South Africa tour clouds Clamp the champ

Tu Tangata, Issue 22, 1 February 1985, Page 12

South Africa tour clouds Clamp the champ

by Michael Romanos

Maori and New Zealand All Black rugby wing threequarter, Michael Clamp reacts with discomfort when conversation turns to the New Zealand teams 1985 tour of South Africa.

How can a young, ambitious player who has just threaded into big-time rugby, forego a trip to rugby’s dreamland? There are a dozen quality wingers just waiting for “Clampy” to drop a pass, miss a tackle or skip a tour. Clamp was reluctant to talk about the scheduled rugby trek when I interviewed him for this article last December. His brow furrowed nervously at “soft” questioning. “The job situation could be tricky should I gain selection,” he said after much deliberation. “There could be pressures in obtaining leave as a government employee.

“There’s bound to be different viewpoint groups adding to the pressures and I’m sure there will be some ugly situations should the rugby union decide to go ahead with the tour. “I don’t really know what the general feeling of the Maori elders is towards the tour their reaction appeared to be mixed back in 1981 when the Springboks toured here.” Last season, Mike Clamp, 22, broke Bernie Fraser’s New Zealand first class domestic try scoring record with 24 tries. Fraser’s tally had been 20. In all, during 1984 the flying rightwinger scored 39 first class tries including 15 for the All Blacks in tours to Australia and Fiji. Added to this is the 14 tries he secured in the local Wellington Swindale Shield club competition. A fair swagful of points.

Of all these golden touchdowns, Clamp said the most memorable were his first in All Black colours and the scintillating effort for Wellington against “The Professionals”, Canter-

bury, at Athletic Park.

“It wasn’t actually any sort of spectacular try against Queensland B at Ballymore but it was a great morale booster to score first-up for New Zealand,” he said. “Centre, Steve Pokere chip kicked ahead and I galloped through to dive on the ball.” Against Ranfurly Shield holders, Canterbury, Clampy scooped the ball from a ruck, sighted the opposition try-

line 80 metres upfield and traversed on a swerving, side-stepping and manbeating run to score under the bar, unopposed. “I believe I’ve been credited with 80 first class tries but that one sticks uppermost in my mind.”

Just how good is Mike Clamp? Perhaps the four-try effort for Wellington against Manawatu late last season tells us something of his power, agility and talent. His first came when he combined brilliantly with Bernie Fraser in an interpassing bonanza which swept some 70 metres. Next, he cut inside two players and fended off another. Try three was a classic. Fullback Allan Hewson whipped a pass to Clamp on about the Wellington 22. Clamp applied the pace, palmed off a defender, chip kicked towards centre field, gathered his own kick and swallow-dived under the bar.

The fourth had Clamp adding the finishing touch to a blind-side move set up by second five eight, Dave Ngatai.

Wellington-born, Clamp lives with his mother and younger brother in Petone. He was educated at Petone’s Wilford Primary and later at Hutt Valley High.

He played first XV rugby for three years as a centre and was a promising sprinter on the track, winning the senior boys 400 metres at the inter-col-legiate McEvedy Shield, clocking around 51 seconds.

At age 18 in 1980 things ticked over nicely for the youngster. He attended Wellington Polytechnic, studying conventional and Maori architecture. Rugby-wise, he joined the ranks of the celebrated Petone senior first side.

He gained his first taste of representative experience, turning out for the Wellington senior A’s and played his first matches for the New Zealand Maori team against Marlborough and Fiji.

New Zealand Colts selection followed in 1981 and New Zealand juniors in 1982. New Zealand Maori representation has surfaced regularly including touring Wales in 1982 and “tests” against Tonga and South Africa.

Mike’s younger brother, Marty is also showing brilliance as a winger and turned out for the Petone senior first club side last season.

Clamp’s father, Michael Clamp senior is of Anglo-Saxon descent. Mike junior’s maoritanga comes through on his mother’s side.

Tirawahine (nee Parata) is of the Ngati Toa tribe which in recent history was based in the Porirua-Waikanae region. Mike is a descendant of Toa Rangatira who is the ancestor of the Ngati Toa tribe.

Another tupuna is Noho Rua who was Te Rauparahau’s brother. The Clamps are to attend a hui of Noho Rua’s descendants at the Takapuahia Marae in Porirua during 1985.

Clamp who is a teacher at Titahi Bay primary school, says he holds an interest in Maori affairs.

“I can’t speak maori and I regret it. I’ve been trying to learn but it requires more time spent and continuity.

“I associate myself as a maori but be-

cause of the language, part of my mana in being a maori is lost.”

Clamp says playing for the New Zealand Maoris is a contrast to playing for the New Zealand team.

“With the Maoris I’m representing my race as opposed to representing my country.

“The pressure is not as great and the atmosphere more relaxed playing for the Maoris. When I'm performing the haka I do it with much more feeling with the Maori teams because it's part of the maori culture.

“Maori teams want to win against allcomers just as much as New Zealand but we find it hard to come to grips with the playing style that some people expect.

“There’s a maori traditional style that doesn’t always win games.”

At 13 Vi stone in weight and standing 6ft lin tall, Clamp has a fine physique and manly good looks.

He admits there is a certain glamour attached to being a dashing wing threequarter. “Everyone expects the winger to be the pretty boy of the team,” he said.

“I’ve heard rumours of my being a ‘heart-throb’ but even though I tend to wear trendy cloths, I really can’t say I’ve been chased up the street by a group of fans. But I have signed at least one autograph.”

Clamp said he has combated any tackling and high ball catching deficiencies of the past with a new found “inner confidence”.

“But being in the background for so long didn’t help my confidence at all,” he said.

During the last four years, Clamp has been reserve for Wellington as many times as he’s played for his province.

He’s had plenty of time to watch the antics of established All Black wingers, Stu Wilson and Fraser.

“I think I’ve improved my defensive qualities this year (1984) by better positioning and a ton of confidence. Also, I’m running more aggressively than I have in the past.”

Clamp’s ambitions in rugby for 1985 include playing for a local French club side in France and playing for the All Blacks in his first home series against England.

And about South Africa. Well, that’s when Mike clamps-up.

Porirua Rugby Football Club jubilee at Easter.

The club is attempting to put together a historical booklet covering its 75 years from the time it was affiliated to the Wellington Rugby Union in 1910. Most records from before 1942 are believed to have been lost in a house fire and the club is anxious to acquire anything (photographic or written), particularly from the earliest years when the club membership was largely Maori. It may be that history from that time may be gleaned from descendants of people who lived at in the area, particularly around Takapuahia.

The club’s history is not well documented, perhaps because it has not been known for its All Blacks or for its championship successes. However, it has produced many players who have become All Blacks or figured in championship wins with other clubs.

Any information would be welcomed by the club’s jubilee publicity officer, Sue Solomon, 16A Puaha St. Takapuahia, Porirua.