New backline in spotlight

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33941, 6 September 1975, Page 48

New backline in spotlight

(By

K. J. McMENAMIN

All eyes will be on the' new look backline when the Canterbury Rugby team endeavours to end its four-match losing streak against Taranaki at Lancaster Park tomorrow’.

And there is good reason for believing that the run, which began with Canterbury’s only other Sunday game this season — against Bay of Plenty a month ago — will be halted. Taranaki is unlikely to be as formidable as Bay of Plenty, Southland (at home),) Auckland or North Auckland; — the four provinces that have contributed to the downturn in Canterbury’s fortunes.

Taranaki has managed only three wins from seven games so far this season. It has lost its last two — to Bay of Plenty and Otago — although it was not disgraced in going down 15-19 to Otago on Monday. The team has a reputation for a sketchy defence — it has given away 21 tries — and, like Canterbury, its backs have been blamed for; the lack of success The pack contains two; former All Blacks, lan Eliason and Ash Gardner, but a< bigger threat will be the Junior All Biack flanker and! captain, Graham Mourie. The! 6ft 6in No 8, Bevan Grant, j could gfve Canterbury a few! headaches at the back of the line-outs. However, there need be little fear that the Canterbury forwards will lose out to their opponents. In spite of losses the pack has performed well in the last two games, particuiarly in its rucking and driving, and the only worry might be that it is growing tired of seeing its efforts wasted. A risk The backline changes con-i tain an element of risk, es-i pecially as they come so! late in the season, but ini making them the selectors! (Messrs S. F. Hill and D. A. I Arnold) have shown they do; not lack imagination. Bringing Andy Jefferd in from centre to second fiveeighths is unlikely to unduly cramp his style as a sharp and determined runner, capable of setting up tries for those outside him. However, it is in the three-quarters that the question marks loom a little larger. Bruce McPhail has been disappointing for Canterbury as a wing, and he now gets another chance to prove himself in the centre position he prefers. With ro:m to move

i McPhail has shown himself a more than useful attacking centre, and if Canterbury is to lift its mid-field attack Jefferd and McPhail will need to become conversant quickly with each other’s play. 1 On the wings the situation iis just as nebulous. Dave McGuigan has been out of form and is in danger ot losing his "Dashing Dave” reputation. On the other flank Terry Mitchell, too, has been , fighting to regain top form, and he has been bracketed with the Christchurch speedster, Scott Cartwright. A decision on who will i play has been left until to- ; morrow’ morning. Mitchell was bothered by a leg injury earlier this week, but moved well enough on Thursday night, and Cartwright has been laid low with a bad bout of influenza. Mitchell will probably get the nod, but if the selectors want to carry their adventurous spirit a step further they might feel inclined to try Cartw’right. He scores tries and this is something Canterbury sorely needs. Pressure The player under the ; greatest pressure will be thel [new full-back, Doug Heffer-' [nan, who can expect his every action to be scruti-l jnised and compared with; 1 how the man he has re- i ■ placed, Fergie McCormick, ' would have coped. However, [he only needs to land a couple of goals to justify his selection. Last season Canterbury re-established itself after a disappointing North Island tour with a tremendously impressive 36-3 win over Taranaki on a mud-covered Lancaster Park. Tomorrow the ground will be quite different, but in other respects i history just might repeat it- ! self. The teams are:— Canterbury.—D. Heffernan; D. IJ. McGuigan, B. A. McPhail, T. !W. Mitchell or S. C. Cartwright: lA. C. R. Jefferd. O. D Bruce; L. i T. Davis: A. J. Wellie; S. E. G. I Cron. V E. Stewart, J. K. !”h!lllps D. M. Thompson; W. K. Rush, R. W. Norton. K. .1. | Tanner. Taranaki.—T. Heppell; S. Brooby. S. Davidson. G. O’Brien; D. Hedge. P. Martin; D. Loveridge; B. Grant: R. Fraser, I. Eliason. J. Thwaites, G. Mourie; A. Gardiner. F. O’Carroll, J. MeEldowney. Water ski-lng.—Kris le Pont, lof California broke his own i world record for the men’s sla‘■lom by five buoys when quallfyjing for the final round with ■ 324 buovs at the world water :ki-ing championships. In the .women’s figures competition. Victoria Carrasco, of Venezuela, scored 5460 points, another re- ■ cord. Soccer.—Mana won the North 'lsland tlder 14 soccer tourna;ment m Palmerston North, by heating Franklin 3-1.