When Albie Met Tony, and other grand tales

‘‘I’ve been told many stories about my granddad; some good, some bad.’’ Kara Pryor

Blues loosie Kara Pryor has been thinking about his treasured granddad, as he prepares to walk in the boot steps that almost-all Black Albie Pryor stomped out in 1959.

When reserve Kara runs on to Eden Park against the British and Irish Lions tonight, he might glance up to invoke the spirit and passion Albie displayed against them.

Not all the passion though, he wants to stay on the field. Albie was a colourful rogue, who played fast and loose, fearing no man.

One he did not fear – at first – was Irish winger Tony O’reilly, a good-looking Dublin silver spooner with a wave of golden hair. New Zealand rugby fans could not wait to see what would happen when Auckland played the Lions; When Albie Met Tony.

What happened stunned Albie. O’reilly responded swiftly and brutally.

‘‘The surprising thing for dad was O’reilly retaliated, and came back at him – which was unexpected,’’ Kara’s father Kevin said.

‘‘O’reilly probably thought ‘if I don’t get him he’ll be after me all game, and I’ll be history’. He came back and gave him a good clip. Dad thought ‘you’re OK, I’ll leave you alone and get on with it’.’’

It was the beginning of a longlasting friendship, ending when Albie died in 2000.

Kara has heard the stories, which flooded back when he realised he had the chance to emulate his granddad by playing the Lions. Albie taught Kara, 26, many tricks, some of which have been ditched as unworkable in this era of television replays.

‘‘I’ve been told many stories about my granddad; some good, some bad,’’ Kara grinned.

‘‘But I get told good stories that I cherish and I’ve been told stories about him against the Lions and to get my chance to have a shot . . . not every player gets to play against the Lions. I didn’t actually think about it until a about week ago, so I’ve been dwelling on it a little bit, and it’s exciting.

‘‘Not every rugby player gets to play against the Lions, and my granddad playing them and now me . . . it just seems good.

‘‘You never know, but fingers crossed I get on that field, and when I do I’ll give it everything I’ve got – I’m sure a bit of my granddad will come out in me.’’

His brother Daniel, the Highlanders loosie, is in contention for Dunedin selection as well after a bad injury. Both have played for New Zealand Maori in the past two seasons.

‘‘Hopefully [Dan] gets his crack as well,’’ said Kara who spent a lot of time as a child with his grandfather. ‘‘I was young when he passed away but me and grandad were very close. He used to take me to all my rugby games when I was growing up. He taught me a few things – some good, some I can’t use today, too many cameras around.

‘‘My granddad was a hard man back in the day, so if I can get a little bit out of that and play with that sort of passion, I’ll be happy.’’