Wellington against international teams: versus France 1989

Match Details

Result: Wellington 24 – France 23
When: 24 June 1989
Weather: Overcast and showery
Crowd: 22,000

The Tour

Two years after finishing runners-up to the All Blacks in the inaugural Rugby World Cup, France touched down in New Zealand for their seventh visit as a touring side since their first in 1961.

New Zealand fans were familiar with many of their players, such as fullback Serge Blanco, who had had been a regular tourist down under, centre Philippe Sella, halfback Pierre Berbizier, and loose forwards Laurent Rodriguez and Jean Condom amongst others. This was expected to be a ripper of a series.

Sadly for the tourists, it wasn’t to pan out that way. France came away from the tour with a record of just four wins from eight matches. This included losses in the two Test matches to the All Blacks of 17-25 and 20-34.

They started the tour off with two wins, over Counties (24-21), second division Manawatu (28-23), but it started to come unstuck when they lost their third match to Southland (7-12) who were also in the NPC second division.

They were written off for the first Test in Christchurch that followed, rightly so when the All Blacks led 18-0 at halftime. But a stirring, French-like comeback saw them close the gap considerably and rattle the home team.

Next up was Wellington, on route up north to play Bay of Plenty (won 22-18) and then the All Blacks in the second Test in Auckland.

The Match

After a consistent decade in the 1980s, in which Wellington won two NPC Division 1 titles and were in the hunt for at least two more, the late 1980s ushered in several years of under-achievement for the Lions. But a highlight of an underwhelming year was this win over France.

Three players who were mainstays for the Lions during this period were All Blacks; lock Murray Pierce (Wellington FC), midfielder John Schuster (Marist St Pat’s) and fullback John Gallagher (Oriental-Rongotai).

Pierce missed this match against France, but Schuster and Gallagher were to play key roles, along with former All Black flyhalf Steve Pokere (Hutt Old Boys) and newcomer and bustling former Wanganui centre John Hainsworth (Avalon) in his debut for Wellington. Another player who made his mark in this match was towering young lock Chris Tregaskis (Avalon), whilst former All Black Brian McGrattan (Marist St Pat’s) shored up the front row and captain and halfback Neil Sorenson (Marist St Pat’s) had loads of experience.

Wellington went into this match with patchy form, having recently lost to Manawatu 15-32 in the annual Queen’s Birthday clash for the Coronation Cup and then Taranaki 9-11 in an NPC opener, 11 days earlier. This came on the back of a 3-51 defeat to Auckland in the pre-season South Pacific Championship. Wellington had already used 35 players this year and the NPC had barely started. France had also walloped Wellington 38-18 when they had met in 1984.

The Dominion reported that the team looked sharp and decisive in a committed 90-minute training run at Hataitai Park and looked to be preparing to play a fast-paced game.

It was France that started off with a hiss and a roar, scoring an early converted try and taking a 6-0 lead.

Wellington replied with a penalty to Gallagher, in his 74th first-class match for Wellington, followed by a piercing 60-metre run by Schuster to set up a try to wing Nigel Geany (Marist S Pat’s).

Wellington continued to press and after thrusts by centre Hainsworth and No. 8 Isaac Adams (Upper Hutt), Gallagher kicked his second penalty to put Wellington ahead 10-6.

France replied late in the half with a try and a penalty and they went into halftime leading 13-10.

The visitors missed a couple of opportunities through kicks early in the second spell, before Wellington seized the initiative from the 50 minute mark with back-to-back tries that won the game.

Schuster sold a dummy and took off up field once more and looped a pass out to wing Denis Tocker (Marist St Pat’s) who crossed to score. Gallagher then took a sweetly timed pass from Schuster and set up Tocker for his second try. Gallagher converted to put Wellington ahead 20-13.

This then became 24-13 when lock Marc Verhoeven (Petone) crossed for Wellington’s fourth try.

As expected, France didn’t lie down and with plenty of time still left on the clock they came back to score another unconverted try of their own to cut the gap to 24-17. But time was now running out and as they scored again to close the gap to a point fulltime was upon them and Wellington was already celebrating victory.

After such a difficult start to the season for Wellington’s fans, the Dominion said afterwards that this win put the smile back into Wellington rugby. That smile was wiped off again by year’s end when they finished a lowly seventh in the NPC.

The Teams

Wellington:
1. A.H. Gordon, 2. D.G. Fraser, 3. B. McGrattan, 4. C.D.Tregaskis, 5. M.H Verhoeven, 6. M.W. Hudson, 7. R.E. Cheval, 8. I.H Adams, 9. N.A. Sorenson, 10. S.T. Pokere, 11. N.P.Geany, 12. N.J. Schuster, 13. J.D.Hainsworth, 14. D.A Tocker, 15. J.A. Gallagher

France:
1. P. Ondarts, 2. D. Bouet, 3. J-P. Garuet, 4. J. Condom, 5. T. Devergie, 6. O. Rourmat, 7. A. Carminati, 8. M. Cecillon, 9. H. Hanz, 10. J.M Lescure, 11. P. Hontast, 12. D. Charvet, 13. F. Mesnel, 14. M. Andrieu, 15. P. Berot

References

• The Dominion and Evening Post newspapers – June 1989
• WRFU. The Winds of Change: Wellington’s Rugby History Part 3 1979-2004. WRFU, 2004.
• The Visitors - The History of International Rugby Teams in New Zealand by Rod Chester, Neville McMillan. MOA Publications, Auckland, 1990
• Magic Matches – Great Days of New Zealand Rugby by Graham Hutchins. Moa Publications, Auckland 1991.

Photo credit: Magic Matches – Great Days in New Zealand Rugby, pa Magic Matches – Great Days in New Zealand Rugby, page 224.