Canges Made For Taranaki Match

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32392, 3 September 1970, Page 9

Canges Made For Taranaki Match

(By

J. K. BROOKS)

In line with their avowed policy of making “periodic adjustments” to the Canterbury Rugby team to ward off the threat of staleness and counter the effect of hard grounds, the provincial selectors (Mr M. J. Dixon and Dr J. D. Stewart) have made two changes to the side for the third Ranfurly Shield challenge, by Taranaki, on Saturday.

M. S. Moore takes R. F. Cock’s position on the right-wing, and L. D. Adam replaces K. J. Tanner as the tight-head prop.

Cocks hits played in nine successive matches for the representative team, while Tanner is still not running with his usual freedom, because of an ankle injury.

He displayed stoicism in battling through the Waikato match last Saturday, but he will obviously benefit from the rest.

The team is:— W. J. Lewis: R. J. Woolhouse, L. W. Jones, Moore; K. J. Gimblett, O. D. Bruce; L J. Davis: I. H. Penrose (captain); S. E. Cron, H. H. MeDonald, R. J. Lockwood, A. C Matheson; Adam, R W. Norton, A. McLellan. Reserves.—Backs: L. G. Legge, B. F. Elder, M. R. McEwan, R. J. Knight, R. F. Cocks. Forwards: Tanner, E. R. Leask. I. Grant, C. J. Read.

Three of Moore’s four appearances for Canterbury this season have been as the leftwing, but he is equally at home on the right flank. Although not as strong a runner as Cocks, Moore is an efficient all-round player and is particularly valuable in broken play. Canterbury is fortunate to have a forward of Adam’s calibre as a replacement for Tanner. The former Otago representative shares Tanner’s uncompromising approach to rucking and is adept at driving and peeling from the lineout.

The team for the Taranaki match was named last evening after the 24-man squad had trained under floodlights at Rugby Park. Emphasis was placed on line-out technique, with the principal jumpers,

McDonald and Lockwood, being worked hard. On Saturday, they will be in opposition to a strong lineout forward in I. M. Eliason, a 16st 81b lock who has been chosen for the North Island side.

The team will train again at Rugby Park this evening, but Taranaki, unlike Waikato, will have only one run in Christchurch before the big game. The team will arrive at about noon tomorrow and will train in the afternoon.