Maori ‘flair’

Press, 13 June 1979, Page 38

Maori ‘flair’

PA Tauranga The “flair” of Maori rugby has been promised when Northern Maoris play Southern Maoris at the Tauranga Domain, today.

That was the message from the new Northern Maoris coach, John Porima, on the eve of the annual Prince of Wales Cup match.

“I think,” he said, “that because it is not a trial for the players, they will be far more relaxed than usual.” The difference this time from others is that almost every Prince of Wales Cup match has preceded a New Zealand Maoris game against a provincial team. Consequently each cup match has been, in effect, a trial. Not so this time because nothing special rests on the outcome of this match. “Instead,” said Mr Porima,

“we will play the rugby to suit the people. “We have tried to bring as many of the Pacific tourists into the game as possible, but there have been injuries.” There is more than a touch of history about the game.

Only once before, in 1966, has the annual Maoris fixture been played in Tauranga.

And on that occasion, two of the present Northern Maoris selectors, John Porima and Mac Herewini, were in the Northern team which won, 22-20. Each were among the scorers of that game, too, the prop Porima, of Waikato, scoring a try and the first five-eighths, Herewini, of Auckland, kicking a dropped goal, a penalty and two conversions.