New Zealand All Black great: Andrew Mehrtens
Few Kiwi rugby stars have won such wide popularity and affection as Andrew Mehrtens - the Canterbury player who kicked his way into the record books and earned a reputation as New Zealand's best ever first five eighths.
‘Mehrts’, as he is affectionately known, became a Canterbury icon and a national hero, winning favour for his wit and personality, as much as for his sporting prowess - legendary kicking skills, vision and long passes.
While there was always some debate over his ranking and best position within the All Blacks, Mehrtens enjoyed a 12-year career at first-class level and remains the second all-time highest points scorer for New Zealand.
Rugby heritage
Andrew Philip Mehrtens MNZM (Member of NZ Order of Merit) was born in 1973 in Durban while his Kiwi parents were living in South Africa.
He moved to New Zealand as a youngster, and grew up in Christchurch where he played junior grade rugby for Kaiapoi, then represented New Zealand at under-19 and under-21 levels.
Mehrtens came from a family with a long association with rugby - his grandfather and father both played for Canterbury and represented New Zealand.
Canterbury debut
Seen as a late developer, the young Andrew’s first significant rugby selection was for the under-19s against Australia in 1992. He was first chosen to play for Canterbury in 1993, at a time when he was also in the New Zealand Colts team.
It was in 1994, when Canterbury won the Ranfurly Shield from Waikato and defended it against Counties and Otago in the same season, that Mehrtens showed the form that led to his All Blacks selection.
He debuted with the national team early in the 1995 season, scoring 28 points against Canada, and his rapid development as a player led to inclusion in the 1995 World Cup squad.
World Cup tournament success
While his drop goal attempt in extra time went wide and robbed New Zealand of victory, Mehrtens still emerged as a Rugby World Cup tournament success and - along with fellow All Black newcomers Jonah Lomu and Josh Kronfeld - gave the team added dimension.
Andrew Mehrtens continued to be an automatic All Black selection over the next six or seven seasons, though he missed a number of tests through injury.
In 1999 Mehrtens returned in fine form, kicking a record nine penalties in a trans-Tasman test against Australia, and stood out again at that year's Rugby World Cup tournament.
During this period of high profile performance with the All Blacks, Mehrtens continued to make an outstanding contribution to the Canterbury Crusaders in Super 12.
Skills and accuracy
The legendary accurate boot, tactical command of games and ability to perform under pressure saw Mehrtens play a key role in the Crusaders three title wins from 1998 - 2000, and again when they won the Super 12 in 2001 and 2005.
Mehrtens also played a major part in Canterbury’s success at NPC level, forming a powerful inside back partnership with Justin Marshall.
In the latter part of 2003, when personal problems affected his fitness and form and Mehrtens was left out of the All Blacks. Although he won his place back for a brief period in 2004, it had become clear that the immediate future belonged to Dan Carter.
New Zealand records
Andrew Mehrtens played 70 test matches for the All Blacks, and his test aggregate is still a New Zealand record.
His formidable rugby career included 281 first-class games scoring 3,178 points - 108 games for Canterbury with 1,056 points, 87 for the Crusaders with 981 points, 72 games for the All Blacks and 967 points in 70 tests.
At the end of the 2005 Super 12 season, Mehrtens left New Zealand rugby to play for the Harlequins in Britain. His last match for that team was on the final day of the 2006 - 2007 season (also his birthday), when he scored 24 points in a victory over the Sale Sharks.
In 2007 Mehrtens joined the French Pro D2 team Toulon for a season, seeing them return to the Top 14 before moving to another ambitious side, Racing Metro 92. In August 2010, Mehrtens signed a three-year contract with the French third division club Beziers.
Rugby genius
Mehrtens has been described by some as the most influential player of the professional era renowned for his kicking and a great back line general.
He also became a favourite with fans winning popularity on and off the field with his intelligence, personable nature and sense of humour.
When Mehtrtens move to the Harlequins was announced, All Black coach Graham Henry said: "Andrew has been a world-class player and was probably the best No 10 in the world in the late 1990s, over the last decade he has been one of our foremost All Blacks and a great character."
Canterbury Coach Aussie McLean also paid tribute to Mehrtens’ contribution to New Zealand rugby: "If Mehrts was in your team you had a pretty good chance of winning it. For as many as six years he has been critical to the winning and losing of games. Off the field he is also a fantastic talisman for Canterbury rugby."
A book titled Andrew Mehrtens - A Tribute to a Rugby Genius written by John Matheson told the inside story of Mehrtens’ rugby career and became a bestseller in New Zealand.
Andrew Mehrtens test record:
- All Blacks second highest points scorer with 967 points
- fastest player in the world to reach 100; 200; 600; 700; 800 and 900 points in test matches
- 167 conversions - most by any player in test rugby
- 20 or more points in a test match scored on 13 occasions
- has twice kicked nine penalty goals in a test match
- 209 points v South Africa - most by any player against any country
- 202 points v Australia - second most by any player against any country
- 108 points v Scotland - most by any player
- 28 points v Canada - most points (at that time) by any player anywhere on international debut
- 33 points v Ireland - most by any player in a test match against Ireland
- passed John Kirwan's record for number of test matches (63) by an All Black back with his appearance against England in 2002
- 1999 New Zealand Player of the Year
- only player with in excess of 300 Tri-Nations points
More information
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