A look down the ages
The Maori, the people who came from afar in long boats to the Land of the Long White Cloud and told stories about its otriginn to equal the great myths of the world took early to rugby football and have proved adept at it, born to play rugby it seems.
They have given world rugby a lot more than the haka and tattoos. They have given rugby some of its greatest players and the aura of excitement that goes with island rugby.
The word Maori means apparently 'of the usual kind'. Maori rugby has been of a special kind.
When the first-ever New Zealand side was chosen, in 1884, Joe Warbrick and Jack Taiaroa were in it and they were Maori.
In 1888 the first team from New Zealand went to Europe, a New Zealand Native Football Team where native means born in the country. There were Maori in the team.
The first official Maori team was chosen in 1910 and went on a tour to Australia.
In 1930 the Lions first played the Maori in the first match after their defeat in the second Test in Christchurch. The match was at Athletic Park in Wellington, a ground which became ramshackle before the province moved its headquarters to Westpac Stadium.
The Maori side was captained by the great George Nepia and it was probably the fastest and most spectacular match of the tour, as the Lions ran from all parts, even from their own in-goal area. The Lions scored four tries to two and if only for that deserved the victory.
Carl Aarvold made two tries for Jack Morley. In the second half it was the turn of Anthony Novis. Thomas Jones-Davies broke to give him the first and quick passing the second. Between the two Dick Pelham scored the first try for the Maori and Jack Ruru the second. Ruru was still a schoolboy at Te Aute College at the time. Four years later he was injured playing rugby and died as a result.
Had Nepia's goal kicking been up to standard the Maori may well have won.
The Maori had to wait till 1959 for their next match with the Lions, this time at Eden Park in Auckland. Where the 1931 match had been splendid in every sporting way, this match was disgrace - dour at its best, brutal at its worst. Where the 1931 match had produced a fistful of tries, this match produced none as the Lions ran out winners by four kicks to two. It was a match in which the referee awarded 38 penalties, 19 each as the fighting broke out early on. And there were 45 000 people there to see unfair play.
Equilibrium was restored in 1966 in a match more like that of 1930 than that of 1959. This time the sides scored two tries each but the Lions won 16-14. Sid Going latched onto a Lions error in the first minute to get the match going in sensational fashion with a try. It was 6-all at half-time but Dewi Bebb gave the Lions the lead in the second half when he latched onto a Maori error to score. Bebb made the next try when his tackle loosened up the ball for Hinshelwood to foot through and score. Just before the final whistle a Lions' attack broke down. Waka Nathan picked up, ran and gave to Mac Herewini who gave to Pat Myers who scored.
The 1971 Lions were cutting a swathe through New Zealand sides and the Maori did not stop them at Eden Park as the great tourists won 23-12. It sounds comfortable but the Lions scored only one try - the only try of the match.
It was not a splendid match nor a sporting one. In fact it was described as a roughhouse.
The 1977 match, again at Eden Park, was much, much better. The Lions scored four tries to three and won 22-19. Again there was a huge crowd and, as he had done in 1966, Sid Going got the scoring going with a dummy and dart for a try at the posts. He scored again when he stole the ball from, Doug Morgan at a Lions' scrum, and the Maori led 13-3. When Bill Osborne cut through the score the home side led 19-6. Victory was in the offing. But that was the last of Maori scoring as first Mike Gibson, then Phil Orr, then Peter Squires scored tries. Morgan's conversion hit an upright and bounced out, leaving the score a tantalising 19-18 to the Lions. John Bevan kicked, David Burcher gathered, Gibson ran and gave to unmarked Squires. As he passed he saw Squires jerk up as his hamstring snapped but he managed to hobble over for the winning try. That hamstring ended Squires's tour.
The Lions came in 1983 but they passed the Maori by.
In 1993 the Maori and the Lion met again, this time at Athletic Park, then on its last legs, in Wellington. The Lions scored three tries to two and won 24-20. Ieuan Evans, Rory Underwood and Gavin Hastings scored the Lions' tries while Prince and Hirini scored for the Maori.
The Maori have not beaten the Lions - yet.