Sid Going - One of a kind

Sidney Milton Going, b August 19, 1943, d May 17 2024. Debut, North Auckland 1962, 110 games, 161 points. Debut, NZ Māoris 1965, 17 games, 49 points. Debut, New Zealand 1967, 29 Tests, 86 games, 164 points (44 points in Tests). He appeared in nine North Island sides and 13 All Blacks trials. Ed. Maromaku Prim, Northland College, Church College, Hamilton. MBE 1977. Northland coach 1993-96.

Millions of French rugby fans breathed sighs of relief when New Zealand's rugby selectors no longer wanted halfback Sid Going. The axe fell unceremoniously on him after the losing second Test against the touring 1977 British & Irish Lions.

But in the 10 preceding years, Going had cut a swathe through opposition defences, none more than the French in the 1968 series in New Zealand. Called in for the third Test of what was a bitter series after incumbent Chris Laidlaw was injured, Going had an immediate impact, scoring two tries in the first quarter and giving the All Blacks a critical buffer. Eden Park experienced its first sellout for the Test.

Going had announced himself to the French earlier in Paris, at the end of 1967, when coach Fred Allen called him into the Test side ahead of Laidlaw. Going upset French possession from a scrum on their line to score the first try and then made a decisive break that resulted in a try for flanker Ian Kirkpatrick.

With Laidlaw heading offshore to take up his Rhodes Scholarship, Going played in both Tests against the touring Wales side in 1969 but had to compete with Laidlaw again during the 1970 tour of South Africa, in which Going was one of four players included in the All Blacks as 'honorary whites'. First five-eighths Blair Furlong and utility back Henare Milner were of Māori origin and Bryan Williams was of Samoan heritage.

Going summed up his attitude in 'Behind the Silver Fern'. "I was a person who was never into all that political thing. I was just glad to be available for the next tour and to be selected. There were no issues, they just bent over backwards to look after us. It was a great experience. It was a hugely complex country and it's a shame it has not got any better."

But Going, who was a reserve in the first Test, came on when Laidlaw was concussed and produced a trademark blindside break to put Williams in for a stunning try, New Zealand's only try of the Test. 

"Bryan Williams was magnificent on those hard and fast grounds. I remember once in a game I broke around the short side and his wing was hanging on him so I just put a little kick through for him and it went out. He said 'Just give it to me and I'll do the work, I'll beat him.' So that's what I did from then on."                     

Going had to wait until the fourth Test before starting and, again, making a major impact when, from a tighthead scrum, he broke blind, beat several defenders, and found Williams again, who capped the break with another fine try. On both occasions, the All Blacks lost.

His blindside skill was evident again in 1971 during the second Test against the British & Irish Lions in Christchurch. Early in the game, a blindside break produced a chance for new first five-eighths Bob Burgess to score, while another short side burst created a chance for Williams again, only for him to be fouled and a penalty try was awarded. The 22-12 win was the All Blacks' only success in the series.

Going became associated with a more forward-oriented game in the second phase of his career, especially during the 1972-73 tour of Britain, Ireland and France.

It was a rugged tour. The British media hounded the side, and Going especially, alleging he failed to feed the ball straight into scrums.

"The Lions started that here [in 1971] and when we got over there that was all they showed on TV."

Going said they were so keen to get him out of the tour even the medics got involved. After he was injured in the first training run in England, doctors wanted to put his ankle in plaster. They said he wouldn't play on tour.

"I said, 'I will not put that in plaster. I'm going to be playing in a couple of weeks,' and I did. They just wanted me out of the tour."

His high kick to the box yielded a try for prop Keith Murdoch against Wales, while his interception on halfway against Scotland lifted New Zealand from their 10 -9 lead to secure a 14-9 win. An in-pass from Going saw No8 Alex Wyllie crash over the line to score earlier.

Having made himself unavailable for the 1973 season, Going caused some controversy when appearing in an International XV, where he played two games against the All Blacks during an internal tour as they prepared to play a one-off Test against England.

He was not selected for the All Blacks tour of Australia and Fiji in 1974

But he was back in the selection frame for the tour of Ireland during its centenary year, later in 1974, a tour that saw the All Blacks play Ireland (won 15-6), A Wales XV (but really Wales – won 12-3) and the Barbarians (really the 1974 British & Irish Lions side – drawn 13-13) in a week.

After the water polo Test against Scotland at Eden Park in 1975, he started as a reserve against Ireland in 1976, coming on as a replacement for Lyn Davis, his long-suffering deputy.

They toured South Africa again in 1976, with Going playing all four Tests.

After the All Blacks won the first Test in 1977 against the British & Irish Lions, their loss in the second Test in Christchurch resulted in wholesale changes, with Going among those dropped as Davis was given the start. Wing Brian Ford, fullback Bevan Wilson, flanker Graham Mourie and prop John McEldowney were given their first Test caps.

"I knew I would get dropped after the second Test in Christchurch because they blamed me for that...I know that I could have scored a try if I had held the ball and run, but I passed it and it got mucked up out at second-five. We could have won but we didn't and I knew that was my swansong. It was not because of the coaches saying anything to me, but because they didn't even look at me after that."

Going said he was most disappointed because he didn't retire on a winning note. He had intended to retire at the end of the series, which New Zealand went on to win 3-1.

Bryan Williams summed up his feelings about Going.

"It was a shock to see Sid dropped for the third Test, very sad. I always admired his play, he was amazing, very competitive. He could have played most positions, even in the forwards. He was abrasive, tough, he was skilled, he could run, he could do it all."

It is a measure of the way Going played that his style has yet to be replicated by any modern player, and none are as dangerous as Going was when he decided to make a break.

And all of the above is without recalling some of his feats for Northland and the New Zealand Māori.

He was a player who could attract the public's attention throughout his career and was a central part of the rugby of his era.