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In an extract from Our Blood is Green, John Allan reveals how he was called up as a replacement for the suspended James Dalton during the 1995 World Cup but did not end up joining the Springbok squad. I felt sorry for Mac [Ian McIntosh] when he was axed [as Springbok coach] because, with Louis Luyt and those guys running the show, there was lots of shit going on. Mac had to work with a big selection committee and was never allowed to have the final say. Ironically, Kitch [Christie] was the first coach to be given carte blanche when it came to selection. He could pick and leave out whomever he liked; there was no one else there to provide any kinds of checks and balances. The worst part of when I was dropped at the end of 1994 was that we were going to Scotland. I'd played for Scotland and had dreamt of going there and playing against them. I believed I was the best hooker in the country, but when Kitch took over, he chose James Dalton instead. Not a fuck was he better than me at that stage of my career. But the Transvaal players had told Kitch that I was a bit of a party animal on tour. My attitude was always that you could enjoy yourself off the field, but it should never affect what happened between the white lines. That was pretty much the attitude under Mac at Natal. Unfortunately, though, that wasn't Kitch's attitude, and it was used against me. I didn't go on that first tour more for disciplinary reasons than anything else. Kitch phoned me and told me that he was a disciplinarian. He said, âYou go out and party too much, and I don't want that kind of influence in the team.' I said, âKitch, firstly, I come from Glenwood, where you coached, and I hear you also drank too much when you were coaching and playing. So you have double standards. Secondly, you are going to Scotland. My dream is to sing both national anthems on the field. I was part of the team that sung âNkosiâ for the first time in a Test, and I'd like to be able to say I've sung both.' Anyway, it didn't work out. The big irony, though, was that after [James] Dalton was sent off against Canada and expelled from the tournament, Mac called me into his office. He told me that Kitch wanted to talk to me. So I phoned Kitch. He told me that there was a crisis, that the game was too important to take a risk. The Boks were about to play a quarter-final against Samoa, and he needed me. He told me to please go home and pack. âYou don't need to pack too much; we have everything for you here. We've booked you a 6pm flight tonight, so please come to Joburg,' he said. âYou will get the moves tomorrow at training and you will be playing on Saturday.' I said, âGreat, Kitch, that's fantastic, but what time are you training in the morning?' He said at 11am, so I said that is even better, as I could then take an early flight to Joburg. He said, âWhat do you mean?' I said, âI can't fly tonight, because I'm on the way to play the Murray Cup final for my club, and I'm the captain. They won't find a replacement in time.' Well, he just lost it with me then. He said, âWhat the fuck, this is the World Cup!' I said, âI know it is the World Cup; I have played in a World Cup before. I understand the importance of it, but my club is also important. I have a responsibility to them, and they are not going to be able to get a replacement this late in the day. I will be on the plane first thing in the morning.' Mac told me I was fucking crazy, and stupid. I said, âMac, it is a decision one has to make.' Swys de Bruin, who is now coaching the Lions, was my coach at Glenwood Old Boys at the time. It was 6-6 there with about 10 minutes to go. And I felt a twinge in my calf. I didn't want to tell the team. I told Swys that I'd felt a small twinge, but that I would be OK. Swys applied Deep Heat and all the rest of it. Moments later I got the ball down the side and I sprinted and just felt my calf snap. And that was it. ALSO READ: 'My initiation was horrendous â James SmallÂ Mac was at the game as a spectator. I found him in the pub afterwards. I said, âMac, my calf is gone'. He said, âYou have to phone Kitch; I'm not phoning him.' I tried to talk Mac into doing it, but he was adamant. So I made the call: âSorry, Kitch, but I'm out for six weeks.' Boy, did he blow up. He completely lost it again. That was when he picked Chris Rossouw to start. I told Mac to just keep what happened between us. Our Blood is Green â The Springboks in their Own WordsÂ by Gavin Rich is on sale now at all good bookstores.