NZ Herald: Lunch with ... David Kirk: Former All Black and top businessman’s concern for NZ education, wish for country’s progress
Over lunch, former All Black David Kirk talks business, sport, politics and family - and a recipe for how NZ can fill its cup again. Shayne Currie reports.
As he sat in the Whanganui motel room, on the eve of the biggest rugby match of his fledgling career, 21-year-old David Kirk’s mind was racked with doubt.
It was 1982 and his South Island team had been written off in the media as “good old boys”, classed as no-hopers against an All Black-studded North Island side in the annual inter-island encounter.
“That’s the only time I ever felt I couldn’t cope,” says Kirk.
“I remember just getting so out of my depth. I don’t know if I can cope with this, the pace is going to be too hard, they’re too big. What happens if I make all these mistakes?”
He called his parents – in those days on a crackling landline – just to hear some reassuring voices.
The following day, Kirk and the South Island team beat the northerners 22-12.
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