YOUNG GUN: Rotorua's Liam Messam takes on Ireland's defence in Rotorua in 2010. PHOTO: Getty Images
YOUNG GUN: Rotorua's Liam Messam takes on Ireland's defence in Rotorua in 2010. PHOTO: Getty Images
Next Saturday the Maori All Blacks will take on the British and Irish Lions at the ground where they have a legacy of success over the years.
PETER WHITE finds out why their record is so good.
By Peter White
The British and Irish Lions could not have selected a more difficult opponent than the Maori All Blacks to play a week out from the first test.
Last time the Lions ventured to New Zealand in 2005 they were beaten by the Maori All Blacks in Hamilton.
To make it even more difficult for the tourists, who lost to the Blues midweek and face the unbeaten Crusaders in Christchurch tonight, is the superb record the Maori All Blacks have at the Rotorua International Stadium.
Rotorua first hosted a Maori All Blacks fixture in 1973 when the All Blacks beat them 18-8 on their unique internal tour. That is the only loss in seven games the Maori have played in Rotorua with test nations England, Ireland and Argentina beaten.
So why has Rotorua been such a fortress for Maori rugby over the years?
There is no better man to put that question to than legendary coach Matt Te Pou, who guided the Maori All Blacks for 11 years, including their greatest wins culminating with that win over the Lions in 2005.
"As we approach this game, Rotorua in a lot of respects is a real good centre of all things Maori. As a city when you are in Rotorua you feel the Te Arawa iwi coming through, that Maoriness coming through," he said.
"So it was easier when we used to take the Maori team to Rotorua. You just feel the whole environment, the spirit of the people coming forward with you. When we come into camp as soon as we possibly can we make our environment a Maori environment.
"We are not just another Saturday team - we are the Maori All Blacks."
Te Pou would love to see Rotorua be the permanent home of Maori rugby.
"I have always said that. We have a beautiful stadium there, it is quite central and easy for people to get to the game whether you are in Gisborne, Palmerston North or Auckland. "You see the results on the paddock. At the end of the day you are judged on results and the results are out there for everyone to see."
The victories over England by 62-14 in 1998 and the 31-28 thriller against Ireland in 2010 were crucially important to helping retain the status of Maori All Blacks, Te Pou said.
"Traditional teams such as NZ Universities were dropped with the introduction of professional rugby.
"In those two games we really turned a corner as a Maori team. On our watch we went from amateur to professional at the top level and yet we as the Maori were still in the amateur world. Therefore, we were under threat as rugby in New Zealand would not be the same as it had been in the past.
"Change had arrived. Professionalism impacted on players being available for these other teams. I spoke to the players every time we came into camp that any thought of us going on to the field and coming second has to be clearly out of our mind.
"Quite clearly we were responsible in our period of time to keep Maori rugby alive. We owed it to all the past players."
That night against England at the Rotorua International Stadium caused a major shock across the rugby world.
TOP CLASS: Tauranga local Adrian Cashmore on attack against England in 1998. PHOTO: Getty Images
"Wearing the jersey was about more than getting paid. Those games like England were important to us to demand recognition, demand respect by the union that we stay alive," Te Pou said.
"That feeling gripped all of us. Against England Norm Berryman . . . I have never seen a player in the Maori environment at international level have such an impact and outcome on the game.
"He ran at centre and all night he just bust straight through. We had guys like [Adrian] Cashmore and 11 of them went on to be All Blacks."
Cashmore said it was a great team to be part of.
"We were always going to play well under Matt as he had so much respect. There was a commitment in the team that we didn't want to let anyone down or let ourselves down.
"We just wanted to carry on that tradition and it was special to play for the team.
"England were always talking themselves up in the media and puffing themselves up and we had a proud record.
"The boys just wanted to go out there and give them a hiding. And we did pretty much."
In Te Pou's time as head coach, the Maori All Blacks played 40 games and won 35 of them.
Head coach Colin Cooper will look to add to the wonderful record set by Te Pou's teams on what could well be another famous night for Maori rugby.
You can guarantee the team that fronts the British and Irish Lions at Rotorua International Stadium next Saturday night will know all about the legacy.
Maori All Blacks record at Rotorua International Stadium
1973 v All Blacks lost 18-8 1976 v Samoa won 19-6 1980 v Fiji won 22-9 1983 v Tonga won 28-4 1998 v England won 62-14 2001 v Argentina won 43-24 2010 v Ireland won 31-28
