No rest for All Blacks

Press, 24 August 1976, Page 34

No rest for All Blacks

From T. P. McLEAN Witbank

If the All Blacks continue to play as they have been lately, taking into account their injury problems, only the most cheerful of optimists would forecast that the game they will play at the coalmining centre of Witbank in the far east of Transvaal today will be an easy romp.

In the Transvaal country invitation team will be two Springbok locks of recent vintage: Polla Fourie, who played one test against the 1974 Lions, and Johan Spies, who played all four tests against the 1970 All Blacks.

Both of these men will be a considerable nuisance, as Fourie has a reputation at a “meanie,” while Spies was an able partner to the great Frik Du Preeze in hectic matches against Brian Lochore’s men. But today’s opposition comes from widelyassorted areas of Rhodesia, Far Northern Transvaal and South-Eastern Transvaal, and of these teams only South-East Transvaal, playing in a strictly minor competition, had much success last year.

The key to the All Blacks’ present problems now lies in the front row, where out of necessity Bush has been overworked, playing eight straight games. Oliver, who came on as a replacement on Saturday, was soon found tn be technically inadeouate for the loose-head prop position. It reflected the All Blacks’ capacity for smart thinking that after only a scrum or two he was shifted to tight-head, where he held his own pretty comfortably. If the All Blacks' pack can hold here, victory should follow. But now that the All Blacks have been eaten for the third time, all South African teams are eager to climb into the act of beating the New Zealanders. Amid all the triumph since Northern Transvaal defeated the All Blacks on Saturday, it has been overlooked that the All Blacks still all but won the game in spite of playing far below their best.'

Neil McPhail, of Canterbury, a successful selector and coach of All Black teams during the 19605, was astonished at the lethargy of the All Black pack,

and by the backs’ lac 1 of slickness and quickness. Northern Transvaal were undoubtedly the deserving winners, yet the All Blacks so nearly won.

The All Blacks made numerous errors, yet were only beaten at the death rattle. Northern Transvaal should have beaten the All Blacks more decisively. By failing to do so thes might have offered encouragement for the Third Test—not to the Springboks, but to the AH Blacks.

The country team for the match, which start'’ at I. a.m. New Zealand time, is C. Vorster, B. Strydom, J. Harris, G. Roberson. D. Delnort, F. Schoeman, T. Du Preez, P. Lubbe, P. Fourie, J. Spies, B. Du Toit, M. Van Heerden, P. Nieman (captain), R. McKenna, J. Van Rooyen. A likely All Black team is: L. W. Mains. T. W. Mitchell, W. M. Osborne, N. A. Purvis, J. E. Morgan, D. J. Robertson, L. J. Davis, A. R. Sutherland, L. G. Knight. F. J. Oliver, G. A. Seear, K. A. Eveleigh, K. J. Tanner, G. M. Crossman, W. K. Bush. Referee: Dr J. Gouss (Eastern Transvaal).