0:00:07 > 0:00:11Forty years ago, something happened in this small Welsh town,
0:00:11 > 0:00:15a moment that helped define its people and its place.
0:00:29 > 0:00:33Its rugby team took on the greatest side in the world, and won.
0:00:42 > 0:00:47The scoreline - Llanelli nine, New Zealand three.
0:00:53 > 0:00:56In their celebrations, the followers drank
0:00:56 > 0:01:02each and every pub dry - the Thomas Arms, the Masons, the Black Lion -
0:01:02 > 0:01:04not a drop left, and this in a town
0:01:04 > 0:01:08which had not one, but two breweries.
0:01:14 > 0:01:19It was a town built on hard work and the sweat of a man's brow.
0:01:19 > 0:01:22Today, the remnants of the old collieries lie dormant
0:01:22 > 0:01:24under many of its streets.
0:01:25 > 0:01:27There was tinplate and iron,
0:01:27 > 0:01:33and then there was steel. Hard men working white hot metal.
0:01:33 > 0:01:37Little wonder that the townsfolk were tough, enduring,
0:01:37 > 0:01:40and resilient.
0:01:40 > 0:01:45There was steel in their veins, and it runs there still.
0:01:49 > 0:01:51It was the biggest Welsh-speaking town in Wales
0:01:51 > 0:01:53and it had a culture all of its own.
0:01:53 > 0:01:56There were chapels to feed the soul
0:01:56 > 0:01:59and pubs to slake the thirst.
0:02:08 > 0:02:12Stradey Park was a cathedral of rugby, where 26,000 believers
0:02:12 > 0:02:15could keep the faith.
0:02:15 > 0:02:20On October 31st, 1972, the packed congregation had jobs,
0:02:20 > 0:02:24money and self-belief.
0:02:27 > 0:02:30On that day of invincible memory, a man could stand
0:02:30 > 0:02:32just as tall as he liked.
0:02:32 > 0:02:36That day, he knew he could take on the world.
0:02:36 > 0:02:42And on that day, 15 Llanelli men beat the mighty All Blacks.
0:03:17 > 0:03:20Llanelli's foundries, smelters
0:03:20 > 0:03:23and steelworks are almost gone.
0:03:23 > 0:03:25With the passage of time,
0:03:25 > 0:03:28memories, too, will eventually fade and disappear.
0:03:33 > 0:03:36I think industry played a huge part
0:03:36 > 0:03:40in the history of Llanelli Rugby Football Club. A lot of the players worked in the industries.
0:03:40 > 0:03:43When I was a young boy growing up, going to watch the Scarlets,
0:03:43 > 0:03:46because they were my heroes, people worked in the steel industry,
0:03:46 > 0:03:50there were miners coming from the Gwendraeth Valley and other parts of West Wales
0:03:50 > 0:03:54who played for the club, men worked in the tinplate industry,
0:03:54 > 0:03:58the docks were strong in Llanelli in those days, so it was very much
0:03:58 > 0:04:02a working-class town and very much a working-class club, I believe.
0:04:06 > 0:04:12You know, it was full-on, in terms of work.
0:04:12 > 0:04:14There was full employment, and a lot of expendable income,
0:04:14 > 0:04:16and a lot of beer drunk.
0:04:16 > 0:04:18But the town had a different feel,
0:04:18 > 0:04:20it was a very emotional,
0:04:20 > 0:04:24very in-your-face, hard-working town.
0:04:24 > 0:04:27And rugby, really, was, without a doubt,
0:04:27 > 0:04:31as far as I'm concerned, it was the heartbeat of the town.
0:04:35 > 0:04:38It was a very homely club,
0:04:38 > 0:04:41a very Welsh club, in them days.
0:04:41 > 0:04:43A lot of us spoke Welsh,
0:04:43 > 0:04:47most of us, and Llanelli town itself
0:04:47 > 0:04:50was a working man's town in them days.
0:04:50 > 0:04:52Of course, it's altered a lot now.
0:04:52 > 0:04:55But 40, 50 years ago, it was a working man's game
0:04:55 > 0:04:59and everybody looked forward to Saturday afternoon,
0:04:59 > 0:05:02to spend the afternoon at Stradey Park.
0:05:06 > 0:05:08It was a religion.
0:05:08 > 0:05:10There was nothing else.
0:05:10 > 0:05:12Yes, we had religion on a Sunday, but on Saturday,
0:05:12 > 0:05:14there was only one religion - that was rugby.
0:05:16 > 0:05:19I lived about a mile and a half, two miles from Stradey Park.
0:05:19 > 0:05:22My father would take me to the game as a young boy,
0:05:22 > 0:05:25never catch a bus, always walked down the railway line where
0:05:25 > 0:05:30the Gwendraeth Valley coal used to come, down to parts of Llanelli to be unloaded,
0:05:30 > 0:05:32and we walked down the railway line
0:05:32 > 0:05:34and there'd be hundreds of supporters walking to Stradey Park.
0:05:34 > 0:05:37And it'd be full of guys who had just finished work,
0:05:37 > 0:05:41with their working clothes on and going straight to the game.
0:05:41 > 0:05:43And you felt, gosh, these guys didn't have time
0:05:43 > 0:05:47to go home to change, these men, these great men. And I thought they were great men.
0:06:13 > 0:06:15I remember when I went into industry as a young man,
0:06:15 > 0:06:19as an apprentice welder-fabricator.
0:06:19 > 0:06:23Heavy industry stopped in Llanelli, with the likes of Duport Steelworks
0:06:23 > 0:06:25and all the car plants and everything here.
0:06:25 > 0:06:27Now it's very, very difficult to find work.
0:06:27 > 0:06:32We all consider that heavy industry finishes in Port Talbot.
0:06:32 > 0:06:36Those who are in work in Llanelli still stick to our guns
0:06:36 > 0:06:40because of heavy industry. Heavy industry is in our blood,
0:06:40 > 0:06:42rugby is in our blood.
0:06:45 > 0:06:48Llanelli has always been synonymous with rugby.
0:06:48 > 0:06:51I hear people talk about them
0:06:51 > 0:06:56going away to rugby countries throughout the world,
0:06:56 > 0:06:59and not only do you mention the Scarlets
0:06:59 > 0:07:02and they know who you're talking about, you mention Stradey Park
0:07:02 > 0:07:05and they know what you're talking about.
0:07:07 > 0:07:09And every town, no matter how big, how small,
0:07:09 > 0:07:13needs something to grab hold of. And I feel that Llanelli itself
0:07:13 > 0:07:15has that in its past,
0:07:15 > 0:07:18which is something we, as Turks -
0:07:18 > 0:07:22call us whatever you like - Scarlets, we still hold on to that.
0:07:38 > 0:07:40I can remember the first touring game I saw,
0:07:40 > 0:07:43when the All Blacks actually played Llanelli,
0:07:43 > 0:07:46I'd have been 11 years old, 12,
0:07:46 > 0:07:50and any touring match in the town was a huge occasion.
0:07:50 > 0:07:52Industry in the town
0:07:52 > 0:07:54would actually close.
0:07:54 > 0:07:56And they usually were Tuesday afternoon games,
0:07:56 > 0:07:58and all the schools were marched down.
0:07:58 > 0:08:02And I was one of my school that actually came down, and they...
0:08:02 > 0:08:06in front of the stand in those days,
0:08:06 > 0:08:11they'd put planks down on beer crates and we'd all sit around.
0:08:13 > 0:08:15'That looks useful. And it's there!'
0:08:15 > 0:08:21And from that day on, it was obvious to me that my sporting ambition
0:08:21 > 0:08:24was to have a chance to do something like that and belong to that.
0:08:24 > 0:08:27'Delme Thomas is always in the thick of things,
0:08:27 > 0:08:31'and still plenty of fire left in this Llanelli seven. Colin Meads.'
0:08:31 > 0:08:34That was a great experience to me, you know,
0:08:34 > 0:08:39playing against the world-renowned forward pack.
0:08:39 > 0:08:43Colin Meads, Stan Meads, Wilson Whineray,
0:08:43 > 0:08:46Brian Lochore, Kelvin Tremain
0:08:46 > 0:08:48and Waka Nathan.
0:08:48 > 0:08:52It's a great rugby nation, they are mad about rugby.
0:08:52 > 0:08:54The same as we are in Wales.
0:08:54 > 0:08:58They worked on farms, farmers, and worked in freezing works
0:08:58 > 0:09:01and things in New Zealand.
0:09:01 > 0:09:05They were hard physically, naturally hard men, you know.
0:09:05 > 0:09:07'And Nathan's there!'
0:09:07 > 0:09:10Unless you've played against a New Zealand side,
0:09:10 > 0:09:12you've never played rugby, you know.
0:09:12 > 0:09:17I know the South Africans and Australians, there are some great players there,
0:09:17 > 0:09:21but if people ask me, "What's the greatest rugby nation in the world?",
0:09:21 > 0:09:25I always say New Zealand, the All Blacks.
0:09:25 > 0:09:31'Beautiful long pass... And up comes Dick on the right.
0:09:31 > 0:09:36'Jones just short of the line... And it's another try! Malcolm Dick.'
0:09:39 > 0:09:41Llanelli had never beaten the All Blacks, no,
0:09:41 > 0:09:43but they'd done exceptionally well.
0:09:43 > 0:09:46The Springboks, we lost 10-9 in...
0:09:46 > 0:09:49two years previous to that, in '66.
0:09:49 > 0:09:53The Scarlets beat Australia.
0:09:53 > 0:09:58And from that point of view, they had a history of
0:09:58 > 0:10:02being able to beat touring sides, but had never beaten the All Blacks.
0:10:02 > 0:10:06'Dennis Thomas... Having a go for the break...
0:10:08 > 0:10:11'He's running in from the inside.
0:10:11 > 0:10:13'Three yards to go. Can he get there?
0:10:13 > 0:10:16'What a try! What a score!'
0:10:16 > 0:10:19CHEERING
0:10:20 > 0:10:23'That's what the crowd here at Stradey Park
0:10:23 > 0:10:25'have been waiting for all afternoon!'
0:10:46 > 0:10:49Well, it was very special, seeing a team like the All Blacks
0:10:49 > 0:10:52come to Stradey Park. Well, they'd always held in order...
0:10:52 > 0:10:56the British Lions had been out there
0:10:56 > 0:11:00in '71, and the first team ever to win a series out there,
0:11:00 > 0:11:04and then Carwyn James, the Lions and the Llanelli coach,
0:11:04 > 0:11:07lived next door, so it was a really special day for me.
0:11:11 > 0:11:14Touring teams these days only come over to play international games,
0:11:14 > 0:11:17they don't play any club games.
0:11:17 > 0:11:20That was a special era, when they came on tour for about three months
0:11:20 > 0:11:23at a time, and you don't get that any more,
0:11:23 > 0:11:27and I think rugby's more the poorer for it.
0:11:34 > 0:11:37They WERE my heroes.
0:11:37 > 0:11:38Roger Davies at full-back,
0:11:38 > 0:11:41Andy Hill, JJ Williams on the wings,
0:11:41 > 0:11:44Roy Bergiers, Ray Gravell,
0:11:44 > 0:11:47Phil Bennett, Chico Hopkins,
0:11:47 > 0:11:53then we had Barry Llewellyn,
0:11:53 > 0:11:56Roy Thomas, Tony Crocker,
0:11:56 > 0:11:59Delme Thomas - captain,
0:11:59 > 0:12:02Derek Quinnell, Hefin Jenkins,
0:12:02 > 0:12:05Gareth Jenkins, and Tommy David.
0:12:05 > 0:12:07I think I got them all right!
0:12:09 > 0:12:12The All Blacks weren't invincible
0:12:12 > 0:12:16and the Llanelli coach, Carwyn James, knew that.
0:12:16 > 0:12:19Under him, the British and Irish Lions had given New Zealand
0:12:19 > 0:12:24a mauling the previous year. This charming and entirely inspiring man
0:12:24 > 0:12:28knew that history can repeat itself.
0:12:31 > 0:12:32We felt ever so proud that Carwyn
0:12:32 > 0:12:36had achieved that goal of beating the All Blacks
0:12:36 > 0:12:37in their own backyard,
0:12:37 > 0:12:41and to have him as coach, he brought a new dimension.
0:12:41 > 0:12:45I can remember him saying, "It's our centenary, boys, but there's one game that matters
0:12:45 > 0:12:48"above everything - the All Blacks, and we've got to beat the All Blacks."
0:12:48 > 0:12:51I was working in the steel industry and, believe me,
0:12:51 > 0:12:54the excitement was there for a year before that game.
0:12:54 > 0:12:56"The All Blacks! Do you think we've got a chance?
0:12:56 > 0:12:58"I hear Carwyn thinks we can beat them.
0:12:58 > 0:13:01"Oh, God, we are going to beat them, aren't we?!" It was terrifying!
0:13:01 > 0:13:05And again, and again!
0:13:05 > 0:13:07That's better! Close on him, Gareth.
0:13:07 > 0:13:10'His first training session back....'
0:13:10 > 0:13:11Eyes on the ball!
0:13:11 > 0:13:15'..in August, and I'll never forget him saying, "Right,
0:13:15 > 0:13:20"We've had our opportunity as Lions, it's going to be our top opportunity now as Llanelli.
0:13:20 > 0:13:23"We can beat the All Blacks.
0:13:23 > 0:13:27"This is going to be eight weeks of focus, different level of training."
0:13:27 > 0:13:31Ready!
0:13:31 > 0:13:32'Good one...'
0:13:32 > 0:13:34WHISTLE BLOWS
0:13:34 > 0:13:35'Thank you, well done...'
0:13:37 > 0:13:39He knew how to beat the All Blacks.
0:13:39 > 0:13:41He knew where their weakness was,
0:13:41 > 0:13:42because the idea was to go out there
0:13:42 > 0:13:45and try and run them off the park, try and spread the ball.
0:13:45 > 0:13:48He thought they'd be weak, playing 50-mile rugby against them,
0:13:48 > 0:13:50that they were very forward orientated.
0:13:50 > 0:13:51'Bend the knees...
0:13:51 > 0:13:54'Straighten your knees.
0:13:54 > 0:13:56'You'll get that forward thrust then, OK?
0:13:56 > 0:13:59'Just bend them slightly, down you go.'
0:13:59 > 0:14:01One thing I'll always remember
0:14:01 > 0:14:04Carwyn James saying on many occasions,
0:14:04 > 0:14:08"Always remember one thing - one pass beats 15 players."
0:14:08 > 0:14:11He loved the expansive game, he loved the ball in open space,
0:14:11 > 0:14:15and Llanelli had the quality players to actually fulfil all that.
0:14:15 > 0:14:17But that ball would go in and he'd be counting.
0:14:17 > 0:14:22One, two, three, four, five...
0:14:22 > 0:14:28But Carwyn had thought things through and he just gave you belief.
0:14:28 > 0:14:32At one point here, boys, once that scrum is going forward,
0:14:32 > 0:14:34'and once you see that the drive is on,
0:14:34 > 0:14:38'you can step back, ready to pounce, OK?'
0:14:40 > 0:14:42'Ready!'
0:14:42 > 0:14:47He talked to you nicely, leading up before it, playing other games.
0:14:47 > 0:14:52"Roy, come on, now," if I wasn't playing, you know?
0:14:52 > 0:14:56He wouldn't swear, or nothing like that. He was such a lovely man.
0:14:57 > 0:15:01They must be creative within your side.
0:15:01 > 0:15:04This is the reason why I always preach the gospel,
0:15:04 > 0:15:07but it's up to the coach to make absolutely certain
0:15:07 > 0:15:10that the basics are right, that the habits are right.
0:15:10 > 0:15:14But then, when it comes to ploys, tactics, moves -
0:15:14 > 0:15:17the mix, if you want to call it that -
0:15:17 > 0:15:22then I feel, let the boys have the chance to develop
0:15:22 > 0:15:24on any ideas that they have,
0:15:24 > 0:15:29and in this way, I think that they're just as creative as I am
0:15:29 > 0:15:32and they are contributing, they know they're contributing,
0:15:32 > 0:15:34and they are enjoying the process.
0:15:34 > 0:15:36'Well, he was intellectual.
0:15:36 > 0:15:41'And he had a lot of faith in his players,
0:15:41 > 0:15:43'but sometimes, he'd walk on the field'
0:15:43 > 0:15:45with a suit on, cigarette, and just go,
0:15:45 > 0:15:48"Good, good," but he'd watch and he'd look
0:15:48 > 0:15:50and stand back, and if he saw weakness, he'd work on that weakness,
0:15:50 > 0:15:53but what he'd want to do is encourage you to express yourself,
0:15:53 > 0:15:55and that's all he was saying to us all the time,
0:15:55 > 0:15:58"Concentrate, concentrate. Express yourselves."
0:15:58 > 0:16:00He put the onus on you.
0:16:00 > 0:16:04Carwyn was ahead of the game. He had it all in place.
0:16:04 > 0:16:07He knew what he wanted, he knew what was needed.
0:16:07 > 0:16:12And he brought us all to the boil at the right time.
0:16:12 > 0:16:15And you had to wait to see if you were going to get picked, you know?
0:16:15 > 0:16:17Even people like Phil Bennett tell me... Yeah, they were certs,
0:16:17 > 0:16:22but they still wanted to be made sure on our selection date, you know?
0:16:22 > 0:16:26The team selected is Roger at fullback,
0:16:26 > 0:16:29Andy and John on the wings,
0:16:29 > 0:16:31Roy and Ray in the centre,
0:16:31 > 0:16:35Phil and Chico at halfback,
0:16:35 > 0:16:39Barry Llewellyn, Roy Thomas and Tony in the front row.
0:16:39 > 0:16:42The second row, Del and Derek,
0:16:42 > 0:16:48and the back row, Gareth, Hefin and Tommy David.
0:16:48 > 0:16:52And when the name Tom David came out against New Zealand,
0:16:52 > 0:16:55I felt like jumping through the ceiling.
0:16:55 > 0:16:57So that, in itself, was brilliant.
0:16:57 > 0:17:01I'm now in the actual side who's going to play against New Zealand.
0:17:01 > 0:17:04MARCHING MUSIC
0:17:23 > 0:17:26But I can always remember getting up the morning of the game.
0:17:26 > 0:17:30I lived in a small little village, Felinfoel,
0:17:30 > 0:17:34I lived in a terraced house, got up as usual, you know,
0:17:34 > 0:17:37went to the paper shop across the road, 50 yards,
0:17:37 > 0:17:40and I couldn't believe it. People, my friends in the village, were,
0:17:40 > 0:17:42"Hello, Phil, everything all right?"
0:17:42 > 0:17:44And they were very quiet. They were nervous.
0:17:44 > 0:17:47They were almost shy, and I got in the paper shop
0:17:47 > 0:17:48and I knew a couple of the boys there,
0:17:48 > 0:17:51"Oh, Phil - all the best today," shook my hand,
0:17:51 > 0:17:53and I went out, I thought, "God,
0:17:53 > 0:17:56"there's something special going on here today."
0:17:56 > 0:18:01On the day, I've never felt so nervous in all my life.
0:18:01 > 0:18:03I've never felt emotions like it,
0:18:03 > 0:18:08and as much as it was a big occasion and we were all focusing on it,
0:18:08 > 0:18:11we were prepared for it, the whole thing was completely different.
0:18:11 > 0:18:14It was like, "Something different's happening here,"
0:18:14 > 0:18:17there were thousands of people everywhere.
0:18:28 > 0:18:32On that great day, getting up at about five o'clock in the morning
0:18:32 > 0:18:35to start work by six, so we could have time off
0:18:35 > 0:18:39to go to the game and, generally, the atmosphere of the day.
0:18:39 > 0:18:43Obviously, none of us made it back to work that day,
0:18:43 > 0:18:46but it was well worth the effort.
0:18:49 > 0:18:52It was a working-class team and everybody appreciated
0:18:52 > 0:18:56what the boys did because they did it for the love of it, you know?
0:18:56 > 0:18:59There were no big payments or anything,
0:18:59 > 0:19:00or they weren't professionals.
0:19:02 > 0:19:05It was just their love that drove them to do what they did.
0:19:06 > 0:19:10I won't experience that again, I don't think.
0:19:10 > 0:19:13I think if I did, it would be a bonus, you know?
0:19:13 > 0:19:15But I don't think I will.
0:19:53 > 0:19:57Two hooks. Up. Big. Big.
0:19:57 > 0:20:00When, actually, we were going into work,
0:20:00 > 0:20:04the atmosphere was absolutely brilliant in town.
0:20:04 > 0:20:09By the time it came time for the match, the town had just emptied.
0:20:09 > 0:20:13I've never seen anything like it since
0:20:13 > 0:20:16and I don't think we'll ever see anything like it again and...
0:20:16 > 0:20:20I don't know. It's just one of those famous memories
0:20:20 > 0:20:23that stay in this town for good, I think.
0:20:26 > 0:20:30I think we assembled in Llanelli, in Stradey, about...
0:20:30 > 0:20:33I think it was 10:30 in the morning,
0:20:33 > 0:20:36and we went down to Ashburnham for lunch.
0:20:44 > 0:20:48What I used to do is, I used to have two or three raw eggs,
0:20:48 > 0:20:51I used to swallow raw eggs and, of course,
0:20:51 > 0:20:53that used to put the boys off their food,
0:20:53 > 0:20:57so I used to go under the table on my own often to do that
0:20:57 > 0:21:01and then join them after I'd swallowed my eggs, you know?
0:21:01 > 0:21:04Sherry - I used to have a drop of sherry in it, yes.
0:21:08 > 0:21:12He sent us all out, Carwyn, gulped down a bit of fresh air, cool down,
0:21:12 > 0:21:17because I think he'd realised we were peaking too early for this kickoff.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20You know, we were blowing our brains out, and we walked, got a bit of fresh air.
0:21:20 > 0:21:22But they were shaking then,
0:21:22 > 0:21:27as we know, by the talk given by the great man, Delme Thomas.
0:21:28 > 0:21:31Yes, I had to say a few words.
0:21:31 > 0:21:35I had to say what I expected of the boys, you know?
0:21:35 > 0:21:38Told them exactly how I felt
0:21:38 > 0:21:42and that it was the greatest honour in my rugby career
0:21:42 > 0:21:45to lead Llanelli on that day.
0:21:45 > 0:21:50And I'd been fortunate enough, I'd been on three Lions tours
0:21:50 > 0:21:52and won, what, 25, 26 Welsh cups,
0:21:52 > 0:21:55and I said, "I'd give it all away," I said,
0:21:55 > 0:21:57"just to win this game today."
0:21:58 > 0:22:02Here was a man saying, "I'd give it all up for my club."
0:22:02 > 0:22:04He was Llanelli through and through.
0:22:04 > 0:22:06Only knew one club, only knew one badge.
0:22:06 > 0:22:10Such a working-class man, but yet a great man, a modest man,
0:22:10 > 0:22:12but he's coming out with words I'd never heard that day
0:22:12 > 0:22:15and pointing to every player, going round...
0:22:15 > 0:22:19I mean, Ray Gravell was crying like a baby. Gareth Jenkins was pumped up.
0:22:19 > 0:22:25He'd come round when he was giving it and he'd be looking at you.
0:22:25 > 0:22:26And then he'd go...
0:22:28 > 0:22:29And the head would...
0:22:31 > 0:22:35He was on fire, like, do you know what I mean? Ah, marvellous.
0:22:35 > 0:22:38And we wouldn't let him down. Wouldn't let him down.
0:22:47 > 0:22:52We were all told that we were going down to watch a rugby game.
0:22:54 > 0:22:58As a football fanatic, I had no interest in going down to Stradey that day,
0:22:58 > 0:23:01the weather wasn't very nice. So, we walked down to Stradey.
0:23:03 > 0:23:06I remember loads and loads and loads of cars.
0:23:06 > 0:23:08Everybody was going in one direction.
0:23:08 > 0:23:10It was a mass exodus of people going somewhere.
0:23:10 > 0:23:13I didn't know where they were going, cos I just didn't know,
0:23:13 > 0:23:17but we all went there, and it was just throngs of people everywhere.
0:23:17 > 0:23:19Red and white, red and white everywhere.
0:23:19 > 0:23:24And I remember that we got to the ground
0:23:24 > 0:23:27and there was benches laid out behind the goalposts
0:23:27 > 0:23:31and there was this massive roar, massive suck of air,
0:23:31 > 0:23:33I was just like, "What's happening here?"
0:23:33 > 0:23:36And that was my introduction to Llanelli rugby.
0:23:49 > 0:23:53We got on the coach to Stradey Park and there was no doubt,
0:23:53 > 0:23:55there was no laughing or joking or singing.
0:23:55 > 0:23:57There was a lot of tension.
0:23:57 > 0:24:01People could hear a pin drop and as we got closer to Stradey Park,
0:24:01 > 0:24:06then you see the crowds gathering and the tension got higher.
0:24:06 > 0:24:12As we were coming into Stradey Park, we were slowing up about a quarter of a mile from the ground,
0:24:12 > 0:24:14and looking at these supporters walking in
0:24:14 > 0:24:16and they were looking into the coach
0:24:16 > 0:24:19and they were saying, "Please win today. We are behind you today,"
0:24:19 > 0:24:22and there was almost an eerie, frightening silence
0:24:22 > 0:24:24about the way they were looking at us,
0:24:24 > 0:24:28the way they wanted us to win that day, and I just thought,
0:24:28 > 0:24:31"God. They think we're going to win today."
0:24:44 > 0:24:47We walked in the dressing rooms and we'd think, "Oh, we're flying high here,"
0:24:47 > 0:24:49and they get into the dressing room -
0:24:49 > 0:24:52we're there before the All Blacks -
0:24:52 > 0:24:54and I remember standing on the stool, on the bench,
0:24:54 > 0:24:57looking out of those little windows at Stradey Park and saw them pull up.
0:24:57 > 0:25:01Wow. Dour-looking men. The black blazers.
0:25:01 > 0:25:05Mm. They're dour guys. This is serious stuff.
0:25:05 > 0:25:07Grav had fantastic humour.
0:25:07 > 0:25:10He was the life and soul of the changing rooms,
0:25:10 > 0:25:12full of drama and full of emotion,
0:25:12 > 0:25:15but on that day, Grav wasn't as noisy as he can be.
0:25:15 > 0:25:17I think he realised himself.
0:25:17 > 0:25:22And the both of us, in the changing rooms before the game,
0:25:22 > 0:25:26were stood on the benches with the small windows in the changing room
0:25:26 > 0:25:30and we both were up on the benches watching the All Blacks arriving.
0:25:30 > 0:25:32He was nudging me and I was nudging him, saying,
0:25:32 > 0:25:35"Look at the size of them! Look at the size of them!
0:25:35 > 0:25:39"Look at them," he said. "Look at them!"
0:25:39 > 0:25:41And we were both in awe and we were both looking at them
0:25:41 > 0:25:43as if we were supporters, you know?
0:25:43 > 0:25:48"Grav, we're going to be playing against these now! In 20 minutes!"
0:25:48 > 0:25:49"Oh, gee - look at the size of them!"
0:25:51 > 0:25:54Only our best will do today. Our very best.
0:25:54 > 0:25:57Cos I don't want them to get the initial advantage,
0:25:57 > 0:26:01any psychological advantage, in those first few minutes.
0:26:01 > 0:26:03OK, is that perfectly clear?
0:26:03 > 0:26:04I can't remember anything about it.
0:26:04 > 0:26:07All I can remember about that game is coming out of the tunnel
0:26:07 > 0:26:09before the game and it was black.
0:26:09 > 0:26:13Dark clouds, everything was cold and windy.
0:26:13 > 0:26:16It was like going to a funeral, not to a game.
0:26:18 > 0:26:20CROWD SING INDISTINCTLY
0:26:24 > 0:26:27By the time we got out to have a photograph, it was just...
0:26:27 > 0:26:30well, like a cathedral of noise.
0:26:32 > 0:26:34CROWD SING INDISTINCTLY
0:26:45 > 0:26:49Everyone was packed into that stadium, so we sat and had that photograph
0:26:49 > 0:26:52and back in the dressing room went, "This was something big."
0:26:52 > 0:26:55The boys weren't sitting down, or nothing like that.
0:26:55 > 0:26:58They were going into the toilet, banging.
0:26:58 > 0:27:00They were excited, you know what I mean?
0:27:00 > 0:27:03We couldn't wait to get out in the field.
0:27:03 > 0:27:05And this is your one chance -
0:27:05 > 0:27:07only one chance you're ever going to have in your life -
0:27:07 > 0:27:10to beat the All Blacks in your own back yard.
0:27:10 > 0:27:13- CARWYN JAMES:- You should be fully emotional inside you,
0:27:13 > 0:27:15but at the same time, when you go out there,
0:27:15 > 0:27:18your brain must be ice cold.
0:27:18 > 0:27:21We've got to do a clinical job this afternoon. A clinical job.
0:27:23 > 0:27:26We're going to win this game.
0:27:26 > 0:27:28Now, think about it. Think about it.
0:27:32 > 0:27:35When they ran out of there, they must have thought,
0:27:35 > 0:27:37where the hell were they?
0:27:37 > 0:27:41Stradey was small, compact, full of emotion and, Christ,
0:27:41 > 0:27:45there was only one team that the whole crowd was supporting, that was us.
0:27:45 > 0:27:47CROWD ROARS
0:27:59 > 0:28:03You know, it was electric on the field, like.
0:28:03 > 0:28:09And when they were doing the haka and all that, of course I clapped.
0:28:11 > 0:28:14Of course, I got a row after the game.
0:28:14 > 0:28:17Carwyn came on to me and said, "Rory, we don't clap,"
0:28:17 > 0:28:19but I liked the haka.
0:28:25 > 0:28:28We were so revved up for that game, it wasn't true,
0:28:28 > 0:28:32simply because of the atmosphere of the game and how important it was.
0:28:32 > 0:28:34We were all ten-foot tall going on to that field.
0:28:38 > 0:28:40We looked across the field and saw them.
0:28:40 > 0:28:43The All Blacks were actually playing us,
0:28:43 > 0:28:45Kirkpatrick and those guys, you know?
0:28:45 > 0:28:49You heard about these guys, these were the superstars of world rugby.
0:28:49 > 0:28:53We're actually on the field against them. But here we go.
0:28:56 > 0:28:59CROWD ROARS
0:29:01 > 0:29:05Carwyn had made us realise, you know, that we had to be brave.
0:29:05 > 0:29:08To win this game, it wasn't about outplaying them,
0:29:08 > 0:29:10it was about being brave enough to live in the intimidation
0:29:10 > 0:29:12that they were going to bring to the game.
0:29:16 > 0:29:20You had to be able to deal with kicking after kicking after kicking
0:29:20 > 0:29:22and not necessarily on your back -
0:29:22 > 0:29:25on your elbows, on your knees, on your ankles -
0:29:25 > 0:29:27any vulnerable spot on your body,
0:29:27 > 0:29:29if they had an opportunity, they'd stamp on it.
0:29:29 > 0:29:33- COMMENTATOR:- Delme Thomas in possession, Llanelli's captain.
0:29:33 > 0:29:37This is Quinnell burrowing away, the two working well together.
0:29:40 > 0:29:43And from Murdoch, of course, the use of the boot,
0:29:43 > 0:29:47and I wonder whether British referees, including Mr Titcomb,
0:29:47 > 0:29:49are going to stand for that.
0:29:49 > 0:29:51It's brutal and we don't like to see it here.
0:29:51 > 0:29:52A major part was the rucking,
0:29:52 > 0:29:54because they were so physically strong.
0:29:54 > 0:29:57You know, they'd rip the ball out of the rucks
0:29:57 > 0:30:00and they'd go in there, and they'd have no qualms
0:30:00 > 0:30:01about putting their boot in
0:30:01 > 0:30:04and walking over you, or stepping on you, or whatever.
0:30:04 > 0:30:06It was brought up in their game.
0:30:06 > 0:30:10I mean, if you were on the deck at the rucking... Oh, God, alive!
0:30:10 > 0:30:14'..Sutherland for the All Blacks. Quinnell coming away. Hopkins.
0:30:14 > 0:30:16'And it could come very, very late.
0:30:16 > 0:30:17'It could come very, very late.'
0:30:17 > 0:30:19'I got laid out in the game.
0:30:19 > 0:30:22'I can't remember too much about that, but I've seen it on the film.
0:30:22 > 0:30:23'Very physical.'
0:30:23 > 0:30:24CROWD BOOS
0:30:24 > 0:30:28'It was just non-stop.
0:30:28 > 0:30:30'But we did live with it, you know.
0:30:30 > 0:30:32'And I think we grew with it,
0:30:32 > 0:30:34'and I think they couldn't deal with the fact'
0:30:34 > 0:30:38that they weren't dominating us.
0:30:38 > 0:30:40And we weren't taking a backward step
0:30:40 > 0:30:42in terms of the physical encounter.
0:30:42 > 0:30:47'This is Barry Llewellyn, giving the New Zealanders a taste of him.
0:30:47 > 0:30:50'Quinnell in possession for Llanelli.
0:30:50 > 0:30:53'Llanelli are giving New Zealand plenty of brute force,
0:30:53 > 0:30:54'and there goes the boot.'
0:30:54 > 0:30:57The boys, you could see it in their faces, you know?
0:30:57 > 0:31:01And I could hear, when I was going in the scrum,
0:31:01 > 0:31:04I could hear Grav speaking in Welsh, see?
0:31:04 > 0:31:07But I could understand what he was saying. He was saying in Welsh,
0:31:07 > 0:31:11"Shunto!" You know what I mean? "You get that ball!"
0:31:11 > 0:31:14'On this side for New Zealand is Graham Whiting from King Country,
0:31:14 > 0:31:16'where Colin Meads used to perform so admirably.
0:31:16 > 0:31:19'To Tom David...'
0:31:19 > 0:31:21'The big thing was, I think we gained the respect
0:31:21 > 0:31:23'of the All Blacks' pack.'
0:31:23 > 0:31:24After ten minutes, they thought,
0:31:24 > 0:31:27"These boys ain't going to take this all afternoon.
0:31:27 > 0:31:28"They're giving it back to us."
0:31:32 > 0:31:34'Delme Thomas up high.
0:31:34 > 0:31:36'Good for Llanelli.
0:31:38 > 0:31:41'Scown had stepped back beyond the end of the line.
0:31:42 > 0:31:46'So this is the Scarlets' first chance for points.'
0:31:48 > 0:31:50I think it was at ten past three.
0:31:51 > 0:31:55That's been one of the greatest moments of my life,
0:31:55 > 0:31:57and I've got wonderful memories of it.
0:31:57 > 0:32:00'The dot by the ball is the ten-yard line. Bated breath.'
0:32:02 > 0:32:05CROWD ROARS
0:32:08 > 0:32:11'The cross bar! There's a try!'
0:32:11 > 0:32:15CROWD ROARS
0:32:19 > 0:32:22'Roy Bergiers is the happy man.
0:32:22 > 0:32:25'who puts the Scarlets into the lead
0:32:25 > 0:32:28'after just two minutes of the game.
0:32:28 > 0:32:30'Llanelli - 4, New Zealand - 0.'
0:32:33 > 0:32:37In fact, I've still got visions of it
0:32:37 > 0:32:40in my mind in slow motion.
0:32:44 > 0:32:48The ball went forward and it was just there in front of me,
0:32:48 > 0:32:52saying, "Come and get me!"
0:32:52 > 0:32:55Running back, disbelief, in a way, that we'd been given
0:32:55 > 0:32:59that opportunity, and we were in the lead,
0:32:59 > 0:33:01and I thought then,
0:33:01 > 0:33:03"Right, now the battle starts!"
0:33:03 > 0:33:07'Roy Bergiers is the happy man
0:33:07 > 0:33:11'who puts the Scarlets into the lead
0:33:11 > 0:33:13'after just two minutes of the game.
0:33:13 > 0:33:14'Llanelli - 4, New Zealand - 0.
0:33:14 > 0:33:18'Bennett's hit the cross bar with his penalty attempt.
0:33:18 > 0:33:21'If he puts this over, Llanelli will be six up.
0:33:21 > 0:33:23- 'He does.' - CROWD ROARS
0:33:39 > 0:33:42When I said to my husband, "God, I was there!"
0:33:42 > 0:33:43"No, you weren't," he said.
0:33:43 > 0:33:45"You were babysitting. I was there."
0:33:45 > 0:33:47And, well, that's how I felt. As if I was there.
0:33:47 > 0:33:49I even said I was behind the post,
0:33:49 > 0:33:52so I must have had a marvellous imagination at 20 years of age!
0:33:52 > 0:33:54But it was absolutely brilliant, yes.
0:34:02 > 0:34:04We still talk about it as if it was yesterday.
0:34:04 > 0:34:07I'm still proud to say that I thought I was there.
0:34:12 > 0:34:16'I was 16 years old, studying for my O-levels,'
0:34:16 > 0:34:20and they wanted somebody who was good at maths,
0:34:20 > 0:34:24and that's how I got involved in operating the scoreboard.
0:34:24 > 0:34:28I remember vividly the ball coming in,
0:34:28 > 0:34:31and we were just about getting ready
0:34:31 > 0:34:34to put the three points into the scoreboard when, lo and behold,
0:34:34 > 0:34:37the ball hit the crossbar,
0:34:37 > 0:34:40from which the try was scored.
0:35:15 > 0:35:17'What a great start, then, at Stradey.
0:35:17 > 0:35:21'New Zealand have been full of errors and butterflies,
0:35:21 > 0:35:25'and the singing of the crowd here before the game was tremendous.
0:35:25 > 0:35:29'And even the All Blacks must be affected by it.
0:35:29 > 0:35:33'They've made two serious mistakes. Offside.
0:35:33 > 0:35:37'Peter Whiting is the All Black involved...'
0:35:37 > 0:35:40A New Zealand penalty had put the visitors back in the game.
0:35:40 > 0:35:43But Llanelli were still ahead.
0:35:43 > 0:35:46Now, Phil Bennett changed the tactics.
0:35:46 > 0:35:49The small man from Felinfoel took command
0:35:49 > 0:35:51and pinned the All Blacks back.
0:35:51 > 0:35:54'Benny, Phil Bennett, he was the General behind the scrum.
0:35:54 > 0:35:56'They hadn't seen anything like Phil Bennett,
0:35:56 > 0:35:58'and they didn't expect anything like it,
0:35:58 > 0:36:00'to be honest with you,'
0:36:00 > 0:36:02because Barry John had retired.
0:36:02 > 0:36:04He was a great player in '71.
0:36:04 > 0:36:08But Phil Bennett to me, again, stood up to them
0:36:08 > 0:36:12and controlled the game exceptionally well.
0:36:12 > 0:36:14'New Zealand's ten-yard line, number 25.
0:36:14 > 0:36:16'Six at the back for New Zealand is Scown.
0:36:16 > 0:36:18'Eight, just in front of him, is Sutherland.
0:36:18 > 0:36:22'Eight on Llanelli's side, in the white shorts, is Kevin Jenkins.
0:36:22 > 0:36:25'Quinnell feeds. Bennett, he's going to test Colling.
0:36:31 > 0:36:33'Great work by Llanelli.
0:36:33 > 0:36:38'Hopkins, Bennett, Roger Davies, is up with Hales...'
0:36:41 > 0:36:43The game was running Llanelli's way.
0:36:43 > 0:36:47The All Blacks, who hated losing, really felt the frustration.
0:36:47 > 0:36:50'Back in the middle of the field, there's quite a scrap going on.
0:36:50 > 0:36:53'A private scrap involving Keith Murdoch.'
0:36:56 > 0:36:58All Blacks' prop Keith Murdoch
0:36:58 > 0:37:01was the hard-drinking, hard-hitting enforcer
0:37:01 > 0:37:04who didn't follow the rugby rules.
0:37:06 > 0:37:08'Ah, he was brutal! I can remember him...'
0:37:08 > 0:37:11I think he beat Gareth Jenkins up to a pulp.
0:37:11 > 0:37:13Both Gareth's eyes were closed.
0:37:14 > 0:37:16I think, you know, he took offence
0:37:16 > 0:37:19on a couple of other Llanelli forwards.
0:37:19 > 0:37:22First scrum of the second half, oh, my God!
0:37:22 > 0:37:25Down, went to put my hand there,
0:37:25 > 0:37:27as I did, my arm was pulled back.
0:37:27 > 0:37:31Murdoch, the prop, turned round,
0:37:31 > 0:37:34and just whacked me out cold.
0:37:34 > 0:37:36Just knocked me out. Scrum broke up,
0:37:36 > 0:37:38off everybody went.
0:37:38 > 0:37:41I'm on the floor, nobody seen it.
0:37:41 > 0:37:42Anyway, I was on the floor,
0:37:42 > 0:37:44didn't know whether I was coming or going,
0:37:44 > 0:37:46Delme came over then
0:37:46 > 0:37:49and he had a little bit of a lisp in his conversation...
0:37:49 > 0:37:51- HE MIMICS DELME'S LISP - He's on his back!
0:37:51 > 0:37:53It must have taken me a couple of minutes, really,
0:37:53 > 0:37:56to get myself back together.
0:37:56 > 0:37:59So I succeeded in the first half in achieving the goal.
0:37:59 > 0:38:01In the second half, they sorted me out.
0:38:08 > 0:38:11When Keith Murdoch stepped on my head,
0:38:11 > 0:38:13and Joe Karam run up to me,
0:38:13 > 0:38:18and I looked up, and, er...
0:38:18 > 0:38:23I don't know, I said... I can't say what!
0:38:23 > 0:38:25But that just fired me up.
0:38:25 > 0:38:29And from there, I got up and went to the line out,
0:38:29 > 0:38:30but the crowd...
0:38:30 > 0:38:33HE CHUCKLES
0:38:33 > 0:38:36..were shouting on me! "Go on, Shunto!"
0:38:36 > 0:38:37You know what I mean?
0:38:37 > 0:38:40They were, you know, everybody was excited.
0:38:40 > 0:38:41You know, on fire.
0:38:41 > 0:38:43There'd been a ruck, got them all.
0:38:43 > 0:38:46I'm on my face, and I'm just getting up on my hands and knees,
0:38:46 > 0:38:48and Murdoch came up behind me
0:38:48 > 0:38:50and gave me the biggest kick up the backside.
0:38:50 > 0:38:52That really hurt.
0:38:52 > 0:38:55So I've gone down again, and as I'm getting up slowly,
0:38:55 > 0:38:56the ref went past and said,
0:38:56 > 0:38:59"Come on, I know you're trying to waste time."
0:38:59 > 0:39:01And I thought, "Waste time?! No!"
0:39:01 > 0:39:03My shorts were covered in blood in the dressing room.
0:39:03 > 0:39:06That's how hard he kicked me.
0:39:06 > 0:39:08Oh, he was a tough man.
0:39:08 > 0:39:09He was a tough man.
0:39:09 > 0:39:11And, you know, unfortunately,
0:39:11 > 0:39:14that didn't work for him in some respects,
0:39:14 > 0:39:17because he went home under a shadow eventually.
0:39:17 > 0:39:20He got into a little bit of nonsense,
0:39:20 > 0:39:23and he was sent home early.
0:39:23 > 0:39:26I think they felt, as a management team,
0:39:26 > 0:39:27he wasn't controllable.
0:39:27 > 0:39:30So they give him his passport and said, "You've got to go."
0:39:30 > 0:39:33And I don't think he ever got back to New Zealand.
0:39:33 > 0:39:36I think it ended up him getting off a plane in Australia
0:39:36 > 0:39:39and the story goes, he just went into the bush and that was the end of him.
0:39:39 > 0:39:42But he was a tough man. He was a seriously tough man.
0:39:53 > 0:39:56Llanelli were awarded a penalty.
0:39:56 > 0:40:00A kick that could change the score line to 9-3.
0:40:00 > 0:40:03A long kick. A long intake of breath.
0:40:07 > 0:40:09'Llanelli with bated breath.'
0:40:12 > 0:40:15CROWD ROARS
0:40:34 > 0:40:38'New Zealand have scored twice to win.'
0:40:41 > 0:40:45'Did you see Murdoch's boot?! What a disagreeable fellow!'
0:40:45 > 0:40:48'They got to the stage where they knew the game was slipping,'
0:40:48 > 0:40:52and they started to get frustrated, and then they started...
0:40:52 > 0:40:54well, you know, it erupted many times.
0:40:54 > 0:40:57'Scown is 25. A tap down done by Peter Whiting.
0:40:57 > 0:41:01'Here goes Mark Sayers. He's held up by Raymond Gravell.
0:41:01 > 0:41:04'Here goes Scown, 20 yards out from Llanelli's line.
0:41:04 > 0:41:07'It's Murdoch at it again, and he's...
0:41:07 > 0:41:11'At last, at last, he's been caught!'
0:41:11 > 0:41:12The All Blacks, I think, were panicking,
0:41:12 > 0:41:15because, "We've got to get points back on the board!"
0:41:15 > 0:41:18'Here goes Mark Sayers. Bergiers takes him.
0:41:18 > 0:41:21'He's made the transfer to Robertson.
0:41:21 > 0:41:23'Inside to Kirkpatrick.
0:41:23 > 0:41:25'Kirkpatrick hands off John Williams.
0:41:25 > 0:41:28'Tom David there for Llanelli. Desperate moments.'
0:41:28 > 0:41:31Because the last, say, 20 minutes, they came at us strong.
0:41:31 > 0:41:33There's no doubt about that.
0:41:33 > 0:41:36Because, like most games of rugby, defence wins you games,
0:41:36 > 0:41:38we'd tackled our ghoulies off. There's no doubt about that.
0:41:38 > 0:41:40'Llanelli in trouble. Roger Davies.
0:41:40 > 0:41:43'Makes the tackle.'
0:41:43 > 0:41:46It was about two minutes to go, or three minutes to go,
0:41:46 > 0:41:48and everybody was saying, "Get the ball up the field!
0:41:48 > 0:41:50"Get it out of the park," and all this and that.
0:41:50 > 0:41:53And I took a little bit too much into my own hands,
0:41:53 > 0:41:56and I went to kick instead of passing back to Phil,
0:41:56 > 0:41:59and I kicked it straight to Ian Kirkpatrick,
0:41:59 > 0:42:02who threw a long pass which was forward,
0:42:02 > 0:42:05and went into Batty's hand, and he run up the touchline,
0:42:05 > 0:42:07kicked over the full-back, and I thought,
0:42:07 > 0:42:10"Oh, God, he's going to score here! I'm going to be lynched!"
0:42:10 > 0:42:12Especially coming from my mistake.
0:42:12 > 0:42:14They would have won the game.
0:42:14 > 0:42:17'Llanelli put in on their own ten-yard line.
0:42:17 > 0:42:20'Hopkins' kick.
0:42:20 > 0:42:23'This is Sutherland, the big number eight.
0:42:23 > 0:42:28'Burgess takes him. Inside of Bruce Robertson. Peter Whiting.
0:42:28 > 0:42:30'It's over to Batty. One man to beat.
0:42:30 > 0:42:33'Llanelli must chase. And it's there.
0:42:33 > 0:42:35'Bennett has room to clear.'
0:42:35 > 0:42:37CROWD ROARS
0:42:37 > 0:42:39'Oh, what a great hook!'
0:42:39 > 0:42:41'I managed just to move my body one side.
0:42:41 > 0:42:43'Grant Batty came at me, and I just beat him.
0:42:43 > 0:42:44'And, to be honest with you,'
0:42:44 > 0:42:47I had no angle, but I kicked the ball, screw-kicked it,
0:42:47 > 0:42:49and I thought, "Oh, my goodness!"
0:42:49 > 0:42:51But Joe Karam was standing back there,
0:42:51 > 0:42:53and I thought, "He's going to counter-attack!"
0:42:53 > 0:42:55But the ball sort of swirled in
0:42:55 > 0:42:58and went to touch about 40m downfield.
0:42:58 > 0:43:03And we had a lineout and the touch judge was saying,
0:43:03 > 0:43:05"You've only got about a minute to go!"
0:43:05 > 0:43:07'A minute of injury time,
0:43:07 > 0:43:11'and I believe we're about to see history made at Stradey.
0:43:11 > 0:43:14'And we're about to see the seventh All Blacks going down to defeat.
0:43:14 > 0:43:16'Or are we? Here they go.
0:43:16 > 0:43:19'They know they're only seconds left. A ruck.
0:43:19 > 0:43:21'The service is good. Burgess.
0:43:21 > 0:43:23'And there's been an infringement.'
0:43:23 > 0:43:27And the ball was held by about 25,
0:43:27 > 0:43:29but we had it back,
0:43:29 > 0:43:32and kicked to touch, and it blew.
0:43:32 > 0:43:35'Roy Thomas does his stuff, together with Crocker and Llewellyn.
0:43:39 > 0:43:42- 'It's all over!' - CROWD ROARS
0:43:44 > 0:43:47'History has been made at Stradey Park.
0:43:47 > 0:43:50'What a tremendous moment for Llanelli,
0:43:50 > 0:43:54'for the Scarlets, in their centenary year.
0:43:54 > 0:43:57'A magnificent and thoroughly deserved victory
0:43:57 > 0:44:00'over Kirkpatrick's seventh All Blacks.'
0:44:19 > 0:44:22Yes, of course I remember it. It's stuck in your memory.
0:44:22 > 0:44:25It's embedded in your memory for life, as a Welshman.
0:44:25 > 0:44:27Especially being a Turk or Scarlet.
0:44:30 > 0:44:33The end of the game, then, this old gentleman came up to my dad
0:44:33 > 0:44:37and said, "Go on, take him on the field and see all the players."
0:44:37 > 0:44:39And you couldn't see the field
0:44:39 > 0:44:42because there was an X-thousand number of people on there already.
0:44:46 > 0:44:49That's something you don't forget very easy.
0:44:49 > 0:44:53I know the younger people around now, perhaps they don't remember it
0:44:53 > 0:45:00as well, but it was a day like when Kennedy got shot - you remember it.
0:45:16 > 0:45:17I couldn't move.
0:45:17 > 0:45:22I was engulfed and the whole team were engulfed by the rest
0:45:22 > 0:45:28of an unofficial team of supporters, the crowd just rushing on the field.
0:45:32 > 0:45:34Barry Llewellyn had this great idea.
0:45:34 > 0:45:37He said, "Come on. Let's carry Delme off."
0:45:38 > 0:45:40I didn't think it was a great idea.
0:45:40 > 0:45:44We'd just played 80 minutes against the All Blacks - I was cream-crackered.
0:45:44 > 0:45:46I thought, "God, I don't want to put Delme over my shoulder!
0:45:46 > 0:45:48"Come on, up you go."
0:45:48 > 0:45:50So we put him back on our shoulders and then it took us
0:45:50 > 0:45:52about half an hour to get to the dressing room
0:45:52 > 0:45:53because everybody was so lovely.
0:45:53 > 0:45:57So, we carried him all the way to the dressing room and Delme
0:45:57 > 0:46:01was sitting up there enjoying himself. I'd had enough.
0:46:01 > 0:46:04I couldn't drop him down because there was so many people around us.
0:46:04 > 0:46:07I think it must have taken us 20 minutes
0:46:07 > 0:46:09to get off the field at Stradey.
0:46:09 > 0:46:12And everybody was part of the game.
0:46:12 > 0:46:15Not just the players, you know, the spectators, you know.
0:46:15 > 0:46:18It was a great joy for them as well and you felt for them,
0:46:18 > 0:46:23you know, they followed Llanelli year after year after year and,
0:46:23 > 0:46:25you know, it was something,
0:46:25 > 0:46:28something for them as well that we had beaten the All Blacks.
0:46:28 > 0:46:30It was a great honour for the town.
0:46:38 > 0:46:41It was just euphoria, isn't it, I suppose?
0:46:41 > 0:46:45That's the best way to describe it. There isn't anything like it.
0:46:45 > 0:46:49It's just chaos and mayhem.
0:46:49 > 0:46:52And that was the start of it.
0:46:52 > 0:46:57And then into that dressing room, I think half of Llanelli town were in
0:46:57 > 0:47:00that dressing room, cos I couldn't find my clothes in the corner.
0:47:00 > 0:47:02It was just heaving, you know.
0:47:02 > 0:47:05Crazy. Wonderful. Wonderful. Great moments.
0:47:08 > 0:47:12Great stuff. Llanelli to the fore.
0:47:12 > 0:47:16There were fans in the dressing room, grown men, young children and,
0:47:16 > 0:47:20you know, we are trying to pull our jerseys off
0:47:20 > 0:47:23and somebody was giving us something to drink, and it was bedlam.
0:47:23 > 0:47:25Somebody was pouring champagne.
0:47:25 > 0:47:28And there were people taking mud off my boots and saying,
0:47:28 > 0:47:31"Can I have this mud?" I said, "Yeah, you can have this mud."
0:47:31 > 0:47:35"Any chance of your lace that's tying a hole in your socks up?"
0:47:35 > 0:47:39You were just... Everything had gone mad then.
0:47:40 > 0:47:42As the dust was settling,
0:47:42 > 0:47:45you realised what a special victory this was.
0:47:45 > 0:47:46A special game.
0:47:46 > 0:47:49All the forwards were absolutely knackered, take it from me.
0:47:49 > 0:47:53They were black and blue. A lot of blood about at the moment.
0:47:53 > 0:47:56You know, obviously, with all the physical contact.
0:47:56 > 0:48:01I just took a chair - it's silly, I know -
0:48:01 > 0:48:06and went into the shower and I sat down and I put the shower on me.
0:48:07 > 0:48:12And I was there, with my clothes on, mind.
0:48:12 > 0:48:18And, you know, I was glad it was over, like.
0:48:37 > 0:48:41Job done for him, wasn't it? You know? That's us, Carwyn.
0:48:41 > 0:48:44You know, he might have walked around the dressing room,
0:48:44 > 0:48:46had a few quiet words. He wouldn't have been here going,
0:48:46 > 0:48:48"Wow, wonderful, boys!"
0:48:48 > 0:48:49That wasn't his scene, you know.
0:48:49 > 0:48:52He'd just walk in quietly and, you know,
0:48:52 > 0:48:54he'd be on a gin and tonic somewhere.
0:49:02 > 0:49:08I felt so pleased for Carwyn because he'd proved a point,
0:49:08 > 0:49:11you know, that he was a great coach,
0:49:11 > 0:49:16and yet he'd been turned down by the Welsh Rugby Union and...
0:49:16 > 0:49:19the New Zealanders, for instance,
0:49:19 > 0:49:21couldn't get over the fact that he'd been
0:49:21 > 0:49:25turned down by the Welsh Rugby Union, knowing what a great coach he was.
0:49:27 > 0:49:30I think Carwyn felt vindicated.
0:49:30 > 0:49:34He felt he'd achieved it home and away.
0:49:34 > 0:49:38He had done it in New Zealand and he's come back and, in the best
0:49:38 > 0:49:41way possible, cos he couldn't do it for Wales, he did it for
0:49:41 > 0:49:46Llanelli, with a side that shouldn't have been as strong as a Welsh side.
0:49:46 > 0:49:49Llanelli won, Wales didn't.
0:49:49 > 0:49:52So he must have felt so satisfied.
0:49:55 > 0:49:58I was walking in Llanelli this morning,
0:49:58 > 0:50:01the morning after the match, and one of them came up to me and said,
0:50:01 > 0:50:05"I remember the 1924 Porter side." And he said, "It's been a long time.
0:50:05 > 0:50:07"It's been a long wait to beat them."
0:50:07 > 0:50:09HE SPEAKS WELSH
0:50:09 > 0:50:13"And, my boy, I don't mind dying now. We've done it."
0:50:26 > 0:50:28I was working in London at the time.
0:50:28 > 0:50:33When I was there, I met a New Zealander called Bill.
0:50:33 > 0:50:37I rang my dad and he got us a couple of tickets
0:50:37 > 0:50:39and we came down together.
0:50:40 > 0:50:44The end of the game came and we were all excited.
0:50:44 > 0:50:46Went out on the pitch to get near Delme and, you know,
0:50:46 > 0:50:53celebrate, and I lost him. And I looked around, couldn't find him.
0:50:53 > 0:50:55I waited for, I suppose,
0:50:55 > 0:50:57about an hour till things started to quieten down.
0:50:57 > 0:51:00No sign of him anywhere, you know. Just couldn't find him anywhere.
0:51:00 > 0:51:04He never showed up. Three or four days later, no sign of him.
0:51:04 > 0:51:08And, eventually, my boss came out and said,
0:51:08 > 0:51:11"I've just had Bill on the phone. He's home in New Zealand."
0:51:11 > 0:51:14Apparently, he got so upset by the loss,
0:51:14 > 0:51:19he went straight from Llanelli up to London, waited in Heathrow,
0:51:19 > 0:51:21got a plane and flew home.
0:51:21 > 0:51:24So, you know, I've still got his bag. I've never spoken to him since.
0:51:38 > 0:51:41TRANSLATION:
0:51:59 > 0:52:03Every pub in town ran out of every type of drink you can imagine
0:52:03 > 0:52:04and it actually took them
0:52:04 > 0:52:08two to three days to actually restock everything in town.
0:52:08 > 0:52:10And nobody will actually believe that.
0:52:12 > 0:52:18126 drinking places in Llanelli at that time - all of them were dry.
0:52:21 > 0:52:25There was something about that day which was just unique, you know,
0:52:25 > 0:52:28and I can remember us going back down the Ashburnham Hotel
0:52:28 > 0:52:31having one heck of a night. I mean, a hell of a night.
0:52:31 > 0:52:33I don't remember what time we got home or anything.
0:52:33 > 0:52:36And there they were, about six policemen
0:52:36 > 0:52:38playing touch rugby with a helmet,
0:52:38 > 0:52:41and I thought, "Bloody hell, the town's gone mad." I could see
0:52:41 > 0:52:46pubs, they were sitting outside drinking and singing and everything.
0:52:46 > 0:52:50It was chaos everywhere. The club was mad and the town was mad.
0:52:50 > 0:52:53We ended up in the Glen Ballroom, this huge dance...
0:52:53 > 0:52:56and all our wives and girlfriends had turned up
0:52:56 > 0:52:59and the All Blacks had turned up as well, to be fair.
0:52:59 > 0:53:01Well, some of them had.
0:53:01 > 0:53:03And I always remember... Remember, I'm still a young boy
0:53:03 > 0:53:06and it's all new for me, my first time in this level.
0:53:06 > 0:53:09And I remember going to the toilet that night and in came Grant Batty
0:53:09 > 0:53:13and another All Black and, you know, I'm trying to be sociable
0:53:13 > 0:53:17and trying to know them, really, cos I'm in awe of them,
0:53:17 > 0:53:20and I said, "Bad luck today." And he just looked at me and went...
0:53:22 > 0:53:25"..Piss off." I went, "Sorry?"
0:53:25 > 0:53:32As if to say, "Not interested. We are really unhappy. Really unhappy."
0:53:32 > 0:53:37And then I sort of realised, "Hey, we have done something."
0:53:40 > 0:53:45I told you about this punch I'd had off Murdoch and he caught a beauty.
0:53:45 > 0:53:50He'd broken my nose, and that wasn't so bad, but my eyes were just black.
0:53:50 > 0:53:52I looked like a bloody panda.
0:53:52 > 0:53:54And there was a guy in there, I'd never met the guy before,
0:53:54 > 0:53:56tapped me on the shoulder and said,
0:53:56 > 0:53:58"Done a bit of boxing when I was a younger man
0:53:58 > 0:54:02"and the one thing that will clear up a set of black eyes,"
0:54:02 > 0:54:05he said, "is put steaks on them."
0:54:05 > 0:54:08And he put something in my pocket.
0:54:08 > 0:54:10And anyway, I said, "Thank you."
0:54:10 > 0:54:12I didn't know what he put in my pocket,
0:54:12 > 0:54:15so I walked away and went over to see my wife.
0:54:15 > 0:54:18I said, "Some bloke told me to buy some steaks and he's given me this."
0:54:18 > 0:54:20A £20 note.
0:54:20 > 0:54:25A £20 note. And I was earning £29 a week.
0:54:25 > 0:54:29So I said, "We're not having steaks with these,
0:54:29 > 0:54:30"I'm not going to work until Friday."
0:54:30 > 0:54:33I said, "I'm off tomorrow, I'm off Thursday."
0:54:33 > 0:54:35And I took the rest of the week off because of that 20 quid.
0:54:35 > 0:54:38They were all drinking and what have you.
0:54:38 > 0:54:41I've got to say this - what happened to me
0:54:41 > 0:54:45that night won't happen ever again.
0:54:45 > 0:54:48I think it was about four o'clock in the morning,
0:54:48 > 0:54:50could have been half past four,
0:54:50 > 0:54:55the police came in and said, "Roy, how are you getting home?"
0:54:58 > 0:55:01"Well, I'll have to wait until later on to drive."
0:55:01 > 0:55:03Of course, I wasn't falling about.
0:55:03 > 0:55:07"No, no, you're having a police escort all the way to Penclawdd.
0:55:09 > 0:55:12"Come outside now. Is your wife with you?" "Yeah."
0:55:12 > 0:55:17"Jump in the car. I'll be in front. Police car behind.
0:55:17 > 0:55:19"When we get to Llewydda Bridge,
0:55:19 > 0:55:23"I'll be pulling in. We can't come across.
0:55:23 > 0:55:24"You go across Llewydda Bridge
0:55:24 > 0:55:27"and the Gorseinon boys will be on the other side.
0:55:27 > 0:55:31"One in front, one behind, all the way to Penclawdd."
0:55:31 > 0:55:35I can't see that happening again. Marvellous.
0:55:35 > 0:55:37It just went on and on and on, you know.
0:55:37 > 0:55:41That day, you know, that evening, the night, the morning after.
0:55:41 > 0:55:44It's the biggest party the town has ever seen.
0:56:05 > 0:56:07It was a great day that day
0:56:07 > 0:56:11and to think that the stadium isn't there any more, I think, is a crime.
0:56:20 > 0:56:24Even today, you know, 40 years since, people come up to me,
0:56:24 > 0:56:27people that I don't know, and tap me on the shoulder
0:56:27 > 0:56:30and it's all they say, "I was there."
0:56:39 > 0:56:41It makes you feel happy, really, that they can still...
0:56:41 > 0:56:45that people want to still be remembered about it.
0:56:45 > 0:56:47And wouldn't you want to be remembered 40 years on?
0:56:47 > 0:56:49There's not many people wouldn't.
0:56:53 > 0:56:59Even today, now, people come along to me, "What did you tell Murdoch?
0:56:59 > 0:57:02"When he stepped on your head, what did you tell him?"
0:57:02 > 0:57:04HE SPEAKS WELSH
0:57:10 > 0:57:15How did we do that? How good were we? Do we realise how good we were?
0:57:15 > 0:57:20It's quite remarkable really that Carwyn brought 15 club boys
0:57:20 > 0:57:24together to beat the might of the All Blacks.
0:57:24 > 0:57:28Special. Yeah.
0:57:39 > 0:57:42Time and memory have transformed what happened that day.
0:57:43 > 0:57:46A match turned into a myth.
0:57:46 > 0:57:50A tale of local heroes in the hard-working town
0:57:50 > 0:57:52that knew how to honour them.
0:57:53 > 0:57:58A chance to walk tall, to stand for a moment in a giant's shoes
0:57:58 > 0:58:01and know a pride that could fill your heart
0:58:01 > 0:58:04and stay with you for the rest of your days.
0:58:48 > 0:58:52Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd