Andy Leslie Pays Heartfelt Tribute to Former All Blacks Captain Grant Batty

Speaking to the Herald, Leslie called Batty a good friend and was shocked to hear the news of his death, as the pair had just caught up months prior. “I didn’t think anything would get him in the end,” Leslie said. “I thought he was bulletproof. “He was out here about three months ago ... and we were sitting in the coffee bar having a laugh and a chuckle. “I was lucky enough to play with Grant at provincial level as well as the All Blacks and you know he would probably be the greatest competitor I’ve ever played with.” Leslie recalls one incident during the tour of South Africa where Batty proved that while he was small in stature, he had plenty of heart. “In the first test, I got put on my bum by one of the big forwards and I was sitting on the ground and Batts was jumping up trying to clip him around the ears,” Leslie said. “He was the first one there defending me. He’s just a ferocious competitor and a great friend.” While there were occasions Batty defended Leslie, he recalled one time that wasn’t the case. “He was playing for Marist St Pats at the time, and I was playing for Petone and we had a great rivalry,” Leslie said. “I can remember him coming in and having a crack at me or something, I had a crack at him. “Dave Martin and I got ordered off, the little bugger went away back on to the wing laughing.” After hanging up the boots, Batty won the NZ Superstars series three years in a row before moving to Queensland. He served as an assistant coach for the Queensland Reds in 1999-2000, coached the Australia Under-19s in 2001 and went on to coach in Japan’s Top League.