Kiwis not foxed by French league defeat in Auckland

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33869, 14 June 1975, Page 48

Kiwis not foxed by French league defeat in Auckland

(By

JOHN COFFEY)

fhe Kiwi coach, ATr George Menzies, is not placing too much importance on France’s loss to Auckland in assessing New Zealand’s chances of beating the French in the international Rugby league championship fixture at the Show Grounds tomorrow.

“Had it been any country other than France the result would have been significant. France is notorious for losing minor matches on tour and causing upsets in the tests,” Mr Menzies said.

One consequence of Auckland’s 9-3 success on Thursday evening, however, is the increased pressure now placed on the Kiwis to perform well to retain their [ positions for the later games 'against England and Wales. "The players realise that their football futures are at stake. If they do not go well they wil] be dropped. They were very disappointed with their display in Australia and are determined to show their true ability,” Mr Menzies said.

One Canterbury Rugby league official who has had an opportunity to have a close look at the Frenchmen is Mr Peter Yaxley, who refereed the tourists’ fixture with Auckland. He was impressed with the over-all speed of the French team, and particularly that of the wing, Elie Bonal, who scored the only try conceded by an outstanding Auckland coverdefence. “France made a lot of mistakes in Auckland, but they have now had a few days to recover from their trip and will be very hard to beat. They are very fast on their feet, run well with the ball, and always have men coming up in support on the inside,” Mr Yaxley said. Statements made by the

French management that there would be no incidents in any of their matches were proved to be true — "there was not a blow struck; one could hardly expect to control a cleaner game,” he said. . SCRUMMAGING Most of the 15 penalties conceded by France resulted from ■ scrummaging infringements. Players to especially emphasise that they would prove a problem to the Kiwis were the threequarters, Bonal and Andre Ruiz, the scrum-half, JeanMarie Imbtert, and the forwards, Serge Gleyzes and Charles Zalduendo. All five have opposed New Zealand sides with considerable impact in the past, as

has the captain and prop, Francis de Nadai. Bonal, Ruiz, and Bernard Curt, who was rested at Auckland, comprise a daunting threequarters formation. But they would be justified in feeling some trepidation in renewing their rivalry with the 15st Kiwi I wing, Phil Orchard. Although only four of Orchard’s 14 previous tests have been against France, his impressive blending of power and pace has carried him through for seven of his 12 test tries at the expense of the Tricolours.

The news that the longrange weather forecast is for fine weather on Sunday' should give the Frenchmen even more cause for concern. The perfect footing at the Show Grounds will mirror the conditions in which Orchard touched down three times at Perpignan and twice at Carcassonne in 1971 and then twice again in a World Cup fixture at Marseilles 12 month later.

“The French like to play it just' the way we do, by concentrating on open football and keeping the ball alive. Gaps seem to come unexpectedly. This makes for a better game as far as the spectators are concerned — they do not want to watch forwards running up the middle all the time,” Orchard said. The return to full-back of Orchard’s provincial teammate, John Whittaker — and the placing of a third Wellington representative, Don Munro, on the other wing — promises to provide New Zealand with exceptional thrust and smooth teamwork on the flanks. Whether this is realised will depend to a large extent on the quickness of the forwards and halves, Ken Stirling and Bob Jarvis, to clear possession so that the centres, Dennis Williams and John O’Sullivan, can introduce Whittaker into the line.

New Zealand has a mobile pack and its cover will be strengthened by the return of John Greengrass. If the youthful Dane Sorensen can carry his skill at wrenching gaps’ in opposing defences up to test level, he should find Tony Coll, Ray Baxendale, and Murray Eade at his shoulder to carry on the momentum.

The Kiwis lacked

confidence against Australia. , This time the opposition is ] not as formidable, in spite of France’s victory over , Wales. New Zealand has an ] excellent chance of claiming . its first competition points in the home-and-away series j and costing Rothmans a total of $450 in winning bonuses.