Grant Batty retires

Well Batty has announced his retirement from International and provincial rugby. If it hadn't been for his enormous competitive spirit I am sure that he would have retired at the end of last year.

Here is a classic case of one of New Zealand's most brilliant players having to retire prematurely because he had firstly been selected to tour South Africa half fit, and still worse expected to play with a serious injury. This of course isn't the first time that this sort of thing has happened. One only needs to remember Meads playing with a broken arm and later against the British Isles leading New Zealand with the after effects of a broken back. No matter how great players are or have been a fully fit replacement will always be more effective than a semi-crippled genius.