1 News presenter Melissa Stokes speaks to All Blacks legend Sir Michael Jones about the moment he scored his first try at the first-ever Rugby World Cup in 1987.
When I told my dad I was interviewing Sir Michael Jones, he said, “I gave him a pat on the back for once.” It happened in the late ’80s after a Ranfurly Shield match at Lancaster Park in Christchurch, when the crowd could spill onto the pitch and surround the players after the game. Her husband Dave said, “Tell him I filmed him,” and Lucy’s father, a producer, was equally awestruck. Sir Michael was his favorite rugby player.
I thought it was great to hear that they still have such respect and fond memories of this man who played 55 games for the All Blacks.
Now that I’ve spent the morning with ‘Please Call Me Michael’ I wish I could have taken you all to Eden Park. A few hours with Michael Niko Jones is life-affirming, funny, and full of joy.
This Newsmaker series revisits the moments that made headlines. There are many people who could be chosen by Sir Michael.
But today, on the eve of the All Blacks taking on Ireland in the quarter-finals, he spoke to us about scoring his first individual try at the first-ever Rugby World Cup in 1987.
When we emerged from the Eden Park tunnel, Sir Michael said he remembered it like it was yesterday.
“It’s funny. It was surreal at the time, but it will always be etched in my memory. I’ll never forget this game. It was everything I dreamed of.”
Sir Michael walked around the field and found where he thought he had won the ball, which was the try line around 15-20 meters in front of us.
“All I had to do was find my fastest course here. So I just went for it and sprinted as fast as I could. I thought here, I I’m not going to risk getting caught, this is my dream moment, so I took off ‘And the next moment it’s kind of like a dream that I’m flying, probably flying a hundred meters It felt so good, like flying through the clouds and then descending.”
It was his dream try on the field at the west end of Eden Park, where his family always sat in the stadium and pointed in the direction of West Auckland’s home.
“For me, it was that Yahoo moment, not so much the scoring, but those words from G-Dub.” [Gary Whetton]. ”
Just imagine for a moment. You’re his 22-year-old, about to play his first game as an All Black, surrounded by names like Shelford, Kirk and Fox. Sir Michael remembers Gary Wetton tugging on his jersey in his changing room.
“I said, ‘Michael, I’m glad you were able to be a part of this, I know it’s a dream come true for you, and the game goes by so fast, and before you know it, it’s half time, and then it’s full time. Just do it.’ Your job, and we’re here to sit in the armchair for you, but remember there’s one thing to say to the All Blacks. Please tell me, if you want to be a great All Black, you have to score a try in your first game.’ And he was like, ‘Oh, wow, thank you, G-Dub.’
Yes, no pressure, but the man they called “Ice” for always staying calm liked that advice.
“I love what he said to me as a young All Black. Michael can be happy, but he can’t be complacent.”
Thirty minutes into the World Cup match against Italy, Grant Fox played a pass to a flanker. Sir Michael smelled the tryline and says he had no intention of not reaching it.
Thirty-five years later, he says, when he stands on the try line, he can hear the loud, “beautiful sound” reaction of the crowd.
“Those words from G-Dub, there was this idea in my mind that if you want to be a good AB, or a great AB, you have to score tries, and if you wear this jersey you’ll be fine. I did.”
Some might say that’s an understatement.
His leap to the tryline was a minor glory in his basketball days, now immortalized in front of Eden Park with a bronze medal.
Sir Michael says he will never get used to such a situation, but for him it has always been about the team.
“I was very grateful to be playing with the All Blacks group, all of whom were playing at the peak of their careers at the time.If you think about it, we played sublime rugby and I think we took it to another level. We were ahead of the game in a way and we were ahead of the world at the time.
“They made the ride a dream come true. I don’t think I’ve ever had a better experience than this, so I’ll be forever grateful.”
All morning Sir Michaels had been gushing about his partner Grant Fox… and, er, failing to score a try (Fox has scored one try in 46 Tests). He said it was the All Blacks goalkicker’s fault that he crossed the line.
“I just happened to be in the right place at the right time to score the first try and convince myself that Foxy wouldn’t have scored. Thank you very much, Foxy. I will always be a fan of him in that respect. I love you.”
They were world champions in 1987. Sir Michael also scored a try in the final.
“It really reminds me of what was great about the ’87 team, what was great, and that whole journey and that it took the whole country to us. Like we really felt. “Rugby had to do something special, and we’ve got the perfect platform with the first World Cup.” . ”
And just for the record, he’s supporting Black people in this weekend’s quarterfinals.