Story: English language in New Zealand

In 1956 All Black Peter Jones earned himself a place in history, not just for his rugby playing, but for words uttered after a test match win over South Africa's Springboks. Straight after the game, Jones told a radio journalist – in true Kiwi bloke form – 'I'm absolutely buggered.' Jones didn't realise that his words were being broadcast live to the nation, in an era when 'buggered' was not a word to be used in such a public setting. The All Black's victory shielded him from criticism, though it did cause a flap in the halls of the New Zealand Broadcasting Service. Listen to Jones's immortal words, recalled decades later in cartoon form by Murray Webb.

Transcript

And here's Don Clark just climbing over the rail by us here now. And they're lifting the microphone over in front, so that they'll be able to speak into it. Now here is John Clarke.

Thanks everybody. The shortest speech on record, Peter Jones.

Well ladies and gentlemen, I hope I never play as tough a game again as I did today, I'm absolutely buggered!

[Laughter]

Oh well we'll ignore that and we'll go on to the next statement! Listeners in South Africa please note. Well that's Peter Jones, he's rough and he's tough but you've got admire him,  he's honest. He's honest that's exactly what he felt. He said what he felt.