Wallaby Ken was ‘a flash of light’

KEN Catchpole, who died on Thursday aged 78, is possibly a name that might not resonate with the modern generation but for much of the 60s the nuggety Australian was considered the best scrum-half in the world.

Noted for his lightning quick service, Catchpole was the key player in the Wallabies series success over South Africa in 1965 and wins over Wales and England during their British tour in 1967. After the latter RFU President Dougie Harrison described him as the greatest scrum-half of all time.

It was back in 1959 that he made his New South Wales debut and in an early game took a starring role in their win over the 1959 Lions before captaining the Wallabies at the age of 21 in a three-Test series against Fiji.

He won 27 caps but it should have been more after being forced to retire in controversial circumstances in 1968 when he suffered an horrific hamstring and groin injury when he was trapped in a ruck and Colin Meads yanked him out by his leg.

All Black adversary Chris Laidlaw sang his praises in his autobiography Mud in your Eye which was published in 1973.

“Others have made contributions to techniques in passing, kicking, and running, but as the supreme exponent of all the skills Catchpole stands beyond rivalry. Not only was he quicker of thought, action and reaction, but a judicious kicker and more subtle runner than either Sid Going or Gareth Edwards.

“His pass was never long – he considered that a waste of time. It was, however, phenomenally fast and his technique of delivery perfect. No elegant dive pass, no laboured swivel to avoid passing off the weak arm – just a flash of light to his fly-half.”