Dejected Blackadder goes forth and backs new man Oliver
Sunday, 20 May 2001 13:36Ousted All Black skipper Todd Blackadder has given his support to the man who replaced him, Anton Oliver. Blackadder, who captained New Zealand in 10 tests in 2000, was dropped as captain and axed from the 30-man All Black training squad announced by coaches Wayne Smith and Tony Gilbert on Sunday.
"It would have been nice to have one more year," Blackadder said. "To even consider being an All Black was a real dream and I only ever hoped to run out onto Lancaster Park in the red and black of Canterbury. When I got to pull on an All Black jersey it was something special and then to lead them on to the park was unbelievable. Anton (Oliver) is a great bloke and I know all the guys respect him. He'll give his absolute guts for the team and the jersey."
Blackadder, 29, was dropped in favour of Oliver, 25, chiefly because Smith and Gilbert saw the Otago hooker as being able to lead the All Blacks to the 2003 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
"Todd Blackadder has given his all over five years captaining Canterbury, the Crusaders and the All Blacks," Smith said. "Perhaps that commitment, which was always 100 per cent, took its toll on his form."
Oliver is the third All Black captain in as many years. Taine Randell was dropped for the people's favourite, Blackadder, last year. Oliver's elevation to captain makes it the first time that a father and son have captained the All Blacks. Oliver's father Frank captained New Zealand against Australia in 1978. (Reuters)
Filed by Sinéad Kissane
