Andy Chapman reports
DRUMSURN man John Semple wrote his name into the rugby history books on Saturday, when he became the first ever known Irishman to take part in a pre-match haka leading into a New Zealand provincial final.
Two hours later, he had a Heartland Championship Meads Cup winners medal around his neck, after kicking East Coast to victory in what has been described as “the most remarkable comeback in the history of the competition”.
The Ulsterman played a pivotal role in clawing his side back from 27-3 down against Whanganui, to win 29-27.
Up until the last 20 minutes there seemed little chance for the Sky Blues, but as East Coast scored try after try, the impossible turned into a reality. Semple kept on adding the extras to seal the win.
The result reversed last year’s final where Whanganui lifted the cup and went down as East Coast’s biggest achievement since they won the NPC in 2000, against the team regarded as the best New Zealand provincial rugby has to offer, outside the ITM Cup competition.
For Semple, the weekend win signed off a remarkable season in style.
The former Limavady Grammar School man’s sporting achievements over the past three months may have gone largely unnoticed in his homeland, but in the small, rugby-obsessed East Coast province of New Zealand’s North Island, he has become a cult hero.
After spending a New Zealand club season with Christchurch outfit New Brighton earlier this year, he was offered a contract with the North Island province and made the move to Gisborne.
After a string of impressive performances for the Sky Blues, he was affectionately renamed ‘Hone’ Semple by the region’s Ngati Porou Maori tribe.
He ran the cutter in the final win over Wanganui at Whakarua Park, Ruatoria at the weekend.
Semple wore the fullback jersey during the opening stages of the campaign and struggled to make an impact, but a positional change saw him switched to his preferred outhalf slot in a round five match against champions Wanganui. He hasn’t looked back.
The Coast went into that game having won only one of their previous 23 matches against their opponents, a team who have appeared in all six Meads Cup finals… winning three.
East Coast – with Semple calling the shots – minced the ‘Butcher Boys’ 25-17 and the 23-year-old Ulsterman capped an outstanding game with two conversions and two penalties.
His confidence rising, Semple then added to his try tally and landed five conversions in a 53-38 win over Thames Valley.
The Coast continued their charge to the Meads playoffs with a 56-24 slaughter of England World Cup winning captain Martin Johnson’s old provincial side, the King Country Rams. ‘Hone’ crossed the white line twice and added three conversions.
Then came the big derby against Poverty Bay – a team which included 2011 Namibian World Cup star David Philander – and Semple starred in a 24-14 win in front of a big crowd.
The smallest rugby union in New Zealand by registered player numbers were now only one game away from back-to-back finals, with North Otago standing in their way.
It was a cultured Irish boot which played a huge part in a 26-15 semi-final win… Semple’s kicking out of hand cited as a major contributing factor, as the Sky Blues booked a home final.
The New Zealand experience has been “just amazing”, said the former Limavady and Ballymena player.
“Rugby is on a whole different level over here,” he said. “The people eat sleep and breathe rugby and that’s why I love it.”
One of the many highlights for the Limavady man has been having former New Zealand Maori XV star and Munster Heineken Cup winning inside centre Rua Topoki on his outside shoulder for much of the provincial season.
“The man is still an unbelievable player and has a lot of knowledge and experience,” said John.
“I’ve just been trying to soak it all up over the past few months. He’s just another one of the boys to me now and that mana (Maori for character) plays a big part in how we performed so well.”
Such has been the rugby impact made by Semple, there is talk of an opportunity for the Ulsterman to travel back to New Zealand next season, “with the possibility of linking up with an ITM Cup province”, said a prominent national rugby writer, who lives and works in there.
“He isn’t just there just yet but has all the goods to make it in this rugby-mad country,” said Belfast man John Hill, who contributes to NZ Rugby News.
“He would have been a certainty to make the New Zealand Heartland XV squad to tour Samoa, but being an overseas player ruled him out.
“He told me he hasn’t been ‘totally’ happy with his kicking, but has more than made up for any lapses with his passing, running, tackling and never-say-die attitude.
“In a number of earlier games it was his bravery on defence and willingness to chase down runaway opposition players that endeared him to his team-mates and supporters.
“Whatever he decides to do, he’ll be remembered for making a big impact here on the East Coast.”
That’s a decision for another day said John, who plans to take in some travel before returning to Northern Ireland for Christmas.
“I set myself a number of goals before I left home and I’ve achieved some of those,” he said.
“The next step for me is to keep improving and moving forward. I want to be the best I can be… no backward steps.”
New Zealand press yesterday reported that ITM Cup province Hawke’s Bay are in talks with Semple about a return to the country next season.
