I'm a Hawkeye Guy
There's Something About a Magpie
August 12th, 1961.
Hawkes Bay were considered ‘a rather modest outfit with no hope of even running Auckland close’ in the opening Ranfurly Shield match of the season and the sixth match of the Auckland tenure, which had begun almost a calendar year prior with a 6-3 victory over North Auckland in Whangarei.
But based largely on their sound defensive technique and supreme fitness, the Bay were unlucky not to have pulled off what would have been one of the most sensational upsets in Ranfurly Shield history. In fact, this was the first match to truly provide supporting evidence regarding the dividends gained from Bryan Wilson’s training regimes. The now famous ‘last twenty minutes’ became not only a physical factor the opposition had to contend with, but subsequently a psychological one as well.
Flank forward, Tony Small, landed an early penalty to give the Magpies a 3-0 lead. In the twenty-second minute, Waka Nathan scored for Auckland and John Brady added the extra two points.
Naturally the Aucklander’s assumed that Nathan’s try was merely the opening of the flood gates. but Hawkes Bay repelled attack after attack, such was the absolute resoluteness of their defence.
And then in the dying minutes, the Bay were positively unlucky not to snatch an unlikely victory. Following a ruck near the Auckland line, the ball was flung wide to a raw, eighteen year old track sprinter called Billy Davis, whose instincts told him to head for the corner flag.
Only a desperate lunge, by the already wrong footed Auckland and All Black centre, Paul Little, saved the day. In his despairing dive he was able to clip the ankles of Davis, sending him sprawling to the turf, just long enough for the cover to get across and snuff out the danger.
Saturday, August 12th, 1961, Eden Park, Auckland: AUCKLAND 5 (Waka Nathan try. John Brady conversion), HAWKES BAY 3 (Tony Small penalty goal)
*****
August 27th, 1963.
As Hawkes Bay prepared it’s week by week buildup to the match, the odds – previously much in favour of the holders – shifted toward the challenger. By now, Auckland were into their fourth season as holders and victory over the Bay this day, would see them take-over from the same rivals in successful defences in a single tenure with 25.
Auckland had suffered early season loses to Waikato in Hamilton (3-9), North Auckland in Whangarei (9-12) and Taranaki in New Plymouth (14-17). A 52-3 rout of Thames Valley the sole victory and an indication that ‘the machine was beginning to purr again smoothly’.
The Bay, by contrast, had left the touring English limp and disheveled on McLean Park and ex-All Black captain, Bob Stuart, rated them good enough up front to take the shield off the Auks. In July they trounced Wairarapa 43-3, the greens heaviest defeat to the Hawkes Bay since 1938.
The nineteen year old first five-eighth, Blair Furlong, had been particularly impressive in both matches and had formed a good partnership with half-back, Barry Neale. In the Wairarapa game, he was up against two of the fastest breaking flankers in the country in Brian Lochore and Kevin Keegan and left them both groping.
Formerly reliant on the ‘thundering twins’ – Tremain and Johnson – Magpie attacks had suddenly became many edged, with speedy three-quarters Ian MacRae, Bill Davis and Peter Orangi becoming a strike force of much effectiveness, because of a markedly improved service from inside.
With Bryan Wilson conditioning the team with the match in mind, the way a track coach brings his protégés up for an Olympic games final, Hawkes Bay were a formidable unit - and it had been noted - before they hit town.
There was a sudden renaissance of interest and enthusiasm amongst the people of the province, who had lived too long in the legend of the past. Club and representative attendances were up and the win against England started an unprecedented rush for air and bus tickets for Auckland. Airlines were taxed to the limit and had to put on special charter flights to cope with the demand for seats.
“This year, more than any time since the war, there is a feeling of optimism in the air. The province at last again has big forwards to win the ball and fast three-quarters to score tries. When the ‘log of wood’ is at stake, it is wise to beware of the Magpies."
Match programme, Hawkes Bay challenge, 1963
The Hawkes Bay side, made up almost entirely of Napier club players, arrived on the Sunday before the match and along with ‘masseur’, Artie Hay (one time professional boxing champion of New Zealand), stayed at the Great Northern Hotel. They were due to play Counties on the Thursday (29th) before flying back to Napier the following day.
Tom Johnson, Bert Cooke and Auckland and All Black half-back, Des Connor, had appeared on a regional TV interview the night before the match. When pressed for an allegiance, Cooke (who had represented both Hawkes Bay and Auckland) answered diplomatically, that he hoped the side who played the better rugby would win.
As they were leaving the studio, Cooke grabbed Johnson by the arm and said; “I didn’t mean a bloody thing I said on TV. I’d give my right arm to see you bastards win tomorrow!”
“It was a midweek match in front of a huge Eden Park crowd, the largest mid-week crowd ever seen in New Zealand at that stage. That was probably the greatest game I ever saw Kelvin Tremain play too and that is really saying something. He was dynamic" Tom Johnson (Legends in Black: NZ Rugby Greats on Why We Win)
The 34,000 strong crowd were totally absorbed in the drama, despite the fact that the game itself yielded no fewer than 132 line-outs, 40 in the first twenty minutes along with 37 scrums and 20 penalties.
After twenty-four minutes, following a line-out infringement, Tony Small kicked a 30 yard penalty to open the scoring. The Magpies hung on to the 3-0 lead until the sixteenth minute of the second spell, when Malcolm Dick equalized with a try in the corner, evading the desperate tackle of his opposite, Peter Orangi.
Dave Harker, in his first season for Auckland following his transfer from the Capital, broke from a line-out with Waka Nathan. Wilson Whineray continued the move and sent the backs away. Tataurangi fed Little, on to Dick who made the score.
Over the final quarter, Hawkes Bay took command, inspired by Tremain, who Tom Johnson believes was playing the best match he ever saw him play. Auckland had been under pressure at the short end of the line-out and were taking a pounding in scrums and mauls.
One Herculean heave at the line by Tremain saw him come up inches short and Small missed a long range penalty from about 40 yards out. Time was up on the clock, the score was 3-3. A series of scrums in the last few minutes, set up a dramatic climax to the match.
“Twice the ball was put into the scrum by Neale, the Bay half-back and twice it emerged on the Auckland side. The second time, so far as could be seen, fairly. But Mr J P Murphy’s whistle sounded remorselessly and with a gesture he commanded another put-in. The place was a few yards from the posts. Poised to the rear, in a classic place for a dropped goal, was Furlong, the first-five with the mule like kick.
“Only too obvious to the spectators, even more obviously to the fifteen Auckland players, there was going to be a kick. If it went over, it would mean victory. The ball came to Neale, was flung by him to Furlong. The catch was sure – but hard on the heels of the pass was Graham, the Auckland captain, striving as never before to impede the kick or put the kicker off his stroke.
In the fraction of a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, Furlong kicked. Alas, in this, the supreme crisis in a young man’s life, the ball skewed from the side of his foot, yards and yards wide of the posts.” Terry McLean (New Zealand Herald)
From the ensuing drop out from the 25, Auckland cleared the ball downfield and into touch. Surely time was now up? No, another line-out, could Hawkes Bay come again?
“And then the whistle sounded for the last time and all about the field, the Auckland players leapt and cavorted in joy, spectators screamed forward to call out in exultation and slowly, wearily, the realisation came to Hawkes Bay, that in spite of an effort far beyond the call of duty, one of the greatest of all shield challenges had been unsuccessful”.
Terry McLean (New Zealand Herald)
And worse still for the players who had already given and sacrificed much, Auckland duly moved past the successful number of defences set by the 1922-26 Magpies, 24, in doing so setting that new record in Ranfurly Shield rugby.
Four days later they were beaten 8-3 by Wellington, who in turn set a new record of their own; shortest ever tenure (7 days), when beaten the following Saturday by Taranaki, 17-3.
One critic at the time wrote; “Perhaps one of these days Hawkes Bay will finally catch up with the shield and hold it. That will be proof, if any were needed, that the modern players are as good as the old ones.”
But whichever way it was viewed, Hawkes Bay had come through times of trial and tribulation to regain its past glories and the current resurgence had been a truly dramatic development. Le Quesne and Hawkes Bay had reinvented themselves as a major force in New Zealand provincial rugby.
Tuesday, August 27th, 1963, Eden Park, Auckland: AUCKLAND 3 (Malcolm Dick try), HAWKES BAY 3 (Tony Small penalty goal)
*****
14th defence:
AUCKLAND
McLean Park, Napier. Saturday, September 28th, 1968
HAWKES BAY 9, AUCKLAND 9 (Half-time: 6 - 3)
For Hawkes Bay: Ian Bishop, two penalty goals. Paul Carney, penalty goal
For Auckland: Roger Whatman, two penalty goals and a dropped goal
Hawkes Bay: Ian Bishop (replaced by Paul Carney), Doug Curtis, Mick Duncan, Dennis Smith, John Dougan, Blair Furlong, Hepa Paewai, Gary Condon, Phil Pratt, Rod Abel, Kaaran Crawford, Kel Tremain, Neil Thimbleby, Myles Reddy, Hilton Meech.
Auckland: Roger Whatman (Manukau Rovers), Rod ‘Rocky’ Patterson (Otahuhu), Graham Thorne (University of Auckland), Te Roi Tataurangi (Manukau Rovers), Neil Brady (Ponsonby District) replaced by Peter Murdoch (Otahuhu), Mac Herewini (Manukau Rovers), Neil Cowley (College Rifles/captain), Mate Jakich (Marist BOB), Peter Thorburn (North Shore), Phil ‘Lizard’ Lindesay (University of Auckland), Peter Whiting (Ponsonby District), Paul Curran (Takapuna), Ron Webb (Manukau Rovers), Kevin O’Shannessey (University of Auckland), Murray Jones (North Shore)
Referee: DH (Dave) Millar (Otago) Crowd: 25,423 Net profit to HBRFU: $9,966.60
“We knew, of course, that Auckland would be the toughest of them all and like everyone else I expected Auckland to test us through the backs, with our forwards more than holding their own. As it turned out, things went the other way and it was our backs who showed Auckland how to play. The fact that we were able to come back and draw shows the tremendous team spirit and will to win which has been built up over the past couple of years.” Colin Le Quesne (Shield ’68)
It has often been quoted as one of the basic premises in representative rugby in New Zealand; ’there is no such thing as a weak Auckland side’. With such a large, metropolitan playing force to draw from in the first instance, there is a continuous stock of big, strong forwards, with complimentary backs, fleet-footed and enterprising.
So, to bring the curtain down on the 1968 rugby calendar, the Magpies would have to overcome the one supreme threat to its shield reign thus far this season and the union with the greatest Ranfurly Shield record in the sixty year history of the trophy. One and the same, Auckland.
And pundits would not be in the least disappointed. What a finale it would turn out to be! The tension and high drama at the games conclusion was every bit as gripping as the Wellington challenge of twelve months prior – and just as cruel on the nerves of the 25,000 strong crowd – the biggest of the season.
The match had all the key ingredients to ensure that it would be a classic encounter. Rampant speculation as always from the north, that Auckland’s star studded backs were going to cut a merry caper around McLean Park, while the Hawkes Bay faithful looked toward their formidable pack to cast an ominous shadow over the challenger’s chances of winning enough ball to swing their great back division into action.
History between the two unions showed a poor return for the Hawkes Bay supporter. The 3-3 draw in 1963 was the only occasion in which the Bay had gotten a result from a match, albeit a draw, since 1950, but in recent years, the last real drubbing as such had come in 1960 when Auckland had won by 22-0.
But in 1965, courtesy of four tries, one each to Bill Davis, Rod Abel, Florus Duvenage and Tony Small, the Magpies had recorded their first win on Eden Park in living memory by toppling the Aucklander's by 18-10. They’d followed that up in 1966 with a 14-6 win in Napier, Davis again scoring a try, Tom Johnson also.
In 1967, Auckland had a rather more emphatic win on Eden Park by 14-3, one week before the Bay’s first defence against Manawatu. The result led to wide press speculation as to how long Hawkes Bay could be realistically expected to retain the shield.
This would be the ninth time that the two unions had met in a Ranfurly Shield match, dating back to holders, Auckland’s 12-3 win at Alexandra Park, Auckland in 1907. An 11-3 win during the same tenure, at the same venue, occurred in 1910.
Auckland challenged three times during the first great Magpie dynasty. In 1923, Hawkes Bay were successful in the sixth and final challenge of the season by 20-5, Jimmy Mill scoring two of the five tries posted by the holders. The following season the Bay had a win of similar margin, 23-6, with Bert Grenside this time running in a brace.
From a Hawkes Bay point of view though, the most glorious shield encounter was that which occurred in 1926, when the almost invincible Magpie side, coached by Norman McKenzie, destroyed Auckland on McLean Park by 41 points to 11. Hawkes Bay ran in nine tries; three to Jimmy Blake, two to Bert Cooke (who had scored Auckland’s only try in 1923), one each to the legendary Brownlie brothers, fellow All Black, John ‘Tuna’ Swain and ‘Marn’ Mahoney.
Hawkes Bay’s brief tenure in 1934 was ended by Auckland (14-18), a match Colin Le Quesne himself played in and one he would surely wish to forget. Twenty five plus years passed before the two would meet again for the shield, this time with Le Quesne as Magpie selector-coach and they were of course, the two cliff hangers as detailed earlier, in 1961 and 1963. ‘The Fuhrer’ had been afflicted by enough Auckland pain in the past, this time he wanted something to savour.
Their own recent glory days with the shield aside, Auckland’s greatest moment in the immediate past was a 15-14 win over the Springboks in 1965, when 51,000 had packed into Eden Park to witness the tense and exciting game.
The ‘Boks had gotten off to a flyer with Gert Brynard scoring after 11 minutes, following a 90 metre run and his Western Province team-mate, Wynand Mans after 15, from a quick throw in at a line-out. But in the 17th minute they lost their skipper, Dawie de Villiers, to concussion and he was carried off on a stretcher, reducing their ranks to 14 for the remainder of the match. In reply, the Auckland backs ran in four tries; two to Ron Rangi, one each to McKay and Dick.
Auckland’s recapture of the Ranfurly Shield from Taranaki (one week after the Magpies failed attempt) was the other true highlight for them of 1965. It was their first challenge since surrendering the trophy to Wellington in 1963, following their record breaking reign and with the 16-11 victory over the champion Taranaki outfit, signs were good for another lengthy spell with the shield.
But after a successful defence against Waikato (14-6) and then, in 1966, King Country (14-6) and a pulsating 11-11 draw with Canterbury, the largely unfancied Waikato team waltzed onto Eden Park and stole it right out from under the holders noses. The Mooloo tenure was even briefer, Hawkes Bay lifting the trophy in the first defence.
Hoping for the double-scalp (as Wellington had achieved with back to back wins over the ‘Boks and Lions) Auckland fell short in going down to the British Lions of 1966 by 6-12. Of the Auks who challenged the Magpies in 1968, Teroi Tataurangi, Mac Herewini, Mate Jakich and Kevin O’Shannessey had played in both these fixtures, Ron Webb playing against the British Lions.
In 1968, the newly appointed selector was former Auckland and North Island captain and All Black trialist, Bob Graham (brother of All Black, John of Canterbury). The Auks contained a large contingent of past, current or future All Blacks, surprisingly though, only Grahame Thorne had been called upon to play against the French. He played the first two tests on the wing and was then moved to centre for the third to cover the injured Ian MacRae (covering himself for the injured Bill Davis).
Grahame Stuart Thorne was a truly mercurial personality. He was outstanding whilst in the Auckland Grammar 1st XV in 1962, ’63 and ’64 and in his last year, playing at second five-eighth, scored 25 tries. He captained the cricket 1st XI, his contemporaries included future test players in Mark Burgess (who would captain New Zealand), Terry Jarvis and Hedley Howarth.
Upon leaving secondary school, he focused his attention on his first true sporting passion, cricket, where he was noted as a ‘dashing batsman’. Cricket was so high on Thorne’s priority list, he did not play rugby at all during his first two years out of secondary school.
“Cricket was my first love. I was an Auckland secondary school representative for three years, as well as a Brabin Shield player. I really imagined in those days that, if I was ever going to amount to anything in sport, it would be as a cricketer. I did feel that I had potential as a batsman”. Grahame Thorne (Sports Digest, July 1969)
In 1965/66 he toured Australia with the New Zealand Universities side, scoring a ‘violent’ 200 not out against Newcastle University, which included 23 fours and a six. He also compiled 137 not out in the ‘test match’ against Australian Universities and 98 in a match in Canberra versus Australian National University.
Returning to rugby in 1967, he had been a surprise choice for the All Black tour to the Northern hemisphere, having not even played for his province at that point. He was selected on the strength of one match for New Zealand Universities against Auckland on June 24th (he had played three days earlier in the Inter Island Universities match, the North winning by 8-6), one match for the New Zealand Under 23 side in front of the New Zealand selectors, the North Island All Black trial in Palmerston North and subsequently an appearance for the ‘Possibles’ in the main All Black trial in Wellington on September 9th , scoring a sensational try in each of the last two matches as mentioned.
“Thorne’s paralysing, side-stepping run for three quarters the length of the field at Palmerston North brought the try of the season. He repeated the feat and was then the sensation of the Wellington trial and confirmed as an All Black, without once having played for his union.” Brian O’Brien (Sports Digest, July 1969)
Thorne began the tour as centre understudy to Bill Davis (making his second trip to the United Kingdom) and finished as a wing three-quarter. He played in seven tour matches, but did not play in any of the tests. But by the Australian tour in June of the current season, had forced his way into the test side as a right winger (owing largely to the failure of new All Black wingers Michael Knight and Bill Currey to impress), playing in both and scoring a try (his only touch-down in test match rugby) during the second in Brisbane.
During the third test against the French, the aggressive and thrustful Thorne did nothing to weaken the back line in the absence of the talented Davis and the New Zealand selectors suddenly realised that they had two genuine centre’s on their hands.
In that position (scoring two tries), Thorne and the deposed All Black first five-eighth, Mac Herewini (two dropped goals), played for the North Island in their 34-17 win in Christchurch on August 31st.
The gifted and immaculate MacFarlane Alexander Herewini of the Manukau club, had played 32 times for his country, including ten test matches, all at first five-eighth. Originally from the central North Island town of Mokai, he made his debut for Auckland at just 17 in 1958, while still at Otahuhu College and by 1960 was a valuable member of the Auckland Ranfurly Shield side, a New Zealand Maori (toured the Pacific Islands) and winner of the Tom French Cup as the outstanding Maori player of the year, a trophy he would win again in 1963.
In 1962, aged 21, he was called into the All Black side for the third test against Australia in Auckland, where he contributed to the 16-8 victory with a try and a dropped goal. At the conclusion of the following season he made the All Black side which toured the UK and France, playing in 19 tour matches including the tests against Ireland, Scotland and France.
“When he ran the blind his darting runs wafted him outside the defences while his tactical kicking had a crisp edge to it. Herewini's instincts were about attack but as he rose up the rugby ladder, more restrictions were put on his play”. Wynne Gray (NZ Herald)
He wasn’t required again by national selectors until the final test of the 1965 series against South Africa (he also played against the ‘Boks for Auckland and for NZ Maori) but was back in All Black colours under new coach, Fred Allen, the following season, playing in all four tests against the Lions (and for Auckland and New Zealand Maori)
In 1967 he played in the Jubilee test in Wellington against Australia and again made the All Black side for the end of year tour to the Northern Hemisphere, where he played in six matches, ending his days in the silver fern, but failing to gain a test spot. Earle Kirton seemed to be the selectors preferred choice in the position by now, his club and provincial combination with Chris Laidlaw a solid and dependable one.
There were two future All Blacks in the pack. The towering 6’ 6”, 16 stone lock, Peter John ‘Pole’ Whiting (born in Auckland on 6th of August, 1946) had spent two seasons in the Auckland Grammar 1st XV in 1963 and ’64 (with Grahame Thorne and Roger Whatman) and in 1967, played for the New Zealand U23 side and received an All Black trial - like Thorne- before he had even played for his union. Fred Allen had closely considered the 21 year old as a possible tourist to the UK, but in the end decided that his lack of big game experience meant he needed another season or two at provincial level before making the leap to the test arena.
He had been a regular member of the 1968 Auckland team and had played again for the New Zealand Juniors, coming on to replace Graeme Allen of Poverty Bay, in the 19-23 loss to Japan in Wellington.
Prop, Murray Gordon Jones, was approaching 50 matches for Auckland. The 25 year old was brought into the representative squad in 1964, where the union had been well served in his position in recent times by All Blacks Wilson Whineray and Barry Thomas. Known for his red hair fiery disposition, he had played for the New Zealand Juniors against the ’65 Springboks and was an All Black trialist from 1966 – 1968.
At full-back was 1967 Junior All Black, Roger Whatman, who had once landed five dropped goals in a 1st XV match for Auckland Grammar against Sacred Heart and in 1964, notched up 105 points for the season. Noted as a reliable full-back and good goal kicker, he had cemented his place in the Auckland team during the 1968 season and was also a member of the Manukau Rovers club side which won (for the first time in their history) the Gallaher Shield, by defeating the star-studded Ponsonby side by 20-16 at Eden Park in the final, in front of a guesstimated crowd of 25,000.
This was the final club appearance of Auckland and four-test All Black prop, Barry ‘The Bear’ Thomas, who gave new meaning even to the word ‘stalwart’, as he was to the Manukau club. A few seasons earlier, he had been instrumental in bringing Auckland and Maori All Black great Alby Pryor across to the club from Ponsonby as coach. Pryor promised Thomas he would win them the Gallaher and he delivered.
Two other Manukau Rovers players, Ron Webb and Teroi Tataurangi, had been Junior All Blacks in 1964. Centre or wing three-quarter, Tataurangi was brought into Fred Allen’s magnificent shield side in 1962, having previously represented New Zealand Maori in 1960. He played for the Maori against the Lions of 1966. Webb’s inclusion in the Auckland line-up took on more significance when All Black great, Wilson Whineray, retired at the end of 1965.
On the other wing, Roderick James ‘Rocky’ Patterson, also came into the Auckland picture in 1962, initially covering for the injured All Black, Don McKay. He played 12 matches in his debut season - six of them Ranfurly Shield encounters - registering eight tries, the result of his strong, speedy running.
Along with Te Roi Tataurangi, Peter Murdoch and Ron Webb, Patterson was a member of the 1964 New Zealand Colts team that toured Australia, scoring six tries in his four appearances, including one in the major game of the tour against Queensland, a match won by the hosts by 30-12. Magpies Bill Davis, Ian MacRae and Gordon Love were also on this tour as Colts.
Rocky Patterson played in the early All Black trial in 1965, the curtain raiser to the Inter-island match at Athletic Park and although he did not make the national team, he (and Tataurangi) played against the touring Springboks for the New Zealand Juniors, the match somewhat one way traffic as the ‘Boks ran away with it by 23-3.
His position in the Auckland side became more prominent during 1966, where he again pressed for national selection through the trial system. Had he gone to another province he would certainly have been an automatic choice and played more matches, but vying for a spot on the wing against All Blacks Malcolm Dick and Don McKay always had him on the back foot. But in 1967, he played in 17 of Auckland’s 19 fixtures and he was regarded as unlucky to have not been given a chance at All Black level.
Mate Ivan Joseph Jakich was a similar story. Destined not to be an All Black, the Newmarket fish-and-ship shop owner, born in Otorohanga and educated at St. Peters College, had played over 50 matches for his union, his playing style epitomised by his trademark ‘rampaging runs’. Hooker, Kevin O’Shannessey of the University club, had also racked up the half ton, since taking the role with the departure of Frank Colthurst in 1964.
Lock, Philip Anthony Lindesay played in all of Auckland’s 13 first-class matches of 1968 (as with Webb, Jones and Thorburn), the unavailability of ex-All Black, Keith Nelson, giving the University player a regular berth in the second row. He (along with hooker O’Shannessey) had played for New Zealand Universities against the British Lions in 1966.
The Auckland reserves contained another three players who had or would wear the silver fern in Peter Murdoch (5 tests for New Zealand in 1964 and ’65), Malcolm Dick (15 tests between 1963-1970) and hooker, Ron Urlich (2 tests between 1970-1973). Future All Black selector-coach, John Hart, was the reserve half-back for Auckland during their shield challenge.
Peter Henry Murdoch, who came on to replace Neil Brady during the match, was a member of the Otahuhu College 1st XV in 1957 (with Mac Herewini), who won the New Zealand Secondary Schools championship. He was captain of the 1st XV the following season.
Entering the first-class domain in 1964, he made the New Zealand Colts side which toured Australia, playing four matches at first five-eighth and one at full-back. Upon his return he was quickly whipped into the Auckland side for a match against Counties, thereafter making the No. 10 jersey his for most the rest of the season.
He was impressive enough in the Auk’s victory by 11-6 over Australia, to be called into the first test side as a reserve a week later, then displaced Bruce Watt for the second and third tests, scoring tries in each.
After two trials and an appearance for the North Island, he played the first three tests against the 1965 Springboks, but following having had to cope with Wellington’s erratic gales in the first and the straight out loss in the third, was replaced by his club, provincial and All Black mate, Mac Herewini for the fourth.
By 1966, he was in serious competition with Herewini (and Adrian Clarke) for a regular spot in the Auckland line-up and although he made an appearance at the All Black trials (and again in 1968), most of his matches were limited to the ‘B’ side.
*****
The Aucklander's had enjoyed their obligatory fine season, having tasted defeat only twice in 14 outings, both times at the hands of northern neighbours, North Auckland. They had knocked off Waikato and Wellington home and away, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki and Canterbury at home. On the road they had with ease dispensed of Thames Valley, Counties, Nelson and Poverty Bay.
Their dress rehearsal for their big date with ‘shield recovery’, was a show done with arch-rivals, Wellington, the weekend beforehand on Eden Park. The scoreline shows an emphatic 22-6 win for the Auks, but 13 of those points came from the trusty boot of Roger Whatman, with Neil Cowley drop kicking a goal. The balance of the ledger was two tries apiece, Auckland’s scored by Peter Thorburn and Malcolm Dick.
*****
The Hawkes Bay side was unchanged from the Bay of Plenty challenge, minus stalwarts in Johnson, MacRae and Davis, but at full strength, or as close to full strength as it could be. The only change of any significance was in the playing strip, where for the first (and only time during the tenure) the team wore white jerseys to avoid the hooped clash with the Aucklander’s, in their traditional blue and white.
It was a perfect day for a game of rugby, warm and sunny, despite a late season flurry of snowfall that had fallen in parts of the province the previous day. As the teams took the field inside the cauldron of McLean Park, the atmosphere was totally electric and - for the first time – mirrored the intensity and feeling that had pervaded most shield rugby of 1967.
In just such an atmosphere, the match began with the holders having the advantage in the first half of a slight breeze. What mighty deeds would be achieved over the next eighty minutes? Would all the conjecture, rumours, doubts, suggestions and speculation of the pre-match hype come to pass?
In the first twenty minutes of play, honours were fairly even, although Auckland were winning a greater share of the ball. After 21, then 26 minutes, Ian Bishop landed penalty goals for Hawkes Bay. Roger Whatman pulled one back for the challengers after 30 minutes, there was not much between the two sides as they went to the break, the holders ahead by 6-3.
Two minutes after the restart, Whatman leveled the score with a second penalty and 15 minutes in, the fullback landed a dropped goal, giving his side the lead for the first time at 9-6. The Aucklander’s had their noses in front, they had a long and proud shield history and – like the Bay – contained players who had been in similar situations during their own recent tenure and knew how to win.
Furthermore, up until that point, they had been dominant in the forwards and were winning enough ball to close the game out. With the threat of losing the log, the Bay rallied, as it had done in the already famous game against Wellington, the same Saturday afternoon a calendar year ago.
There were some determined efforts to penetrate the Auckland defence and score, but chance after chance had failed to produce the necessary three points required to hold the trophy. The minutes on the scoreboard clock were slowly ticking away.
Hawkes Bay attacked again, but the ball was dropped and an Auckland foot speculated the ball toward the Bay line. Pacy three quarters, Grahame Thorne and ‘Rocky’ Patterson, were after it like a pair of hares and seemed destined to win the race. A try would finish the Bay off once and for all.
But in a flash of sheer genius, Hepa Paewai was there first, threw Thorne and Patterson off their stride by collecting the ball and in dodging them both by darting between the goal posts, was able to bring the ball back into the field of play clear it down field. Even a five yard scrum would have suited Auckland better, but Paewai’s brilliance had denied them the opportunity to deliver the knockout punch.
From the ensuing line-out, Gary Condon kicked high to Whatman, in front of the Auckland posts. Ian Bishop was up to flatten his opposite in a courageous tackle, as Whatman grasped for the ball. The Bay carried play toward the Auckland line and Condon went within an ace of scoring, it was end to end stuff.
The result was an Auckland scrum feed. Clearing the ball up the line might buy enough time for the match to end and the shield to change hands, but now there was an injury break. ‘Emptying the tank’, Bishop had given his all to the cause, but after the collision with Whatman he was forced to leave the field, replaced by young Paul Carney, making his shield debut.
Play resumed with the scrum, but Auckland failed to hook the ball cleanly and with a mighty effort, the Magpies shunted the challengers pack back over their own line and Paewai was round the side to ensure another scrum, right in front of the Auckland goal posts, holders feed.
Paewai put the ball in and it was quickly heeled by Myles Reddy and safely held at the back, under the foot of number 8, Condon. Blair Furlong shaped himself for the dropped goal attempt. Flashes returned once more of the Wellington match a year ago and this was an absolute sitter, right in front. The crowd could see it, as could the fifteen men in blue and white, now firmly focused on that likely scenario.
As the collective roar went up from the stands, the sidelines, the embankment, the Auckland captain, sensing a bluff, yelled at his players to ‘stay back’. His instruction became inaudible in the din and Paewai, timing it to perfection, scuttled away from the scrum without the ball, with at least half a dozen Aucklander’s after him or heading vaguely in the direction of Furlong. Mate Jakich was the player ‘officially’ penalized by referee, Dave Millar.
Suddenly the lime light fell on Bishop’s replacement, a 21 year old farmhand from Napier. This was the tenth time that he had warmed the reserves bench in the current shield tenure, now - as fate would have it - he was on the field at last and his first act; to kick the goal that will earn a draw and ensure that the shield stays in the Bay for the summer months of 1968-69. It wasn’t a difficult kick, but so important that an entire season rested upon it and it was in front of a crowd in excess of 25,000, a lot of whom had swarmed down to the touchlines to get a better look.
Although there were few fears among the Bay players themselves regarding Paul Carney, Neil Thimbleby stood pensively behind him, with hands on hips, as he lined up the kick at goal.
“I never said a word to him, probably because I was so stuffed! But I knew as soon as he lined it up it was over. Carney just never missed them.” Neil Thimbleby (Shield Fever, Lindsay Knight)
It was all but over. The young fullback was also involved in the final act of the game, marking the ball from a final passage of play and then deliberately belting it hard into touch. Tremain and Crawford danced arm in arm, the Hawkes Bay players were exulted with joy. Fourteen successful defences over two seasons and the opportunity in 1969, to once again defend the Ranfurly Shield.
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On September 28th, the last weekend of representative rugby for the season, the following matches were also played; At Athletic Park, Wellington ended their season on a high note beating Canterbury by 16-12. King Country defeated Counties in Papakura by 17-15. North Auckland beat Bay of Plenty in Whangarei by 16-0. South Canterbury went down by 11-18 to a Canterbury XV in Christchurch.
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Had Auckland been successful in winning the Ranfurly Shield from Hawkes Bay and given the then possible re-arrangement to their 1969 calendar, the shield season may have looked like this;
June 28th, v Counties (27-3) July 16th, v Waikato (11-11) August 30th, v Otago (27-14) September 6th, v Southland (22-12). September 13th, v Wellington (24-19). September 20th, v Hawkes Bay (3-6). September 27th, v North Auckland (14-14)
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Roger Whatman played for Auckland until the end of the 1973 season, accumulating 60 matches for his province. Injured early in the match against Canterbury at Eden Park in 1970, a match won by Auckland by 14-8, he missed the remainder of the season, but was back to face the Lions of 1971 and the following season, notched up 102 points for the blue and whites.
On July 21st, 1971, Auckland faced the might of the British Isles - unbeaten thus far by any provincial side all tour - the Saturday before the third test in Wellington. The Lions named a near test strength line-up to face the Auk’s, a side which contained six present, past or future All Blacks.
Only a try in the 80th minute to skipper, John Dawes (converted by Barry John), saw the Lions get home by 19-12, in front of a capacity crowd of 55,000 at Eden Park. The match - with all it’s drama and tension - was as intense in atmosphere as the first test in Dunedin had been, the Lions harried into uncharacteristic mistakes by the driving play of the Auckland forwards.
Gareth Edwards and Barry John were often ‘nobbled’ by the Auckland loosies, captain Neil Cullimore, Ash Edwards and Joe Posa. Despite the surprising thumping they took in the line-outs (30-11) - considering the Auk’s had ‘Pole’ Whiting as their primary jumper - the home pack revelled in the scrummaging and tight play, ‘steamrolling’ the Lions on several occasions, once shunting their pack back over their own goal line.
But Peter Murdoch (by kicking away possession) and Gary Weinberg (continually cutting back inside) were to waste critical ball, especially given the talent they had in the three-quarters in Bryan Williams, Dave Palmer and Ken Carrington. Williams, in fact, did not receive the ball from set play once during the match.
Even so, when Auckland arrived in Christchurch for their Ranfurly Shield challenge on August 28th, it was against most expectations that they would come away victorious. And although outscored 2-1 in the try count, beaten in the scrums 33-13, tightheads 6-2, line-outs 19-17, rucks 12-3 and with only 34% of the possession, the full-time scoreboard read Canterbury 16, Auckland 20. Of those who played in Napier Roger Whatman, Peter Murdoch, Peter Whiting and Phil Lindesay were in the winning Auckland side.
The unexplained and sensational dropping of Alistair Hopkinson, his all round strength and line-out skills sorely missed, may have been one contributing factor, but Canterbury captain, Ian Penrose, maintained that referee, Dave Millar, was so angered by an incident which left Ash Edwards requiring 18 stitches, that he began to punish the holders with ‘extra severity’ if they infringed in any way at all. Auckland’s forward coach, ‘Snow’ White, believed it was the ugliest injury he had ever seen on a football field.
“More than one shaken Cantabrian told me on Saturday night: ‘The better team lost’. To which I retorted ‘Nonsense’ - Canterbury was better only at winning the ball and that’s only half the game. Whether it was the tension of Auckland’s close marking and crunching tackles, the Canterbury backs, who should have won the game, made enough mistakes to last a full Ranfurly Shield season.” Bob Howitt (Rugby News, 1971)
The Auckland tenure was brief! A 17-8 win over Counties a fortnight later was to be the only successful defence, the trophy in turn surrendered to North Auckland the following Saturday, in a 12-17 loss. The best part of a calendar year later, the Auks won the shield back from their northern counterparts (who had succeeded in six defences) only to lose it again 10 days later to Canterbury, going down by 6-12. From the retrieval job in Whangarei, only Whatman and Lindesay now remained in the Auckland line-up.
Teroi Tataurangi played 19 matches for the Auks in 1969 and 1970, but was on the ‘injured list’ at the start of 1971 and didn’t play again. Rocky Patterson played six times in 1969, but as with Tataurangi, was up against some very stiff opposition (especially the rising teenage sensation, Bryan Williams) to hold his place in the starting side.
Peter Murdoch struggled to gain a place in the Auckland team, playing in only four matches in 1969 and 1970. The following season his fortunes changed somewhat and as a veteran of 30, he was moved to second five-eighth (outside Alan Watkins), taking his tally of appearances for Auckland past the 50 mark.
In October 1973, he toured Fiji with the New Zealand Barbarians side, to take part in Fiji rugby’s 60th Jubilee celebrations. This was the Bob Sorenson coached side’s first excursion outside of this country, the club having staged games the length and breadth of New Zealand since it’s inception. In match one they were defeated 3-11 by the Presidents XV in Suva, but bounced back four days later to rout the Fiji Colts XV by 38-11 in Lautoka.
Peter Murdoch died suddenly, aged only 54, while jogging in the Auckland Domain in 1995.
Mac Herewini similarly, was on the outer. He only made two appearances in 1969, the emerging Alan Watkins being favoured by Bob Graham and also given the North Island berth at N0. 10. In 1970 he played his last 13 matches for Auckland, was given an All Black trial and captained New Zealand Maori in three matches; v North Auckland (13-19 in Whangarei) and twice against the touring Fijians, an 11-6 win in Christchurch and a 9-9 draw in Auckland. He also captained Northern Maori to a 17-12 victory in the Prince of Wales Cup match in Whangarei.
His last first class match was in 1971 for NZ Maori against the British Lions, a 23-12 win for the tourists in Auckland. Previously that season he had played for Northern Maori in the P.O.W. Cup match in Napier. Mac Herewini died in 2014, aged 73.
Grahame Thorne played in the first test in Christchurch against Wales in 1969, won 19-0 by the All Blacks, but a leg injury prevented him from playing the second in Auckland. He also represented the North Island and New Zealand Universities in an 8-6 win over Otago at Carisbrook. The following year he toured South Africa with the All Blacks and was one of the few who played in all four tests of that series (his Auckland team mate, Bryan Williams, Ian MacRae and Brian Lochore being the others).
Thorne returned home with the All Blacks, but was soon heading back to the republic to marry a woman he’d met on tour, leaving behind his fiancee in New Zealand, which obviously met with scandalous press coverage. He was a member of the 1971 Currie Cup winning Northern Transvaal side and later represented Natal.
Although he received a Springbok trial, he was unable to make the team, leading to speculation (mainly in New Zealand) that his non-selection was political, in terms that the South African Rugby Board were not ready to select a kiwi in their national side. The Springbok emblem was so jealously guarded that Ireland and British Lions scrum-half, John Robbie - an outstanding player - would suffer the same indignity.
In 1973 – named as being a South African – he played for Colin Meads Invitation XV against the All Blacks at Eden Park, won by the latter, 22-10. Returning to New Zealand from South Africa, he made a solitary appearance for Auckland in 1974, an 18-6 win over arch-rivals, North Auckland at Eden Park. Remarkably, it was only his 15th appearance in the blue and white hoops of Auckland. He played 39 matches for his country, including 10 tests between 1968-1970.
His oldest son, Bruce played for the 1999 Currie Cup winning Transvaal side, The Junior Springboks and in 2000, received a Super 12 contract to play for the Johannesburg ‘Cats’, coached by former All Black, Laurie Mains. He also played a season for Narbonne in France under Alex Wyllie. Tragically, he was killed in a car accident in 2009. Three years earlier, a second son, David, had also died following a spinal injury and subsequent stroke, resulting from a hard tackle in a rugby match played in Nelson.
Playing days over, Thorne himself went on to rugby commentary, achieving notoriety in 1983 when he appeared on television with a hair perm, which caused public condemnation and scorn, but was described by the TVNZ archive website as ‘a key moment in Kiwi fashion history’.
He was the National Party MP for Onehunga from 1990-1993 and then held local government roles as an elected councillor for various City Council’s. He also had two cooking programmes on New Zealand television.
Neil Brady of the powerful Ponsonby club, played exactly 50 matches for Auckland between 1967-1974 at second five-eighth of full-back. In 1969 he played 13 matches, the only season where he was considered a regular first choice selection. Versatility and dependability were the true strengths of his game, characteristics he would later take into the Harness racing Industry where he was a larger than life figure, generally outspoken and an often controversial, noted for his very aggressive driving style and when he wasn't winning races on the track, for taking on HRNZ in court over its rules and regulations.
Neil Cowley played 28 further matches for Auckland, 14 each in 1969 and 1970 before retiring from the game. W P Curran from the Takapuna Club, added another 20 matches in the same two seasons. He received an early All Black trial in 1970, but after failing to be selected, turned to the rugby league code.
Peter Robert Tyler Thorburn, similarly, played another 23 times for Auckland (taking his total to 40), but retired at the conclusion of the 1970 season. He was the first coach of the new North Harbour Union when it was launched in 1985, spending six seasons in charge, taking the new provincial side from the bottom of the pile to first division title contenders.
Thorburn then made a name for himself as an innovative selector and coach on the world stage after being appointed an All Black Selector during the Laurie Mains coaching era. He coached the New Zealand seven’s team for four years, the New Zealand Colts, NZA and the New Zealand Divisional team. In 1995 he became the New Zealand Commissioner for Super 12 Rugby at an interesting time when the game turned totally professional.
He returned for a second stint as an All Black Selector when Wayne Smith was head coach in 2000 and 2001, before moving offshore to coach in the UK (at Bristol 2001–2003). At the World Cup in France in 2007, he was head coach of the United States team. In the 2013 New Year Honours, Thorburn was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to rugby.
Mate Jakich made five appearances for Auckland in 1969, but his career was curtailed by a crippling spinal arthritic condition, which afflicted him until his death, aged 69, in 2010. First brought into the Auckland side by Fred Allen during the long Auckland shield run of the early 1960’s, the legendary figure once commented that it was unfortunate for Jakich that he played in the era of Meads, Lochore and Tremain, as Allen felt certain he would have been an All Black otherwise.
Late in his career for the blue and whites, Bob Graham noticed that the loose forwards co-ordination seemed to be going and his mobility compromised, as the early onset of his illness reared it’s ugly head. Graham sympathised with Jakich that an All Black jersey had eluded him. “No regrets about that”, replied Jakich. “I have three kids and a wife who is a saint. Better than being an All Black.”
Phil Lindesay was a senior player for Auckland University from 1965-74 and was elected a life member of that club in 2006. He played regularly for Auckland until mid-way through the 1973 season (87 matches), where he was dropped shortly after racking up his 100th first-class appearance.
He played for NZ Universities in 1970, ’71 and ’72, the highlight being an appearance against the 1971 British Lions at Athletic Park. Although the scoreline was inflated to the tune of 27-6 in favour of the Lions, the game itself was much closer, both sides scoring two tries, the difference the boot of Barry John.
Peter Whiting played 12 matches for Auckland in 1969 and a further seven in 1970, plus his first appearance for the North Island.
A wrist broken during an early season club match in 1970 prevented Whiting from playing in the trials and making the All Black side which toured South Africa, coach, Ivan Vodanovich having indicated that the lock was very much a part of his touring plans. In fact, Whiting had the plaster cast removed from his wrist the day the team flew out and if not for a lack of communication between himself and management, would have been on the same plane.
But by the following season he was an automatic selection for the next five years, playing in all but the third test against the 1971 Lions. Following a try in each of the three tests against the 1972 Wallabies, Whiting played all five tests and twenty one of the thirty two matches in total on the 1972-73 tour to the UK, France and North America.
He played in the All Black trial of 1973, but injury prevented him from playing New Zealand’s only test that year against the English and limited his appearances for Auckland to just three.
Peter Whiting played the three tests against Australia in 1974 and the test against Fiji in Suva. He played the test in Dublin against Ireland in 1974, then stayed in France and played for the Valence club, returning to New Zealand late in 1975.
He played the one-off test against the Irish at Athletic Park in 1976 before embarking on the trek to South Africa with the All Blacks, playing in all four test matches, taking his total for his country to twenty tests and fifty six matches in all.
The New Zealanders only test win came in the second in Bloemfontein (15-9) and is remembered for two occurrences; the Joe Morgan try (the only try in the match) and one of the greatest try saving tackles in test history, when Whiting literally launched himself at ‘Bok flanker Boland Coetzee and drove him across the sideline only metres from the corner flag. The tour would be his last on international duty however, a painful back injury (managed by a notable surgeon who was barely able to keep him on the field) curtailing his playing career.
The fact that he had played against every major nation helped persuade him that it was time to move into more business orientated ventures, although he did manage another season for Ponsonby, visited South Africa with a World team in 1977 and finished his career with the Harlequins in London.
Kevin O’Shaughnessy retired at the conclusion of the 1970 season with 89 matches for Auckland to his credit. Ron Webb received an All Black trial in 1970, but this would be his last season in the blue and white of Auckland also.
Murray Jones, played 56 matches for Auckland between 1964 and 1969. In 1970 he transferred to North Auckland, whom he represented until the end of 1974, playing in the side which took the Ranfurly Shield from Auckland in 1971. He received All Black trials in 1969 and 1970, playing for the North Island in the latter year and again in 1973, when - nearing the veteran stage - he gained his All Black honours.
After having been regularly overlooked he was included in the All Black team for that year's internal tour which was arranged to compensate for the cancelled tour by the Springboks. Jones played in all four matches, the two against the President's XV led by Colin Meads and those against the New Zealand Juniors and New Zealand Maori.
On the strength of the latter performance, he made his one All Black appearance in the 1973 test against England on Eden Park, when the heavily favoured New Zealand side were beaten (10-15) by a side which had lost each of it’s three provincial matches leading up to the test against Taranaki, Wellington and Canterbury respectively. A casualty from the fallout of that debacle, he was not even given a trial early in the 1974 season to help select the team to tour Australia.
Aged only 32, Jones lost his life in tragic circumstances. While trying to save his young son after a yachting mishap on Auckland Harbour early in 1975, Jones himself was drowned.
*****
The Hawkes Bay, Auckland shield match on September 28th, 1968, was to be Napier man, Joe Berry’s last radio commentary for the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation, after 22 years of calling live rugby broadcasts. Berry - believed to have been the longest serving sports commentator on contract to the NZBC - called all the matches from the 1964 New Zealand Maori tour of Fiji and was best remembered for his often used comment; “you’ll need a crowbar to get that one out of there!”
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And so to 1969...
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#1 song in NZ (27/09/1968) - 'I Have Loved Me a Man' Alison Durbin
