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Don Clarke: All Black Legend Trivia Quiz

Don Clarke was New Zealand's outstanding fullback of the late 1950's and early 1960's. He passed away in South Africa on December 29, 2002. Here is a quiz about his rugby career.

A multiple-choice quiz by rogerw1nz. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
rogerw1nz

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
110,326

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
532

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Don Clarke first played for Waikato as a 17 year old in 1951. How many games did he play for the province up to his retirement in 1964? Hint

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Question 2 of 10

2. His first international match was for Waikato, against the Springboks in 1956, the first game of their tour of New Zealand. What was the score? Hint

Waikato 25 South Africa 24

South Africa 14 Waikato 10

Waikato 14 South Africa 10

South Africa 25 Waikato 9

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Question 3 of 10

3. Clarke was first selected for the All Blacks to play which test? Hint

3rd against South Africa 1956

1st against Australia 1957

4th against South Africa 1956

1st against British Lions 1959.

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Question 4 of 10

4. In 1959, the British Lions toured New Zealand, and played the first test against the All Blacks in Dunedin. The final score was 18-17 to New Zealand. How were New Zealand's points scored? Hint

Don Clarke scored a try and kicked five penalty goals

NZscored 3 tries Don Clarke kicked 3 conversions and a penalty goal

Don Clarke kicked six penalty goals

Don Clarke kicked four penalty goals and two dropped goals

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Question 5 of 10

5. The 1960 tour of South Africa saw Clarke play 20 of the 24 games. How many points did he score on tour? Hint

175

125

100

150

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Question 6 of 10

6. What was unusual about his conversion of Kelvin Tremain's try, against against France at Athletic Park, Wellington in 1961? Hint

The referee awarded the goal but it actually missed.

The ball hit first one upright, then the other, before going over

He kicked it at right angles to the goalposts from the sideline and the wind blew it through the posts.

The ball fell over as he was coming in to kick it, so he picked it up and dropkicked the conversion.

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Question 7 of 10

7. On the 1963/64 tour of the United Kingdom and France, how many games did Don Clarke play? Hint

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Question 8 of 10

8. How many points did Don Clarke score for the All Blacks in his whole career? Hint

691

721

781

751

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Question 9 of 10

9. Don had four brothers, all of whom played for Waikato. Which one was also an All Black? Hint

Doug

Graeme

Brian

Ian

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Question 10 of 10

10. Don Clarke had a nickname which was used as the name of his biography, co-written by Pat Booth, published in 1966. What was it? Hint

Big Don

The Boot

Clarkey

Big Foot

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Nov 19 2024 : Guest 70: 6/10
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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Don Clarke first played for Waikato as a 17 year old in 1951. How many games did he play for the province up to his retirement in 1964?

Answer: 98

Clarke scored 737 points in all those games, including 11 tries, 106 conversions, and 154 penalty goals, an average of 7.5 per game. His record wasn't broken until 1993.

2. His first international match was for Waikato, against the Springboks in 1956, the first game of their tour of New Zealand. What was the score?

Answer: Waikato 14 South Africa 10

The South Africans brought a Springbok head with them, to present to the first team to beat them on tour, so it didn't last long!

3. Clarke was first selected for the All Blacks to play which test?

Answer: 3rd against South Africa 1956

Having lost the 2nd Test in 1956, the selectors made a few changes for the 3rd. It worked out well. New Zealand won 17-10, and went on to win the series 3-1 after also winning at Eden Park, Auckland.

4. In 1959, the British Lions toured New Zealand, and played the first test against the All Blacks in Dunedin. The final score was 18-17 to New Zealand. How were New Zealand's points scored?

Answer: Don Clarke kicked six penalty goals

In those days, tries were worth 3 points. The Lions scored four tries to New Zealand's none, so there was a call to downvalue the penalty goal. Eventually, the value of the try was increased, to 4 and then to 5 points.

5. The 1960 tour of South Africa saw Clarke play 20 of the 24 games. How many points did he score on tour?

Answer: 175

He kicked 32 conversions, 32 penalty goals and 4 dropped goals, and also scored one try. South Africa won the test series 2-1, with the third test drawn. In those days touring teams played two matches a week, and there were no replacements allowed during international games. No subbing off if you got tired, or even injured!

6. What was unusual about his conversion of Kelvin Tremain's try, against against France at Athletic Park, Wellington in 1961?

Answer: He kicked it at right angles to the goalposts from the sideline and the wind blew it through the posts.

The game was played in an 80 m.p.h. (128 km/h) gale. That's near hurricane-strength! New Zealand won the game 5-3.

7. On the 1963/64 tour of the United Kingdom and France, how many games did Don Clarke play?

Answer: 25

That's a game every 4.5 days on average! He scored 149 points on tour.

8. How many points did Don Clarke score for the All Blacks in his whole career?

Answer: 781

This record stood for 24 years, until broken by Grant Fox in 1988.

9. Don had four brothers, all of whom played for Waikato. Which one was also an All Black?

Answer: Ian

Ian played for the All Blacks from 1953 to 1964, touring Britain twice. He played 24 tests for New Zealand, firstly at No. 8, then as a prop. Doug played fullback and second-five (inside centre) for Waikato, and Brian & Graeme were both lock forwards. Only once did they all play for Waikato in the same match, in 1961 against Thames Valley in Te Aroha (which coincidently is the town where I was born).

10. Don Clarke had a nickname which was used as the name of his biography, co-written by Pat Booth, published in 1966. What was it?

Answer: The Boot

Don Clarke's legacy to New Zealand rugby was immense. Even now, decades after his playing days, people talk about his exploits on the playing fields of the world. Over 1000 people attended a memorial service for him at Rugby Park, Hamilton (now called Waikato Stadium) on 12 January 2003. The mighty kauri has fallen.

Source: Author rogerw1nz

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Nightmare before going online.
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