Brian ‘Stack’ Stevens obituary

England rugby international with a reputation for hard forward playEnglish victories against the All Blacks in New Zealand are rare events and the win in Auckland on 15 September 1973 turned the world of rugby union upside down. To say the England team of the 1970s were underachievers is putting it politely, and few gave John Pullin’s side much of a chance against a team, led by Ian Kirkpatrick, who were finely tuned at the end of their winter season. England, though, played to their strengths. They had a strong scrum with the front row of the hooker Pullin and his two prop forwards Fran Cotto…