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Grim faced Steve McDowell was one of the unsung heroes in an All Black side that won the first World Cup and swept all before them between 1987 and 1990. Born in Rotorua, this uncompromising, teak hard prop played his club rugby for the Auckland side which dominated the Ranfurly Shield in the 1980s and 90s and formed the backbone of the New Zealand test team in the same period. Steve's international debut came on tour against Argentina in 1985 and over the next six years he was virtually immovable from the All Black side. He would play in all his team's games in the 1987 World Cup and made a major contribution to the forward dominance which marked New Zealand's performances. Along with fellow Aucklanders Sean Fitzpatrick, Michael Jones and the Whetton brothers, New Zealand's granite pack would first soften up the opposition then allowing the rapier backs to drive the nail home.
Although Steve's game was based on strength and commitment in the scrum, he was also famed for the occasional barnstorming break for the line and in total scored three tries in tests. In 1989 he was the only first choice New Zealander to play in the combined Antipodean "ANZAC" side which faced the British Lions in the final match of their tour of Australia. The team was supposed to be a full strength test side drawn from the best players from both countries, and New Zealand's failure to support the concept brought much consternation across the water. After the 1991 World Cup in England new coach Laurie Mains decided to make wholesale changes and McDowell was shown the door following the Ireland series in 1992, together with many other stalwarts of the three year winning streak. It was the end of an era. (Jon Collins)
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