2007 Burn–Merz Trophy
RNZAF vs RAAF, Canberra
The pre-game haka was inspirationally led by Bruce Bromwich. WN-07-0036-92-tn.jpg.
Forget the World Cup. The RNZAF’s rugby team have ensured we can still hold our heads up with pride. Amongst all the gloom LAC Clint Fitzgibbon and SGT Bruce Bromwich give a report of the Burn-Merz match that has us winning the annual match for the fourth year in a row. Go the Blues!
On 5 September - following the Interbase tournament and a Training Camp - the Air Force team travelled to Australia to defend our shield. The Burn – Merz Shield is an annual fixture between the RNZAF and RAAF rugby teams. I refer to it as our shield because the RNZAF was the first to win it and has successfully defended it for three years running, much to the Aussie’s disgust.
After a long recovery session at the Whenuapai pool to get rid of the weekend’s bumps, bruises and the sore heads, team management lay down a game plan for what we had to achieve over the next four days before the game on Friday. The whole set-up was a professional approach that new coach Si Lamb and assistant coach Rick Wadmore wanted to employ to get the best out of all players. There was a lot of new blood in the team, with 13 skins being selected. After landing at Sydney airport we piled onto a bus for the three and a half hour trip to Canberra, arriving at about 2200hrs.
We had two training sessions left during that week to fine tune the team pattern and prepare ourselves for game day. Things were looking good as the new combinations and game plan had come together well in such a short time.
The two teams meet up. WN-07-0036-93-tn.jpg.
The pre-game haka was inspirationally led by Bruce Bromwich, after which it was all on. At half time we were down by 9-0. The RAAF had capitalised on our mistakes as we struggled to maintain any consistency in set play. During the half time pow-wow some stern words were said, so the start of the second half saw us come out firing. Every team member ‘stepped up’ and we scored early with a great line-out drive enabling lock Bruce Bromwich to crash over for the first try. But the RAAF were not ready to lie down just yet. At the 60-minute mark their No.8 picked up the ball from the back of a very strong five metre scrum and drove across for their only try. So, with our backs against the wall and the score now 14-5 we had to empty the tanks. We spent the last quarter hot on attack and after a half break and quick ruck, spun the ball wide for Alcide Gosselin to score in the corner. The pressure mounted but time slowly whittled away until at the last play we gambled with our last throw of the dice. Some magic from Dayne Mozel with his hot step, twirl and plant he managed to come up with the play of the game and score on the final siren to win us the match!
Later that evening the RNZAF were treated to a great after match at the Duntroon SNCO’s mess. As you can imagine the boys were very excited after the win and celebrated accordingly. It was a great night with Trans-Tasman friendships strengthened and new ones formed. Every member of the tour had performed exceptionally well, whether it was our fearless captain Andrew Mockford, player of the game Clint Fitzgibbon, or our manager Tony Lucas.
Finally with new coaches, a new approach to Air Force Rugby and increased player depth we can confidently build into the future.