1992 v World XV (R) (Christchurch) L 28-14
1992 v World XV (Wellington) W 54-26
1992 v World XV (Auckland) W 26-15
1992 v Ireland (Dunedin) W 24-21
1992 v Ireland (Wellington) W 59-6
1992 v Australia (Sydney) L 16-15
1992 v Australia (R) (Brisbane) L 19-17
1993 v British Lions (Auckland) W 30-13
1993 v Australia (Dunedin) W 25-10
1993 v Western Samoa (Auckland) W 35-13
1993 v Scotland (Murrayfield) W 51-15
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1993 v England (Twickenham) L 15-9
1994 v France (Christchurch) L 22-8
1994 v France (R) (Auckland) L 23-20
1994 v South Africa (R) (Dunedin) W 22-14
Career Record: P15, W9, L6
Test Points: 16
Tries: 4
(R) = Replacement |
Arran Pene pictured in his All Blacks strip before the game on England 1st November 1993.
Photo G. Herringshaw. ©
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As late as 1994 the legendary Zinzan Brooke was still spending a lot of time on the reserves bench, and one of his main competitors for the Number 8 slot was Arran Pene. A vocal and confident player, Arran played his rugby out of Otago University and Otago Province and added height and strength in the lineout. He made his debut in 1992 against a World XV and played in all three tests of a 2-1 series triumph. As part of a new look squad, Pene also appeared in both matches of a mini rubber against Ireland later in the season. However, the first test provided a real scare with the Blacks only scraping through 24-21.
In the second test it was a different story though as New Zealand hit back with renewed focus and determination to win 59-6, whilst the Irish perhaps relaxed after their heroics in Dunedin. Arran also played in the Bledisloe Cup that year, but both of the tests in which he featured were lost, albeit by very narrow margins. The following year was a good one for Pene - he played in New Zealand's dominant 30-13 victory in the deciding third test against the Lions, as well as gaining sweet revenge over Australia in a 25-10 victory in Dunedin.
In the Autumn, Arran then participated in the UK tour during which the All Blacks beat Scotland and lost to England. Pene was still number one in 1994, but it was bad season as New Zealand went down 2-0 to their old bogey team France on home soil, the 20-23 second test defeat at Auckland memorable for Jean-Luc Sadourney's "try from the end of the world". The last of Arran's 15 tests came in a 22-14 victory over South Africa in Dunedin before losing his place to Brooke. (Jon Collins)
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