Grant Fox

For one who dominated the All Black first five eighths position in the late 1980s through to the mid 90s, and was one of the most potent scorers in all test history, Grant Fox had a surprisingly low key entry into the national side.

Indeed, it took three tours before he established himself as the number one first five eighths as he firstly had to assert his claims against the incumbent for much of the early to mid 80s, Wayne Smith, and then Frano Botica.

Fox first became an All Black on the short 1984 tour of Fiji. He played only in two midweek games, with Smith preferred for the unofficial test, and in his appearances shared goalkicking duties with second string fullback Mark Finlay.

On the 1985 tour of Argentina Fox played the first test, his international debut, when Smith was affected by illness and dropped a goal. But those were his only points on tour for fullback Kieran Crowley was the number one kicker. Then in 1986 in France Fox, having suffered through a ban incurred for going on the Cavaliers’ tour of South Africa, was the first five understudy to his close rival, Botica.

But Fox’s incredible feats for Auckland through the 1984-86 seasons, in which his rate of scoring was phenomenal, meant his claims to be in the starting XV for the inaugural World Cup were irresistible. Fox in that tournament proved to be one of the All Blacks’ main weapons and in six matches he finished with 126 points, an average per game of 21.

Such was Fox’s value that his now understudy, Botica, never got on the field, though in hindsight little would have been lost had he been used at some stage in some of the other matches.

Over the next four seasons Fox, usually with an unlucky Botica on the bench, had an unchallenged role in All Black test and touring sides. He toured Australia in 1988, Wales, Ireland and England in 1989, France in 1990 and Argentina in 1991. He also played all the domestic tests in this period against Wales, France, Argentina, Australia and Scotland.

As it had been for Auckland, Fox’s rate of scoring was astronomical and soon he had accumulated several All Black test records, eclipsing even the mighty Don Clarke.

For all his exploits Fox was often the target for criticism which tagged him as a stodgy and unimaginative player. Certainly he was not a player of great flair, as was Botica, and he was never a dashing runner.

His inability to score tries almost became a matter for joking, which even Fox shared. He did appear to score against Ireland in 1989 at Dublin but ironically the try was ruled out because during a quick lineout Sean Fitzpatrick had had a foot in the field of play while throwing the ball in.

Yet Fox, despite his lack of flamboyance, was a highly effective test player and it was significant that at all levels those on his outside such as John Kirwan and Terry Wright were prolific scorers.

Fox appeared to have gone into a decline when he struggled with an abdominal injury through the 1991 season and he had an especially difficult time at the second World Cup.

When a new coaching-selection panel under Laurie Mains was appointed for the 1992 season it seemed that his All Black future was uncertain, especially when Walter Little was preferred at first five for the bulk of the early season centenary tests.

But for the tour of Australia and South Africa Mains reinstated Fox as the premier first five-eighths and though now a veteran he played for most of the 1992-93 seasons with all his old confidence. He retired after the 1993 domestic season during which he had a leading role in tests against the British Isles, Samoa and Australia.

much he had come to mean to the All Blacks was reflected in the difficulty finding his replacement over the next 18 months. This was only settled by the emergence in 1995 of another outstanding first five and goalkicker in Andrew Mehrtens.

Though Mehrtens eventually exceeded many of Fox’s scoring records the Fox statistics remain imposing. In 78 matches for the All Blacks he scored 1067 points and in his 46 tests 645 points, his sole try coming against Scotland in 1990. In 303 first class matches he scored a record 4112 points, of which 2746 came in 189 games for Auckland. A key member of the great Auckland sides of 1985-93, Fox scored 932 points in Ranfurly Shield rugby, nearly three times more than anyone else.