Welsh rugby legend Graham Price says Andy Haden’s lineout dive was “unfair”, but the late All Blacks lock deserves to be remembered as “a great player”.
Price played tighthead prop for Wales in their controversial 13-12 loss to the All Blacks in Cardiff in 1978, when Haden – who died in Auckland on Wednesday after a long battle with cancer – leapt out of a lineout in a bid to earn a match-winning penalty.
Referee Roger Quittenton blew for a penalty after spotting a push by Geoff Wheel on Haden’s locking partner Frank Oliver, and Brian McKechnie kicked the goal to give the All Blacks a comeback win.
The incident still rankles with Welsh rugby supporters, who have not witnessed a win over the All Blacks since 1953.
“Haden wasn’t just a character, going on to become an agent and successful businessman, but also a great player.
“The lineout incident against Wales will always be brought up when his name is mentioned, but he also deserves to be remembered for more than that because he was a wonderful lock.
“Andy was so athletic and certainly wasn’t a second row who plodded around the pitch.”
