David Leggat: Spirit of Maori in good hands

Jono Gibbes

In these fast and loose times, where old traditions are easily forgotten, it's refreshing to listen to Jono Gibbes on the eve of one of the big assignments of his career.

Gibbes passed a fitness test on his damaged left foot yesterday to take his place at the head of a New Zealand Maori team of whom there are strong hopes they will form what is effectively the fourth test opponents for the Lions.

There's no question Gibbes is a key element in the Maori planning for tomorrow's game in Hamilton. A respected figure both for the quality of his rugby, at blindside flanker or lock, and for the mana he carries.

He is captain of the Chiefs, captain of Waikato, an All Black, top bloke and, for these purposes, leader of a team with a rich heritage.

So it is refreshing to hear Gibbes talk about the imperative of living up to the tradition.

"It's important you acknowledge what has gone before," he said.

"The fact we are playing the Lions is a credit to the Maori players who have gone before us.

"The Lions got to pick their itinerary and they felt we were worthy opponents."

Gibbes pointed to the fact the All Black selectors had given Maori coach Matt Te Pou - in his 10th and final year - first dibs on the country's best players as another nod to the importance of both tomorrow's match and the place Maori rugby holds in the sport.

This week the Maori squad has heard stories of past matches against touring teams, games which lifted the spirit of the people.

"It means a lot to a lot of people. You get reminded of things like that, and that's one of the pressures you have on the team."

Pressure. It can be an overworked word, but Gibbes draws a distinction between what that means across the New Zealand rugby landscape.

"The All Blacks? It's about winning," he said.

"Super 12 is a business, and about winning. The NPC is a little more down to earth, it's about the passion.

"But a Maori team, people have expectations about the style they play, the way we conduct ourselves on the field and the spirit we show."

Gibbes thought hard about how to quantify the difference between captaining the Maori as opposed to his provincial or Super 12 team. He settled on this:

"The only thing you could say is with Waikato or the Chiefs the players come from different backgrounds. You're still working to a similar goal, but it requires a degree of bonding, so we're all buying into the one goal.

"For the Maori we have that culture that bonds us automatically. We don't need to go through the team bonding process. It's already there. It is a unique environment.

"Every new guy who comes in is apprehensive to start with. But they go away feeling better for the experience."

Remind Gibbes that there's a good feeling about the Maori chances and he'll give an 'aw shucks' response. He's heard similar talk before, but knows talk doesn't win matches.

Tell Gibbes he's got nine All Blacks in his starting XV and three in the reserves and he'll give a kind of "that means nothing till we get out on the paddock" reply.

"All it means is you've got a few more tools in the toolbox."

And throw in the notion that it's a final chance to impress the All Black selectors and Gibbes figuratively rolls his eyes.

"You'd be foolish to think past this Saturday. That's how I feel about it. This is my only guaranteed Lions game."

So what does the 28-year-old, who has seven test caps to his name, think about in the leadup to a game many regard as the best chance to topple the Lions in their seventh attempt?

On a personal level, he thinks of the likes of Arran Pene, Norm Hewitt and Deon Muir, past Maori leaders of recent vintage.

He says he'd like to be regarded as being "half as good as they were".

As for the hype, the swelling of expectations of what might be achieved tomorrow night, he knows actions are what win games of sport. Gibbes reckons the rest are "external influences" which don't have a bearing on the team thinking.

There will be a desire to give Te Pou a grand farewell. For years he battled away in difficult circumstances, denied fine players because of All Black obligations.

It's a moot point whether the New Zealand Rugby Union did the right thing, putting the Maori selection at the top of the pecking order for this match, but Te Pou is relishing having a full hand to play with.

Gibbes says the players want to see him off in style, while adding Te Pou won't hear any of that sort of talk, preferring the players do themselves proud for more practical reasons.

But there's no doubting, if the Maori want to feel the spirit of those who've gone before them tomorrow night, they'll be running out behind the right man.