Andrew Leslie McLean was a multi-talented player who made a mark in the game during and after the First World War and remains one of three men - Jimmy Duncan and George Gillett were the other two - to be selected for New Zealand as both a back and a forward. He played only a limited amount of first-class rugby as much of his career was spent farming in the remote parts of Bay of Plenty, which was very much a minor union at the time.

He was born in Auckland on 31 October 1898 and came to the fore at Auckland Grammar, playing two seasons in the First XV. He made his first-class debut in 1917 as a member of the Grammar club, when rugby was limited to players under the age of military call-up, and the war was over before he could enlist and go overseas. Despite that, he had a keen interest in military affairs and joined the College Rifles Volunteers, which allowed him to play for the militia club. He was prominent in their run to a championship playoff in 1918 and represented Auckland again before heading south.

Bay of Plenty had a very limited fixture list and he wasn't seen in first-class rugby again until 1921, when he was something of a surprise selection for North Island and played in the trials. His form was good enough to win selection for the Springbok series that year, although he missed the first test with injury.

He made his debut in the second test, scoring New Zealand's only try in the 5-9 loss, and was one of the most notable forwards in the scoreless draw in the series decider. At 6ft 2in (1.88m) and about 14st (89kg), he was a big man for the time and offered both weight in the scrum and height in the lineout.

His next big game was Bay of Plenty's 1922 Ranfurly Shield match, when he led his underdog side to the brink of a notable triumph against Hawkes Bay. His old Rifles teammate Viv Wilson scored a try under the posts right on fulltime that, if converted, would have won the game. McLean, although a good goal-kicker and already successful in the match, gave the kick to another player who promptly missed it. Hawkes Bay won 17-16 and began their golden run.

McLean was recalled to the .AII Blacks for one match in the 1923 series with New South Wales, this time as a fullback. The games were no contest, as the tourists were badly under-strength, and were treated as a series of trials for candidates for the 1924 tour to Britain once it was realised that New Zealand had several teams capable of winning well. McLean got the third match of the series, which New Zealand won 38-11, and played well although under little pressure. His accurate boot was responsible for 14 points (4 con, 2 pen), a record for an All Black in any match in New Zealand that was equalled in 1931 by Ron Bush but not beaten until Don Clarke scored 18 points against the 1959 Lions.

That was McLean's final season in representative rugby, although he was only 24 when he retired. He played no more than 17 first-class fixtures, due to the wartime restrictions and then Bay of Plenty's isolation. A brother, Neil, represented Auckland between 1918 and 1924.

McLean died at Auckland on 18 January 1964.

Profile courtesy of Paul Neazor.

FULL NAME

Andrew Leslie McLean

BORN

Monday, 31 October 1898 in Auckland

DIED

Saturday, 18 January 1964 in Auckland

PHYSICAL

1.88m, 89kg

POSITION

Flanker and Fullback

LAST SCHOOL

Auckland Grammar

RUGBY CLUB
(First made All Blacks from)

Whakatane

PROVINCE

Bay of Plenty

ALL BLACK DEBUT

Saturday, 27 August 1921
v South Africa at Auckland
aged 22 years, 300 days

INTERNATIONAL DEBUT

Saturday, 27 August 1921
v South Africa at Auckland
aged 22 years, 300 days

LAST TEST

Saturday, 17 September 1921
v South Africa at Wellington
aged 22 years, 321 days

ALL BLACK TESTS

2 (0 as Captain)

ALL BLACK GAMES

1 (0 as Captain)

TOTAL ALL BLACK MATCHES

3 (0 as Captain)

ALL BLACK TEST POINTS

3pts (1t, 0c, 0p, 0dg, 0m)

ALL BLACK GAME POINTS

14pts (0t, 4c, 2p, 0dg, 0m)

TOTAL ALL BLACK POINTS

17pts (1t, 4c, 2p, 0dg, 0m)

ALL BLACK NUMBER

236

The All Black Games that McLean played.
(+) = substitute; (-) = replaced

Click on the date to be taken to the Match Card

1921

 27 Aug vs South Africa at Auckland 5-9  

 17 Sep vs South Africa at Wellington 0-0  

1923

 15 Sep vs N.S.W. at Wellington 38-11  

Points scored for the All Blacks

t

c

p

dg

pts

vs South Africa, 27 Aug 1921

1

-

-

-

3

vs N.S.W., 15 Sep 1923

-

4

2

-

14

Totals

1

4

2

0

17

Test Record by Nation

P

W

D

L

t

c

p

dg

pts

South Africa

2

-

1

1

1

-

-

-

3

Totals

2

0

1

1

1

0

0

0

3