Maori All Blacks From Same Club

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30481, 1 July 1964, Page 13

Maori All Blacks From Same Club

’J’HE choice of the two Christchurch club players—R. M. Wainohu and G. J. Waterreus—for the New Zealand Maori team which will tour Fiji later this month was a welcome recognition of the good Rugby that they have shown over the last four seasons.

Wainohu was selected for the Maori team which toured the South Island last year but it was Waterreus’s first entry into major Rugby. Since he began playing club Rugby in Christchurch in 1959 after playing for Mid-Canterbury, Waterreus has always been on the fringe of selection for Canterbury A teams but because of the competition from W. F. McCormick and D. C. Leary his role usually has been that of a competent full-back for Canterbury B. Except for last year he has represented Canterbury B since 1960.

A safe full-back with a penchant for attacking play, Waterreus has been a prolific scorer for his club. Twice, in 1960 and 1963, he scored more than 100 points in club games and in 1961 and 1962 he was In the nineties. Already this Season he has scored 91 points.

Wainohu had much the same problem as Waterreus when he first played for Christchurch. A plethora of good loose forwards restricted his chances of playing for Canterbury A. He played five games for Canterbury B in 1961 and two in 1962. However, last year his vigour, and speed gained him six games for Canterbury and by the end of the season he was established as the first choice for the No. 8 position.

After a hesitant start this season, caused probably by the effect of the new rules, Wainohu has been in Impressive form.