Skipper's punt pays off as Maori topple Waratahs

Jono Gibbes

SYDNEY - New Zealand Maori rugby coach Donny Stevenson was left lauding his captain Jono Gibbes but things may not have been so cheery had the skipper's gamble backfired last night.

The Maori boarded the plane for San Francisco and the Churchill Cup tournament in buoyant mood after a Luke Mahoney try three minutes from fulltime gave them a 20-16 win over an understrength New South Wales Waratahs at a sodden Sydney Cricket Ground.

Gibbes, the inspiration for the Maori's win over the Lions a year ago, again produced the goods when he turned down two shots at goal from wide out and opted for lineouts at 15-16 down and the clock ticking.

Consecutive throw-ins and a ferocious 10-man rolling maul saw replacement hooker Mahoney emerge with the ball, and the Maori with yet another international scalp ahead of their Churchill Cup opener against the United States on Thursday (NZT).

"It was a matter of whether time was going to run out... he's smiling at the moment but at the end he was pretty nervous out there," Stevenson said of Gibbes.

"The impact Jono has on this team is huge. That's the sign of leadership, getting a feel for the game and knowing when to make the hard call, and he did that. "

Stevenson, in his debut match as Maori coach, had to be satisfied before a crowd of 7800 brave souls -- the majority roaring on the visitors.

Heavy rain soaked the SCG, skyrocketed the error count and ruined the game as a spectacle, but the Maori adjusted better and played with more passion to claim a three tries to one victory.

Tries to debut centre Pehi Te Whare, from a clean break by Neil Brew, and busy No 8 Thomas Waldrom from a kick and chase were enough in a seesawing contest.

Stevenson and assistant coaches Stu Forster and Jamie Joseph couldn't pick from 39 All Blacks and 26 Junior All Blacks, meaning their squad named on Sunday had 13 newcomers to the Maori jersey.

Six of them -- Northland pair Te Whare and halfback Corey Tamou, cool-headed Otago pivot Callum Bruce, flanker Tanerau Latimer, fullback Cory Jane and wing Anthony Tahana -- started last night's match and were all singled out for praise by the coach.

Despite just a few days' preparation a loss would have been hard to stomach for Stevenson, well aware of the winning strike rate of his predecessor Matt Te Pou.

"Even though we put down this match as preparation for the Churchill Cup, we've got this proud history and we've got to be mindful of that.

"We could have put out subs willy nilly and tried to play an expansive game but it was about winning so we tightened up.

"All the boys out there can be proud of their efforts. "

The Waratahs were missing up to 12 Wallabies but had rejected trio David Lyons, Morgan Turinui and Matt Dunning aboard, while Peter Hewat's third penalty goal saw them hit the front with 15 minutes left.

Stevenson said his team's set pieces and ball retention augured well for the Churchill Cup where they also face Ireland A in group play before crossover matches against either Canada, England A or Scotland A.

- NZPA