Hurricanes coach makes cameo appearance for Woodlands
“He definitely didn’t look out of place… Towards the end of it he had a few nice carries and clean outs."
Hurricanes forwards coach Jamie Mackintosh made a surprise return to the playing field on Saturday.
The former Stags and Highlanders captain answered an SOS call to help Woodlands, who is struggling for props on the back of string on injuries, in Southland’s premier club competition.
Mackintosh came off the bench in Woodlands’ 35-33 victory over Pirates-Old Boys at Oreti Park.
Prior to the game Mackintosh was quick to stress to The Tribune that people shouldn’t get excited about what he might bring to the game.
“I’m a shadow of my former self. If I’m getting on the field for more than 10 minutes and one scrum [on Saturday] there will be something wrong,” he said.
However, Mackintosh might have undersold himself. He played 15 minutes and had an impact.
“He definitely didn’t look out of place… Towards the end of it he had a few nice carries and clean outs,” Woodlands coach Richard Jones said.
The now 39-year-old former All Black played his last professional game as a 36-year-old, three years ago.
Mackintosh did line up for the Blair Vining XV in a Pack the Park charity fixture at Rugby Park in Invercargill in January.
Although he pointed out he has slipped a bit in terms of not being in the best position to take to the rugby field again.
Mackintosh racked up 376 professional games during his career and admits he’s probably paying for it now.
“I was pretty fit [for the Pack the Park game] but the stress of coaching has added five or 10kgs,” he joked.
“After the Blair Vining game, I couldn’t walk for three weeks and after an MRI scan I found out I need my right knee replaced.”
Mackintosh’s initial plan was to be in Wellington this weekend with the Hurricanes as part of a Super Rugby final.
However, when the Hurricanes were beaten in the semifinal by the Chiefs it provided an opening to visit family Southland this weekend. That’s before he and his partner head on a four-week trip around America which will end up in San Diego watching the All Blacks play Fiji on July 20.
Then came a bit of pressure from Jason Rutledge and co to line up for Woodlands on Saturday during his visit to Southland.
“It was always something I wanted to do was play one more game with Cabbage [Jason Rutledge] for Woodlands because we played so much rugby together and we had a pretty special relationship.”
The stars further aligned, in regard to convincing Mackintosh to agree to pull on the boots, with 46-year-old Jason Rutledge playing alongside his 18-year-old son Gregor for the first time on Saturday.
“I remember I was working with Cabbage when Gregor was born, and we went and wet the head. I think that’s why it is so special because when I left school Cabbage looked after me.
“I was building with him for two years and we played for Woodlands, we played for Southland, and we played for the Highlanders.
“We always had a blast coming down and playing for Woodlands. We’d finish Mad Monday for the Highlanders and then come down and strap on the boots for Woodlands. We’d love it.
On top of all of that Saturday has added significance for the Woodlands Rugby Club with it raising funds for the Ovarian Cancer Foundation.