Gary Whetton

Gary Whetton’s place in New Zealand rugby history has always been overshadowed by a momentous event in which he was intimately involved but over which he had no real control. This was the shock axing of Wayne Shelford, by then a national folk hero, as the All Blacks’ test captain in 1990.

Whetton, who had first captained the All Blacks in midweek games in Australia in 1988 and had been vice captain to Shelford on the 1989 tour of Wales and Ireland, was installed in his place.

However unfairly the dropping of Shelford has always been seen as a result of an Auckland inspired “white anting” conspiracy in which Whetton was somehow implicated.

The harsh judgements on Whetton continued when in the following year a plainly unhappy All Black team under his leadership failed at the WorldCup. Whetton immediately became one of the scapegoats and in 1992, when Laurie Mains had become coach, was ruthlessly chopped from the All Blacks himself, not even receiving the courtesy of a trial.

Whetton deserved better and nothing should be allowed to obscure the fact he is entitled to be ranked among the greatest locks in All Black rugby. He made his test debut as a 21-year old in the traumatic “flour bomb” test at Eden Park in 1981 against the Springboks. He then overcame a serious knee injury to become a regular test selection for the best part of a decade, playing 58 tests and becoming only the second man after Colin Meads to reach the half century milestone.

Educated at Auckland Grammar Gary Whetton, after three years of soccer, played for the 1st XV in 1977, then Auckland 3rd grade, Auckland Colts 1979 and New Zealand Colts 1979/80. His achievements for Auckland, whom he represented 1980-92, were also hugely impressive and he was a major contributor to the 1985-93 shield era. He was a superb all round lock, amazingly athletic for such a big man and with a startling turn of pace. He formed an especially pairing in the early part of his career with Auckland and the All Blacks with his mentor, Andy Haden. Together they provided a comprehensive package of locking skills. They were a strong lineout duo, providing jumping options at the front and in the middle, and were formidable scrummagers.

Their partnership lasted until the 1986 season when Haden’s career was effectively ended at international level because of the suspension imposed on both for having been part of the Cavaliers’ tour of South Africa. The younger Whetton returned and over the next four years he and Murray Pierce were another fine locking pair and were both at the heart of the 1987 World Cup triumph and then on the successful tours of 1988 and 1989.

Whetton missed Auckland’s failed shield challenge against Canterbury in 1983 because of his knee injury which also ruled him out of that year’s short tour of Scotland and England. But at shield level he more than made amends for the 1983 setback and starting with the victory in 1985 he became a constant presence for much of the great Auckland era. He was a key figure in all of Auckland’s significant wins and in 1988 he became the captain when Maurice Trapp and Bryan Williams succeeded John Hart as the coaches.

Despite his great success in shield rugby Whetton was not always popular with the challenging sides. It was felt he and Sean Fitzpatrick were the chief perpetrators of many of the professional fouls which became part of the Auckland game when they were in danger of conceding tries. Particularly in the infamous “no scrums” shield game against Canterbury many felt that Whetton had been lucky not to have been given a sin binning at least for the stomping incident which had led to Canterbury hooker John Buchan being ordered off.

In 1984 Whetton was joined by his equally talented brother Alan in the All Black side and they shared a notable feat in becoming the first twins to play together for New Zealand at test level.

Gary Whetton’s last appearance in an official test, ironically, was against the All Blacks. He was called into the World XV for the third match in the New Zealand union centenary matches at Eden Park early in the 1992 season. He also appeared for a World XV in 1988 as part of Australia’s bicentenary and a Welsh Union World XV in 1984.

That was Whetton’s last year in New Zealand rugby. After playing 180 games for Auckland, added to the 101 he played in all for the All Blacks, Whetton spent his last few seasons in French club rugby and appeared in the prestigious French national final.