KEITH GUDSELL
MANAWATU:
1945-1947
(21 games)
Gudsell was an inside
back with a devastating sidestep as
well as a keen eye for a gap. His
good form for Manawatu saw him
nominated for the 1948 All Black
trials. Seven trials were held
around the country to help pick
the 1949 NZ team to South Africa
where Gudsell played in six
matches. He shifted to Australia
after the tour and played three
tests for the Wallabies against the All
Blacks in 1951.
AARON CRUDEN
MANAWATU:
2008-2010 (20 games)
In 2010 Aaron Cruden
became the first
Manawatu player in 13 years to play a
test for the All Blacks. He played six
games as New Zealand swept to the
Tri-Nations title. Cruden debuted for
Manawatu in 2008 and immediately
caught the eye with his line-breaking
and coolness under pressure. In his
second game he helped Manawatu
upset Canterbury in Christchurch.
2009 saw him overcome cancer and
injury to lead New Zealand
to the World Junior
title.
PROFILES: NICK RUTHERFORD
JIMMY TAITOKO
BOB BURGESS
MANAWATU:
1960-1966
(71 games)
Taitoko was the
attacking gem of Manawatu’s early
1960s backlines. After two seasons
with Wellington, he arrived in
Manawatu in 1960. Taitoko was an
elusive runner and adept with the
boot, in general play and for goal.
Some thought of him as a latter day
George Nepia. Taitoko was the first
to score more than 300 points for
Manawatu. He was a regular in the
NZ Maori side between 1956 and
1964.
JIM CARROLL
MANAWATU:
1967-1973
(24 games)
MANAWATU:
1972-1983
(77 games)
Burgess was one of the
most ifted running and passing first
five-eights NZ has produced. His
ghosting runs with the ball in two
hands saw him carve up many sides.
After spending 1970 in Southland,
he returned to Manawatu in 1971
and was selected for the All Blacks.
His play in the second test against
the Lions that year showed his class.
HALFBACKS
From Manawatu’s
largest rugby family, Jim Carroll had
one of the best kicking games
Manawatu has seen. Carroll kicked a
record 23 dropped goals for
Manawatu including nine in one
season. He scored the match-winning
try when 14-man Manawatu defended
the Ranfurly Shield against Counties in
1977. Carroll’s father Phonse was an All
Black in the 1920s. Carroll was an All
Black reserve in 1978 and 1979 but
never got on the field.
MARK DONALDSON
Manawatu: 1974-1985 (110 games)
A fiery competitor, Mark Donaldson
spent more than a decade giving
his heart and soul for the
green-and-white jersey. “Bullet”
Donaldson had the best pass
around, captained Manawatu
over 50 times and led them to
the 1980 national title.
Donaldson made the All
Blacks in 1977 for the tour
of France and played
34 times for his
country. He was the
Manawatu coach
from1990 to 1992.
LEE STENSNESS
MANAWATU:
1990-1992
(33 games)
No first-five in recent
memory could sniff out a try like
Lee Stensness. In 33 games for
Manawatu, he scored 25 tries. In
1991 he was the country’s leading
tryscorer with 15. He was plucked
from under-21 rugby by Manawatu
coach Mark Donaldson in 1990 and
his natural running game was his
forte. He made his All Black debut in
the third test against the British
Lions in 1993.
DON McCASKIE
Manawatu:
1956-1967
(101 games)
In 1967, McCaskie
became the first Manawatu player
to register 100 games for the union.
He remains one of only three backs
to have done that. McCaskie
captained Manawatu in 1966
and1967. In 1966 he led the
combined Manawatu-Horowhenua
side against the British Lions.
Outstanding in that game, he sent
out quality passes and twice split
the Lions’ defence. In 1989 he was
Manawatu’s assistant coach.