By Stu Piddington

"There was no umbrella or handbag attack, it was a closed fist between the shoulder blades."

That was how Ray Vercoe described Oamaru grandmother Hilda Madsen's unprecedented attack on French flanker Michel Crauste in an infamous incident in front of 17,000 spectators at Fraser Park in 1961.

Vercoe should know as the man closest to the action as a fresh faced, 19-year-old playing only his sixth game for South Canterbury.

FRENCH RUGBY FEDERATION/TWITTER

Former French rugby captain Michel Crauste has died, aged 84.

What is undisputed is Madsen left her seat in the grandstand, early in the second half, outraged by Crauste's treatment of South Canterbury second five Ted Smith.

READ MORE: French rugby star Michel Crauste dies - almost 60 years after being socked by a Kiwi grandmother

Vercoe said Crauste felled Smith with a high shot, then picked him up by the scruff of the neck, which looked worse than it was.

"To be fair I think that was to see if he was okay but after the high shot."

Madsen's actions and have come to the fore again following the death of Crauste, a French rugby legend, at the age of 84 earlier this month.

Vercoe said the story had grown legs over the years.

"Like a lot of stories, it's got bigger after the event.

"I was standing right next to the whole shooting box and it happened pretty quickly to be honest and a lot of my team mates had no clue what went down.

"She was certainly wearing a fur coat but there was no umbrella."

Vercoe said Madsen was quickly escorted off the field by two policemen.

"She only came a couple of metres on to the field."

Madsen's one-women pitch invasion has gone down in the annals of rugby history at the expense of what happened on the paddock, Vercoe said.

"People tend to forget South Canterbury won the game 17-14 with only 14 men."

The victory was certainly more meritorious because of the early loss of a key player and it was also South Canterbury's first ever win over an international team.

"We lost halfback Grant Richardson with a broken leg and there were no replacements in those days.

"Barry Gardiner had to come off the side of the scrum and fill in at first five. He was a West Coaster who had been part of the New Zealand rugby league squad and the position shift didn't faze him, because he played five-eighth at club rugby."

Vercoe said it was certainly a very physical exchange against the French, with plenty happening off the ball.

"I don't think they really appreciated playing a side like us. It didn't help their mood that we were up 11-0 fairly early on."

The Timaru Herald noted it was South Canterbury's finest triumph while reporting brawling tactics spoiled the tourists' play.

"It was the finest hour for seven magnificent packmen with the backs playing a supplementary role with deadly man-to-man tackling which stifled most of France's attacks.

"The Tricolours hit rock bottom form in football and fighting. Their forwards tried to brawl their way to victory ... They threw punches, tossed down South Canterbury men who were yards away from the ball with straight arm tackling and kicked indiscriminately and if it had not been for the strong control of the referee it would have turned the ground into a boxing arena."

Vercoe said at the end of the game the sides shook hands but there was no jersey swapping.

"In those days with the manager we had you were lucky to get away with keeping a pair of socks."

Vercoe said they went back to the Hydro Grand Hotel where the French were staying later that night but only a couple of players were around to mingle with.

"It was really the language barrier more than anything else."

Madsen was later quoted: "I didn't see a soul, or think what I was doing. I just went out there to retaliate for what he did to that poor boy."

There are six survivors from that famous victory 58 years ago, centre Bob Bailey (Timaru), No.8 Peter Angland (Christchurch), lock Charlie Rogers (Palmerston North), Richardson (Timaru), Gardiner (Christchurch) and Vercoe (Timaru).

Vercoe went on to play 111 games for South Canterbury and then coached the 'Green and Blacks' for over 100 games.

Gardiner, 81, was recognised for his for services to sport, particularly squash, by being made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the New Year's Honours list in 2019.

Article added: Friday 17 May 2019