The mighty Totara has fallen. RIP BJ Lochore

[Winger]

@dogmeat

Re the best coach. He is a contender. And he could work with both great players and the not so great. For example what he did with Wairarapa / Bush. Bottom equal of the old 2nd division. To first division within 2? years. An outstanding achievement. And Penn? carried it on but it started with Lochore.

And then before he stepped down after winning the RWC. NZ was in a league of their own in this tournament. And he was able to work with two headstrong coaches who both failed to bring home the big prize.

RIP BJ.

[sparky]

Funeral in Masterton on Thursday. It would be disrespectful not have a few jugs of ale and remember a Great Rugby Man.

[Bovidae]

I wonder if the funeral will be live streamed? That would be the families decision.

[sparky]

All Blacks (@AllBlacks) Tweeted:
Sir Brian Lochore's funeral service will be live streamed on https://t.co/9U1B1Ga5J4 this afternoon.

Head over to https://t.co/u9oScyiXph at 1:00pm to watch. https://t.co/sGbQZrkKbg

[Bovidae]

Watching the live stream at the moment.

Gilbert Enoka has just spoken on behalf of the All Blacks. The team will have BJ's All Black number 637 on their jersey sleeve in Perth.

[Bovidae]

A nice touch at the end of the service as 40-50 former ABs did a guard of honour as the casket was put in the hearse. I could see some former teammates like Chris Laidlaw, Earle Kirton, Grahame Thorne and Stan Meads, and many of the 1987 team (Kirk, JK, Fox, Jones). The GOAT was there too.

[ACT Crusader]

@Bovidae said in The mighty Totara has fallen. RIP BJ Lochore:

A nice touch at the end of the service as 40-50 former ABs did a guard of honour as the casket was put in the hearse. I could see some former teammates like Chris Laidlaw, Earle Kirton, Grahame Thorne and Stan Meads, and many of the 1987 team (Kirk, JK, Fox, Jones). The GOAT was there too.

The Whetton’s were in there too.

Funny what BJ’s son said about Henry.

[Bovidae]

@ACT-Crusader said in The mighty Totara has fallen. RIP BJ Lochore:

The Whetton’s were in there too.

Botica as well. Heaps of others like DC but I was relying on what the camera showed from a distance.

Funny what BJ’s son said about Henry.

Yes. I laughed when he said it. I'm sure Ted did too.

[Machpants]

@Bovidae what was the joke?

[Bovidae]

@Machpants

David shared a hilarious anecdote recalling the inauspicious start to his father's friendship with the now Sir Graham Henry.
"David, BJ here. I’ve had a ring from Graham Henry and he wants to come and see me, what do you think?
"He’s a school teacher from Auckland, he’ll be a piston wristed gibbon."

From 10:00 on the video.

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[sparky]

Looked like Wayne Smith carried the coffin alongside Sir Brian's family.

Nice touch from the ABs media team:

[Rembrandt]

Just been chatting to my mum, he made it to my uncle's Tangi which was only a couple months back (they were good friends), I imagine he would have been pretty ill. Top bloke.

[Bovidae]

Mark Reason isn't a favourite of TSF but this was an enjoyable read.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/opinion/114872608/mark-reason-in-memoriam-bj-lochore-the-best-of-all-of-us