Bush: 'Legs' best embodies true All Blacks spirit

Pioneering rugby photographer Peter Bush has singled out Taranaki's Ian "Legs" Eliason as the man he believes most epitomises what it means to wear the All Blacks jersey.

Speaking in Wellington at the launch of his autobiography Peter Bush: A Life in Focus last week, Bush, 79, was asked by veteran sports broadcaster Keith Quinn who was the most intriguing All Black he had seen during his six decades behind the camera lens.

"Well, funny thing, I could nominate the giants of the game, the Meads brothers, Ken Gray, Kel Tremain and on and on, but one of the most, I think, the most honest player was Ian `Legs' Eliason," Bush said.

"Most people in this room would not recognise or nominate where Legs was from, Taranaki, but to me he epitomised everything in those days, before it became professional and they ended up with a quarter or three-quarters of a million in your hip pocket. Legs was always there, never complained and played on a Wednesday and if required played on a Saturday.

"He, to me, was the warmest, friendliest, and I still think he stood for what being an All Black, if you came from a lesser province, was all about."

Eliason said he "never had a clue" about Bush's long-held respect for him and was "taken aback a wee bit" after watching highlights of the book launch online.

He remembered Bush on the 1972 internal All Blacks tour and the tour later that year to Great Britain and France.

"I saw him around as well over the years when I was playing, but what can you say? I always used to say gidday to him and that sort of thing."

His strongest memory of Bush is how rough he used to sleep while the All Blacks were on tour.

Eliason, who played 19 games at lock for the All Blacks in 1972 and 1973, holds the record for appearances for any province, 223, for Taranaki from 1964 to 1981.

Bush's professional longevity is even more impressive, having first photographed an All Blacks test in 1949. He was awarded a "golden bib" by the New Zealand Rugby Union in 2001, giving him unlimited access to home test matches.

In his autobiography, he nominated prop Ken Gray as his favourite player and the Canterbury versus Auckland Ranfurly Shield match in Christchurch in 1985 as his favourite game.

- © Fairfax NZ News