Fans show Gibbes he's a hero in their book

By WYNNE GRAY

Three weeks ago, Jono Gibbes left Waikato Stadium on crutches to consolations about the end of his rugby season.

"All I could think about was missing Deon Muir's 100th game and missing a semifinal," he confessed.

On Saturday, he left wearing the No 6 blindside flanker jersey to the cheers of the packed stadium.

The contrast was almost overwhelming for the Waikato forward, who could not get rid of his smile after his remarkable recovery from an injury to his right knee.

He had been blowing hard in the last 20 minutes of Waikato's 41-37 semifinal win against Otago, but knew he was not going to let the prize of a NPC final and a rematch against Auckland on Saturday disappear.

"I just had to keep on trucking and it helped a little going into lock, though the loosehead prop didn't seem to think much of my scrum work," he laughed.

Gibbes thought he had ruptured his medial knee ligament during his side's 25-16 round-robin win against Auckland when he fell awkwardly in a tackle.

"I had it in a brace on the Saturday, Sunday and Monday, but then I went up to see surgeon Stu Walsh.

"He thought I had just given it a tweak and hurt some scar tissue, so he told me to throw away the brace and start rehab."

When Gibbes turned up for training last week and took a full part, even his team-mates were surprised. His reward came on Saturday when he lasted the second semifinal.

"It was my first taste of the playoffs and it was great." Gibbes had been inspired by the way Auckland had outgunned defending champions Canterbury in the opening semifinal.

"You could see it in their eyes. They were ready to go, and I thought that was cool. It really gave me an edge to watch them, they were really hungry.

"It also made me realise that just because we had a home semi, it did not guarantee us anything."

Otago were committed, drilled but did not bring any surprises.

Gibbes paid special tribute to Waikato's goalkicker, Bruce Reihana, who had to deputise again for the injured David Hill.

"This game more than ever made you think how important it is [to have a good goalkicker] because one team compiled points and the other was unable.

"Bruce puts in an amazing amount of work. I don't think half the guys realise how many hours he does.

"He has done it all year, practising just as hard as if he has to do it in every match."