Wellington against international teams: versus Scotland 1975

Match Details

Result: Scotland 36 – Wellington 25
When: 7 June, 1975
Weather: Fine and sunny 
Crowd: 37,000

The Tour:

For the first time, Scotland toured New Zealand under its own banner, following several previous visits by British Isles teams and by England in 1963 and 1973.

The visit, from late May to early June 1975, was short and sharp, with six matches scheduled against provincial opposition culminating in a single Test against the All Blacks in Auckland. Of course, the Test was to prove famous for being played at a waterlogged Eden Park and will forever be known as the ‘Water Polo Test’. It was also noteworthy for the All Blacks wearing white jerseys to avoid clash with the dark blue of Scotland’s. The All Blacks won in a splash, 24-0.

The touring party featured two players, captain and loosehead prop Ian McLaughlan and tighthead prop Sandy Carmichael, who had toured New Zealand with the 1971 British Lions, and three more, fullback Andy Irvine, centre Ian McGeechan and halfback Doug Morgan who were to return with the Lions in 1977. They had finished second to Wales in the previous winter’s Five Nations Championship.

In the provincial matches that preceded the Test, the Scots beat Nelson Bays 51-6, before losing to Otago 15-19 and Canterbury 19-20. Moving on to the North Island leg, they defeated Hawke’s Bay 30-0, Wellington 36-25 and Bay of Plenty 16-10.

The Match:

Wellington, who had been playing enterprising rugby for the past few seasons, following their mauling at the hands of the 1971 British Lions, and had won and lost the Ranfurly Shield in the space of a week the previous season, fielded a strong side.

They were captained by Andy Leslie, who also captained the All Blacks and who’s sons Martin and John both later played for Scotland, and also included All Blacks second five-eighth Mark Sayers, wing Grant Batty, halfback Ian Stevens and veteran flanker Graham Williams. Fullback Brian Cederwall and forwards Gary Senior, Al Keown and Keven Phelan were All Black trialists.

Match-day dawned fine and 37,000 people headed up to Athletic Park to watch the home side, playing in gold, take on the Scots, in blue.

Wellington rocked the Scots early - scoring the game’s opening try almost from the kick-off after an early forwards drive and a dart at the try-line by try-scorer and halfback Stevens.

Both sides traded penalties and Wellington led 9-6, before Scotland struck with their first try to take a 12-9 lead. Wellington replied through fullback Cederwall who came into the backline from an attacking scrum and sliced through to score. He converted his own try from out-wide. Further penalties followed and Wellington led 21-15 at halftime. 

The Scots drew level to 21-21 with further penalties, before pulling ahead through a try that was converted from the sideline. Scotland’s kicker Morgan then landed his sixth penalty of the match to extend their lead to 30-21.

Wellington’s fans were offered a glimmer of hope when second five-eighth Sayers kicked ahead and a flying Grant Batty scored another try, but Scotland had the last say with a converted try at the end.

The Teams:

Wellington: 1. K.D. Phelan, 2. K.D. Horan, 3. A.E. Keown, 4. G.H. Senior, 5. M.G. Stevens, 6. M.J. Wooton, 7. G.C. Williams, 8. A.R.Leslie, 9. I.N. Stevens, 10. B. Allen, 11. G.B. Batty, 12, M. Sayers,13. J.D. Brown, 14. W. Proctor15, B.W. Cederwall

Scotland: 1. J. McLauchlan, 2. C.D. Fisher, 3. A.B. Carmichael, 4. I.A Barnes 5. A.F. McHarg 6.M.A. Biggar, 7. W.Lauder, 8. D.G. Leslie, 9. D.W. Morgan, 10. I.R. McGeechan, 11. L.G. Dick, 12. J.M. Renwick, 13. J.N.M. Frame, 14. W.C.C. Steele,15. A.R. Irvine

The Players

Grant Batty (Marist St Pat’s) was a dynamo, an electric pocket-rocket wing who brought energy and zest to the game and crowds through the turnstiles. If a book was ever written about school sports stars then Batty would feature. In three seasons in Greytown’s Kuranui College First XV, Batty scored 114 tries, including 70 in 1969 whilst playing at halfback as well as second five-eighth and fullback.

Perhaps his most celebrated moment – and sadly his last in rugby – came eight years later in 1977 whilst playing for the All Blacks against the British Lions when applause for his 50-metre intercept try almost brought the Millard Stand down. But in scoring this try he re-aggravated his previously injured left knee and five days later the 25-year old wonder wing retired. For Wellington, Batty scored 45 tries for Wellington in 58 games. For New Zealand he played 15 Tests and 41 matches between 1972-77. This was to be his last season for Wellington, playing for Bay of Plenty in 1976 and 77.

In its assessment of the Wellington players the following week’s edition of the Rugby Weekly had this to say about Batty’s performance: “ Tip top performance, even if play didn’t always run his way. Great determination brought him one try and unlucky not to get another when taken out of the game.”

Brian Cederwall (Athletic and Western Suburbs) kicked scored 17 points in this match and had a sound match according to the Rugby Weekly: “Surbeb all-round game; splendid running; great try; 17 points; some powerful punting…surely no one can doubt this man isn’t up to All Black class.”

Cederwall retired in 1983 after a decade in Wellington rugby that saw him play 102 first class matches for the Lions, making him the third most capped Wellington fullback after Mick Williment and Allan Hewson (both 108 games) and the fifth most capped Wellington back. A naturally gifted sportsman, Cederwall also played 52 first-class cricket games for Wellington and his brother Grant also played cricket and rugby for Wellington. Also a first five-eighth, fullback was his preferred position and throughout his career his competition at Wellington included All Blacks Joe Karam, Clive Currie (unlucky not to make thislist) and Allan Hewson. He scored a try in his last match in 1983 to bring up 500 first class points.

Mark Sayers (University), nicknamed ‘Twig', had been a rugby prodigy since his time in the Wellington College First XV in the mid-1960s. Twig Sayers was a second five-eighth or centre and was an All Black on their overseas tour in 1972-73, playing in 15 of 32 matches but not selected in the Tests. He represented Wellington most seasons between 1968-76 and went on to play 94 games for Wellington. He played in South African throughout the late 1970s to early 1980s before returning to Wellington to live.

The Rugby Weekly said this of Sayers after this match:” What a pity national selectors have been so obtuse recognising his rare talent. Truly a brainy footballer. Put Cederwall in for his try and set up Batty with his with a stab kick.”

References

• The Dominion newspaper, June 9 1975
• Arthur Swan and Gordon Jackson. Wellington’s Rugby History Part 11 1950-1979. WRFU, 1979.
• The Visitors - The History of International Rugby Teams in New Zealand by Rod Chester, Neville McMillan. MOA Publications, Auckland, 1990
• The Encyclopedia of New Zealand Rugby By Ron Palenski, Rod Chester, Neville McMillan. Hodder Moa Beckett, Auckland 1998
• All Blacks A-Z on www.allblacks.com
• Rugby Weekly, May and June 1975
• Photo credit: Rugby Weekly, 14 June 1975