Larry Savage: Gritty 1949 All Black dies
Former Nelson boy and Canterbury All Black Larry Savage has died in Lower Hutt, aged 85. Savage was tossed into a whirlpool of controversy over race-based rugby selections in 1949. Maori players were not considered for selection in the All Blacks team to tour South Africa that year. This meant tough and experienced first-choice halfback Vince Bevan had to stay at home, while rookies Savage and William Conrad were chosen.
Savage was a 21-year-old engineering student at the University of Canterbury. He stood just 1.65m-tall and weighed 65kg. It was a tough tour for him and he was unjustly scapegoated by some critics for the All Blacks’ dismal record.
Savage left Nelson College in 1945 as an all-round sporting star and dux of the school. He had played in the First XV for two years.
He came to Christchurch to study civil engineering at the University of Canterbury and joined the University Rugby Club. He played the first of his 18 matches for Canterbury while a second-year student, in 1947. The following year he represented Canterbury, South Island, and NZ Universities and played in All Black trials, as a 20-year-old.
By 1949, Savage was widely recognised as a rising player whose chief assets were speed, determination and surprising strength for his size.
However, the South Africans detected a weakness at halfback in the All Blacks and targeted it. They deployed loose forwards on the off-side line to disrupt their opponents’ clearing of ball to the backs and force breakdowns in this area. This contributed to the tourists losing seven matches, including all four tests, and drawing another four, out of 25 on tour.
Conrad failed to find form on tour, so Savage was chosen for the toughest matches. He scored his only try against a Transvaal XV and played in three of the tests.
Savage took a battering from South African loose forwards. He stood up to it courageously but this area of play became messy and he was replaced for the third test by first five-eighth Neville Black. This experimental move was not a success and Savage was restored for the final test.
He did not play for New Zealand again after the 1949 tour, as Bevan regained his All Blacks place. Savage also had limited opportunities for Canterbury from 1950, vying with future All Blacks captain Pat Vincent. However, he got the nod for Canterbury against the touring 1950 British Lions. He had another All Black trial and represented South Island again that year.
After graduating from university, Savage moved to Wellington. He played for Victoria University and represented Wellington 12 times, though having to play second fiddle to incumbent halfback Bevan. He played again for NZ Universities. He later played for Bush and the combined Wairarapa-Bush.
Returning to Wellington in 1957, he became co-coach of Victoria University with fellow All Black Bill Clark.
He was a NZ Universities selector from 1965 to 1977.
Rugby writer Alex Veysey, a friend of Savage, wrote: ‘‘Larry’s dexterity was both physical and mental. He became dux of Nelson College, captain of the First XV and First XI, tennis champion, gym champion, and an All Black with a degree in civil engineering. But I reckon trout-seduction was his true forte.’’
Savage was married to Lorna for 60 years. They had two children, Philippa and Grant, four grandchildren and two greatgrandchildren.
Laurence Theodore Savage, born Nelson, February 17, 1928; died Lower Hutt, September 27, 2013.