Club form rewarded with representative opportunities

Chris Gibbes and Mateaki Kafatolu shake hands after a Wellington Lions pre-season match last August. Kafatolu played seven NPC matches last year. Photo by Dave Lintott Photography.

The Wellington Lions are no longer languishing in the Championship of the Mitre 10 Cup. A breakthrough season in 2017 saw promotion and a return to the premiership.

A unique feature of the Lions success last year was the faith invested in battle-hardened club warriors like Mateaki Kafatolu, Galu Taufale and Regan Verney.

Chris Gibbes is the Wellington Lions coach. The former Waikato flanker is a straight-talking and understated taskmaster. Gibbes is clear about what he wants from potential representative selections.

“I’m looking for guys who stand out doing their jobs. It’s not just about scoring tries and making big tackles. I want guys who do their job consistently every week. I want guys who bring a lot of energy on and off the ball,” he reveals.

The Lions have a network of about half a dozen selectors watching club rugby. Gibbes was unfamiliar with the scene having spent four years in Wales prior to his appointment as Lions mentor. What were his initial impressions of club rugby in the capital?

“I was impressed. The standard is high. The games are competitive and there is some exciting talent coming through,” Gibbes acclaims.

It isn’t all a bed of roses though. Gibbes explains bridging the gap between a Super Rugby player and a club player is a big challenge.

“Bringing club players up to speed with the fitness and conditioning required to be a modern professional is difficult. Some guys need to change their off field habits,” Gibbes warns.

A lack of club loyalty is also a concern.

“Personally I admire loyalty. I like guys who stay at a club even when they’re not the preferred selection, but show some fight and become the preferred selection. It builds character and a competitive edge,” Gibbes asserts.

The proliferation of youth is an obvious and fairly recent change in club rugby. Is Gibbes worried about teenage upstarts?

“Age is irrelevant. The game has became younger at all levels and it's something we have to accept. If players are well coached everybody can play an effective role,” Gibbes stresses.

Balance is a key ingredient to success. When did things really click for the Lions last season?

“The Southland game. People can write off Southland because of their results, but Invercargill is a tough place to win and we really put them to the sword that night. The Southland game is when I felt we had the right mix of youth and experience,” Gibbes reflects.

The Lions beat Southland 61-12 – with nine different try-scorers on the night.

Other highlights included Wellington’s 60-14 Harry Saundercock Memorial Trophy win against Premiership winners Canterbury, their 42-26 John F Henning Trophy win over Taranaki and clinical 34-10 victory over Waikato.

Form English international Thomas Waldrom has signed with Wellington in 2018. The 35-year old flanker played 80 games for the Lions between 2001 and 2009. Attaining a player of Waldrom’s calibre is invaluable.

“When you’ve been at the top as long as Thomas has you not only bring great on-field experience but great presence off field too. The knowledge he’ll share with the younger players will be very valuable,” Gibbes enthuses.

Asafo Aumua, Alex Fidow, Thomas Umaga-Jensen and Billy Procter were among the rookies to really flourish for Wellington last season. Can Wellington’s youth repeat their success?

“The second year is always the hardest. You’re a marked man and have to work harder to stay on top. If those guys get their off the field process right and stay grounded then the on-field results will look after themselves,” Gibbes responds.

In January Wellington lost its highest capped player when Graham Williams died aged 73. Gibbes never met Williams but greatly admired the 174-game talisman’s contribution to the game.

“I’ve heard many stories about GC. He was one of the toughest competitors around and always brought high standards to everything he did. He left behind a great legacy, a legacy to be proud of and aspire to,” Gibbes concluded.

P.S. Chris is the older brother former All Black flanker Jono Gibbes who was recently appointed Waikato coach for the Mitre 10 Cup