All Black From Famous Match Dies

New Zealand scrum-half Lindsay Colling died on Sunday at the age of 56, and will be remembered by Welsh rugby fans as the man whose two defensive kicks at Stradey Park and the Arms Park led to New Zealand defeats by Llanelli and the Barbarians respectively.

It was Colling who caught Phil Bennett’s penalty-goal attempt off the crossbar on October 31, 1972 and attempted a kick to touch. But it was charged down by centre Roy Bergiers, who followed up to score the only try of a famous 9-3 win by the Scarlets.

Bergiers later commented: “Poor old Lin. He held on just too long.”

Despite constant injury to New Zealand‘s No 1 scrum-half Sid Going on the long tour, the All Black selectors plumped for ‘Super Sid’ in all five Tests and Colling’s 15 appearances came in the lesser matches.

In the final tour game against the Barbarians, Colling came on for the limping Going and it was his kick that failed to find touch, allowing his opponents to run the ball out and JPR Williams to cross for the winning try.

George Lindsay Colling was taken ill with a brain tumour while still serving on the Auckland Rugby Union Board. His funeral is likely to be held at the Eden Park ground in Auckland.

He is survived by his wife Sandi and sons Mark and Antony. He will remembered as a clean, swift-passing player who was unlucky never to win a full Test cap.