Robert Muldoon, the new leader of the National Party, held Labour liable for their broken promises as part of his campaign in 1975. He promised rugby crazed New Zealanders a policy of “No Politics in Sport”. Thus, he refused to cancel the tour planned for 1976 and the All Blacks left for South Africa with the “Government’s blessing” (3). In an interview on “Edwards on Saturday in 1976 Muldoon said, “The All Black Team goes to South Africa with my good will” and when questioned about the ethics of the situation Muldoon stated “I don’t think that I can say otherwise”.
|