RUMANIANS OUTWITTED 'Pop-offs’ plugged to give South win

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33933, 28 August 1975, Page 26

RUMANIANS OUTWITTED 'Pop-offs’ plugged to give South win

By

JOHN BROOKS

A casual glance at the Rumanian Rugby’ team in training enabled the South Canterbury coach (Mr Ray Vercoe 1 to devise a vital counter which contributed to the defeat of the tourists, by 12-4, at Fraser Park, Timaru, yesterday.

The Rumanians’ chief ploy was the “pop-off.” which consisted of the captain, Alexandre Pop, either peeling from the line-out or charging off the back of the scrum to set up shortpassing thrusts.

Rut although the moves were launched with precision. the Rumanians were invariably muzzled by the South Canterbury defence before they had covered much ground.

"Our plan was to get to them up front and to cut them off around the fringes, to prevent them from broadening their attacks,” Mr Vercoe said.

“When I watched them at training, that is all they did.” South Canterbun’ certainly “got to them” in the forwards. Playing with great gusto, the home pack tore into the Rumanians, outrucking them decisively, matching them in the mauls and line-outs, and beating them to the loose ball. The South Canterbury defence, too, was of a high order. The loose forwards sealed off Pop’s thrusts, and

the three-quarters were so, sure on the tackle that most] of Rumania’s back moves were terminated well behind! the advantage line. These vigorous efforts were! complemented by the assured: play at full-back of Doug, Nicol, who kicked his side to victory with three penalty goals and a dropped goal. Petricia Motrescu, who was Rumania's best back by I a wide margin from his feljlows, was the tourists’ only scorer, with a try. Although the Rumanian ; forwards made several determined advancs, the back ! play lacked authority and the ; side as a whole revealed a (distressing inability to lift its (game.

The Rumanian manager (Mr Ovidiu Marcu) was decidedly down in the mouth after the match.

“South Canterbury played well, we played badly,” he said. "What more can I say?” He shrugged and spread his hands expressively. Anderson fiery The team’s top tight forward, Gheorghiu Daraban, who missed the game because of a badly bruised thigh, was so concerned at his teammates’ inability to press I home the attack that he pulled off part of his track suit two or three times, as if eager for the fray. Afterwards he walked around gloomily, shaking his head slowly.

South Canterbury unwound its challenge slowly, but as the match progressed its confidence increased, and it took the game to Rumania with a consistently energetic display. Bill Anderson, full of fire and purpose, was the outstanding forward, and Noel Dennison and Peter Walsh hoed in with a will. The surprise packet was Peter Grant, who came into the side as a flanker when Graeme Strachan failed a fitness test 30 minutes before the kick-off. As well as boosting South Canterbury’s line-out strength. Grant met Pop’s thrusts fearlessly and effectively. Solid hooker The backs have solid support to their forwards, although they kicked unwisely at times and were inclined to wait for opportunities from broken play before chancing their arms. The side, perhaps, wanted for an adventurous streak, but with the forwards doing so well and Nicol clearing confidently and kicking the goals. Mr Vercoe’s aims were achieved.

Pop and Gheorghiu Dumitru were Rumania’s best forwards. and Miclea Ortelecan’s solid display emphasised how well off the side is I for hookers.

The side’s back play, however, sparkled only occasionally— when the hardrunning and sure tackling Motrescu gained possession

on the right wing. Passing moves were unproductive; no attempt was made at the mid-field break. The ground was in surprisingly good order, but the crowd of about 9000 had little to enthuse over, apart from the South Canterbury forward play. The Rumanians lost Dumitru Alexandru with a sprained ankle; Mihaly Nicolescu suffered a broken tooth and a cut lip. Radu Durbac fly-kicked a ball out of the ground and it was lost. It was just not Rumania’s day.