In the battle between the biceps and quads of Luke McAllister and the
more experienced dreadlocks of Tana Umaga, it was the old master who came on top.
McAllister succumb to a niggling injury half an hour into the game and must be in doubt for the end of year tour.
ScpXointies as NZ Sevens speedster Sherwin Stowers has a … Hairdo
Features
- short at the front
- a modest expression on top
Benefits
- easy to maintain
- doesn’t draw a lot of attention
Fa’atonu Fili has the same look
Some very talented and famous rugby names come from the area including Jeff Wilson, referee Paddy O’Brien and Brian McKechnie.
The phrase ‘Double All Black’ was given to those who played rugby and cricket for New Zealand.
Two sons of Invercargill managed this feat.
Brian McKechnie was the first.
He played in Southland teams between 1976-1983 with All Blacks Steve Pokere and Leciester Rutledge.
McKechnie also played 26 times for the All Blacks including 9 tests scoring 148 points between 1977 and 1981. He was highly proficient but by no means exceptional.
Controversy followed McKechnie
In a famous test at Cardiff Arms Park in 1978, McKecknie kicked the goal that won the game. Nothing wrong with that but the penalty was given to New Zealand after lock Andy Haden cheated the Welsh by diving out of the lineout as if he were pushed.
No rugby fans in Wales have forgotten and fair enough.
Then, in the 1981 cricket World Series Cup in Australia, Trevor Chappell was ordered by brother Greg to bowl an underarm delivery for the last ball of the final against New Zealand. The Kiwis needed a 6 from the last ball just to draw the match.
It was McKechnie who faced the ball. He had only just come to the crease.
The full story is played out in this 8min video.
He blocked it and them threw the bat away in disgust but has since forgiven the Chapells for the incident.
McKechnie was a capable cricketer and genuine all rounder. The boundaries at the MCG are very big but it is possible that McKechnie could have reached them.
That he didn’t get the chance has immortalised him in sporting folklore history.
Jeff Wilson on the other hand was a genuine talent.
A schoolboy athlete, Wilson represented Southland in basketball, athletics, cricket and rugby.
He once scored 66 points in a high school match and was playing in the NPC before he left school.
Wilson came to prominence while studying at Otago University in Dunedin where he made the All Blacks in his first year, 1993. He went on to play in the 1995 and 1999 World Cups and scored a total of 234 points.
Wilson scored 4 tries in 60 tests – a record at the time.
Cricket
Wilson played for New Zealand in 2 series before channeling all of his energies into rugby from 2005.
His cricket statistics are not flattering but there was a memorable victory over Australia when Wilson hit the bowlers to all corners of the ground.
Paddy O’Brien was a track athlete and police detective before becoming a professional referee.
O’Brien had a turn of pace that he focused on the long- and triple jump. In rugby he was a wing and full back.
He began refereeing in 1984 and was New Zealand’s referee of the year 6 times between 1995 – 2004.
O’Brien became a professional referee in 1996 in the Super 12 turning his back on a 17 year career in the New Zealand Police.
He is now head of the IRB Referees Board.
Posted in Invercargill, Rugby World Cup Venues 2011
Tagged Brian McKechnie, Jeff Wilson, Paddy O'Brien
2. The Hamilton region has a very rich rugby history
Hayday
Waikato won the first NPC final in 1992. Until then the competition was decided by round-robin play alone.
Auckland had dominated for 10 years winning their first title in 1982 and then 6 out of the 8 to 1990.
The All Blacks were away when the final was played in 1991 and Otago beat a second string Auckland side but the Auks were back to full strength in 1992.
Waikato broke the deadlock that Auckland had on the NPC (in controversial style)
The second incident happened in the final where Waikato comfortably beat Otago 40-5. This wasn’t enough for combative All Black prop Richard Lowe who eye-gouged Otago fullback, Greg Cooper in a ruck.
The next year they would take the Ranfurly Shield away from Auckland as well
Waikato were a hard-working, tightly knit team in the early 1990′s led my John Mitchell but there were remarkably few All Blacks in the side.
Brent ‘Buck’ Anderson rounded out the second row
Mitchell combined with Richard Gerram and Duane Monkley in a hard-working but under-recognised loose forward trio.
Monkley was robbed
Ask any Waikato rugby fan about Duane Monkley and be prepared to hear about one of the greatest injustices of All Black history. The number 7 was tough, quick to the breakdown and big in the tackle.
Monkley did have considerable opposition during his career for the number 7 jersey, including Mike Brewer, Paul ‘Ginge’ Henderson, Michael Jones and an emerging Josh Kronfeld.
But it is fair to say he was equal or better than others who got an All Black jersey during the period like Mark Carter and Liam Barry.
Team of coaches
The team from the early 1990′s would produce a number of high-profile coaches
History
There are many rugby greats from the area.
All Black hooker Has Katley played 7 tests between 1946-49.
Waikato All Black, Has Catley
… and he had a stylish hairdo – remnants of Crispin Glover.
Two of New Zealand’s most famous players of all time come from the Waikato.
The great Don Clarke, known as ‘The Boot’ and the greatest Kiwi rugby legend of all time, Sir Colin ‘Pinetree’ Meads, known as ‘Pine Tree’.
See the Waikato Rugby Union Timeline for more historic detail.
1981 Springbok Tour
The country was split between the sad naivety of hardcore rugby fans who preferred to remain happily ignorant of the apartheid regime and those that believed it should not be tolerated and any cost.
The first test in Hamilton was called off when protesters occupied the playing field and police feared for their safety from rugby fans throwing full cans of beer and other projectiles.
There was also fears that a small aircraft would cause a safety risk.
The matches in Christchurch and Auckland went ahead but not without incident.
Posted in Hamilton, Rugby World Cup Venues 2011
The fast bowler and the winger.
This one is courtesy of Andrew Mulligan from New Zealand’s ’The Crowd Goes Wild’ TV sports show.
It’s a Match …. Cheers Andrew
 31 – Northamptonshire CCC v Australia @ Northampton – day 1- Mitchell Johnson Originally uploaded by LeamDavid |
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Sky New Zealand Rugby Commentator, Scotty ‘Sumo’ Stevenson offers his opinions on rugby hairstyles.
 Wynand Olivier with Wesley (WSPCCA beneficiary) May 09 (2) Originally uploaded by 2oceansvibe |
Northern Bulls and Springbok centre, Wynand Olivier sports the blond ‘Fabio’ hairstyle.
Percy Montgomery is probably the quintessential South African Fabio. Originally uploaded by gillstrawberry |
Saia Faingaa with his ‘keeping it real’ dreadlocks
George Smith cut his off over a year ago leaving very few dreadlocks in the Australian Super 14 teams. Faingaa is doing very well since his move from the Brumbies. He is particularly busy around the field, throwing himself into rucks with no regard for his personal safety.
Queensland Reds Hooker, Saia Faingaa
Growing the ‘fro
Chiefs captain and All Black fullback, Mils Muliaina. Back for the Chiefs and growing his hair.
All Black fullback, Mils Muliaina
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Daniel Braid and Vincent 'the Beast'
Braid is a predator in the loose and Vincent fought for justice in the form of a good-looking early version of Terminator’s Sarah Connor.
