Aaron Mauger

Aaron Mauger finished a seven-season stint as an All Black between 2001 and 2007 on a note of anti climax. Not only did the All Blacks bow out of the 2007 World Cup to France with a quarter-final loss, but Mauger, while in the squad, was not even in the reserves for that game, let alone the starting XV.

His rival, Luke McAlister, as he had been for other important games in 2006-07, had been preferred in the second five eighths position. Mauger, it is true, had had only a quiet tournament, playing competently as always but doing no more than necessary in his appearances in the easy pool games.

But, in hindsight, there seems wide agreement that in not having Mauger as a reserve at least an error of judgement had been made. The qualities for which Mauger was noted, steadiness and a sound tactical nous, were plainly lacking in the backline in the final 20 minutes of the quarter-final, particularly in the failure to set up a favourable position for what could have been a match-winning dropped goal.

Mauger had been marked for higher honours from an early age. After playing for the national secondary schools side in 1998, Mauger was immediately promoted into the Canterbury side for the 1999 national championship even though he was only 18. In that season, with Andrew Mehrtens away at the World Cup of that season, Mauger was usually at first five eighths and was chosen by the Rugby Almanack as one of their Five Promising Players of the Year.

But after acting as Mehrtens’ understudy for the Crusaders in the 2000 Super 12, then captaining the New Zealand Colts to their international under 21 success in 2000, Mauger in subsequent years began to concentrate more on playing at second five-eighths. Whether outside Mehrtens or later Daniel Carter, he seemed tailor-made for the position.

Though not overly big, he stood 1.83m (6ft) and weighed more than 90kg (14st) and so had the robust physique needed for the midfield. He also had an excellent boot, the ability to break a line, plenty of pace which made him a frequent try-scorer, tactical awareness and superb distribution skills with a long, flat pass.

Mauger was a regular selection in the Crusaders and played in the winning Super sides of 2000, 2002, 2005 and 2006. Injuries and All Black commitments reduced his chances to play for Canterbury and he finished well short of 50 NPC appearances. But he did play in the Canterbury side which won the NPC titles in 2001 and 2004 and in the side which lifted the Ranfurly Shield in 2004.

He made the All Blacks for the first time in 2001 for that season’s end-of-year tour and was a regulation selection from then on, usually as a second five. However, he did occasionally return to his schoolboy position at first five. He played a test there against Fiji in 2002, when he scored a try and contributed 13 points with his boot. He was also at first five, and captain, in the 2004 match against the UK Barbarians and in the second spell of a test against Fiji in 2005, when he again took over the goal-kicking duties.

Playing, however, so often in sides with Mehrtens, Carter and another fine kicker in Ben Blair, meant Mauger’s goal-kicking ability was only occasionally needed, both with the All Blacks or with Canterbury/Crusaders.

Mauger’s subdued World Cup in 2007 was his second disappointment on that stage. He had also been in the side of 2003, this time as an automatic starting choice for the first XV, and was in the team knocked out in the semifinals by Australia.

Mauger came from a notable rugby family. His brother Nathan, also a midfield back, was a team-mate in the 2001 All Black touring team, though Nathan’s two appearances came only in non-cap midweek fixtures. The two brothers were nephews of Graeme Bachop, an All Black halfback in 1987-95, and Stephen Bachop, an All Black first five eighths in 1992-94. The Maugers’ mother thus had the rare distinction of being a mother of two All Blacks and the sister of two All Blacks.

When he left aged only 27 to take up a contract with English club, Leicester, Aaron Mauger had taken his tally of test appearances to 45. He had also played 88 Super 12/14 matches and 42 for Canterbury.