McCormick's fine form presents problem for S.I. selectors

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32700, 1 September 1971, Page 14

McCormick's fine form presents problem for S.I. selectors

(By

K. J. McMENAMIN)

Unfortunate though it may be, the loss of the Ranfurly Shield to a North Island province —and a far north one at that is something South Island Rugby unions must accept gracefully. For the players, a chance for the South Island to reassert itself will come when the annual interisland match is played at New Plymouth on Saturday week.

However, of more immediate interest than the outcome of the North-South match is what the composition of the South Island team will be and, in particular, who will fill the fullback position. No figure m New Zealand sport in recent years has undergone the scrutiny, prompted as much discussion or borne the fickleness of the public more than has Canterbury’s full-back, W. F. McCormick. By a truly superb display against Auckland last Saturday he has again put himself in the public eye. Before last Saturday, McCormick’s critics might have had some basis from which to form opinions that the powers which have carried him through such a long first-class career were on the wane. However, not only did he prove against Auckland that his skills were not dimmed, but also that for all-round efficiency he is still possibly the best full-back in the country.

His loss of goal-kicking form counted heavily against him during his slide from favour, but after the three magnificent kicks he placed in the first half on Saturday, McCormick might have had some justification for asking certain sports writers (this one included) to munch on some old newsprint telling of his diminishing powers as a goal-kicker. All three South Island selectors (Messrs R. H. Duff, D. J. Parsons and J.

M. Finlay) were at Lancaster Park on Saturday and they could only have been impressed by McCormicks’ steadiness under pressure, his safeness on defence and, perhaps most of all, by his aggressive and imaginative running. Whether one display of such excellence will persuade them to select McCormick ahead of L. W. Mains, of Otago, who replaced McCormick in the All Blacks after the first test against the Lions, is indeed an interesting question. For Mr Duff the choice will be especially vexing as he, as an All Black selector, had a hand in McCormick’s departure from the national team. At 32, McCormick might not be considered the best choice for an inter-island game which will probably be a preliminary step to next winter’s programme of finding 30 All Blacks to tour the British Isles. Mains, who is 25, is very differently placed.

McCormick, no doubt, would like to win South Island selection this year if only to have an opportunity to instill in the mind of a North Island crowd the same doubts about his omission from the All Blacks which he must have aroused in many Lancaster spectators last Saturday. But the honour of South Island representation would hardly be for him a novel one. His absence in South Africa last year ended an unbroken sequence of 10 appearances as South’s fullback.

Apart from their choice of full-back there are a num-

ber of other interesting alternatives the South Island selectors must puzzle over. B. A. Hunter and M. P. Collins, both of Otago, are the probably wings and P. C. Gard (North Otago) and W. D. Cottrell (Canterbury) the likely midfield backs. Either L. J. Davis (Canterbury) or G. L. Colling (Otago) will be half-back and perhaps depending on which is chosen rests the first five-eighths position —■ O. D. Bruce (Canterbury),

A. J. Clark (Otago) and K. J. Beams (West Coast) being the leading contenders. A front row of K. Murdoch (Otago), providing, of course, he is available, R. W. Norton (Canterbury) and A. McLellan (Canterbury) would be a good start to the forwards, where, no doubt, South’s strength will lie, and A. J. Wyllie (Canterbury and T. N. Lister (South Canterbury) should win two of the three loose forward places. A. E. Matheson

(Canterbury), G. W. McGee (Otago) or the young Southlander, K. Stewart, might be the third. Two hardened campaigners, J. F. Bums (Canterbury) and W. W. Townsend (Otago), must be the favourites to lock the scrum, but such as been the progress this year of H. H. McDonald (Canterbury) that he might displace one of them, especially as he looks a first-class investment for the future.