was the 1st Test I went to - we lost*
The bloke came out of retirement and didn't even think about its impact on his legacy - he wanted to help out his mates & the All Blacks. Legend indeed.
*And thus began the Curse of the Meldrews
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@Bovidae said in The mighty Totara has fallen. RIP BJ Lochore:
A legend and captain of the one of the best AB teams from 1966-69.
Of all time. Their record in that era was staggering
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RIP, you earned it.
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An all-time great as a player and skipper, obviously, by my memory after the Cavalier debacle in ‘86 was that Lochore was the guy who held the fern closest to his chest and helped rescue the ABs, much like Jock did a decade later. People forget how divisive the early-to-mid 80s were, when politics got in the way and supporters were turning their backs on rugby. Lochore was a great servant to the game and the union. And of course, I always loved how he remembered everybody in the Wairarapa, I remember being with family in Masterton in the late 80s and he knew everybody, a national hero who was at heart a smalltown heartland lad. RIP.
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@MiketheSnow Thanks Mike, enjoyed that (not sure that enjoyed is the right word).
The guy is a dead set hero for me as well @dogmeat
Had to laugh at him wanting to be a jockey. I met him when in my teens, just prior to RWC '87 - I would have felt sorry for the horse. I'm not small but BJ was a big man. His stature and his presence.
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Legend of our game, epitomized what it was to wear the Silver Fern.
RIP
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@MiketheSnow gold...can you imagine if next week we see the team named and Richie McCaw was named in it!!
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@taniwharugby said in The mighty Totara has fallen. RIP BJ Lochore:
@MiketheSnow gold...can you imagine if next week we see the team named and Richie McCaw was named in it!!
That would be on Thursday.
We could actually do with a 6...you there Richie...
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@Victor-Meldrew said in The mighty Totara has fallen. RIP BJ Lochore:
@jegga said in The mighty Totara has fallen. RIP BJ Lochore:
He deserved a better end to his test career than the one he got even though it does add to the legend a bit.
Think it was the 3rd Test at Athletic Park. If so it was the 1st Test I went to - we lost*
The bloke came out of retirement and didn't even think about its impact on his legacy - he wanted to help out his mates & the All Blacks. Legend indeed.
*And thus began the Curse of the Meldrews
I was at the first test. Meads et al looked so fit and powerful when they ran out. We couldn’t understand how these “Poms” with white legs and pockets in their shorts could win.
Sir Brian had such mana and served his country without ever pushing himself forward. A big contrast with many of today’s attention seekers with their publicity agents.
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A lot has been said today about BJ especially the way he answered the SOS in 71. What hasn’t really been mentioned is how unprepared he was. 24 hours notice. Playing club and a bit of low level rep rugby. Out of position. Against arguably the best side to ever tour NZ. A side which had the wood on us. He was 1.91 and 95 kg FFS Yet he never hesitated. Even though he must have known there was a real risk he would be humiliated
The word legend is bandied around a lot nowadays generally IMO unearned and pure hyperbole. I honestly struggle to think of anyone who has contributed more to NZ rugby than BJ Lochore. He wasn’t the best #8 we’ve ever had. Possibly not the best Captain. Again possibly not the best Coach. But he was in the top 2-3 in every category. No one else comes close to that achievement.
