Sydney promises open league today

Press, 18 September 1976, Page 52

Sydney promises open league today

By

JOHN COFFEY

It seems almost inevitable, and pleasingly so, that the match against South Island at the Show Grounds this afternoon will be the most attractive of the short New Zealand tour being made by the Sydney Metropolitan rugby league team.

Noel Kelly, the Sydney coach, basking in the sunshine in Christchurch yesterday, was heartened by reports of the quick-drying nature of the playing field, and reiterated that his players were going to “move the ball around and play open football.” A repetition of the mud wallow against the New Zealand XIII at Carlaw Park last Saturday hag been averted by a clearing of the weather. The South Island selectors have also had sufficient talent to call upon to ensure that Sydney does not command matters as it did against Waikato and what was virtually a North Island minor leagues side at Hastings. Indeed, South Island must be conceded an even chance of victory — such a result would be the island’s first win at the expense of an overseas visitor since South Africa was headed off, 12-8, in 1963. Injuries have plagued the Australians since they stepped into a damp Auckland taranac 12 days ago, and the brilliant, though sometimes erratic, centre, Ted Goodwin, was a further defection yesterday.

Even more serious was the loss of the last surviving specialist hooker, Arthur Mountier, and Mr Kelly was sizing up the physical characteristics and past histories of his other forwards to gauge their suitability for the task of marking the youthful John Griffin this afternoon. His decision has so far been reserved. The two Canterbury-Banks-town team-mates, Don Moseley (utility back and goalkicker) and Phil Charlton (a

prop, sought when the versatile Barry Reilly was not available), will be pressed into service although they arrived only last evening. Moseley has replaced Goodwin in the centres. But Mr Kelly’s problems have not quite reached a stage where more of his men are lining up for sick parade than for training, and he is convinced that several of the Sydney players will have a role in Australia’s World Cup plans next year. Terry Fahey, one of the wings," Tom Raudonikis, the Kangaroo scrum-half for five seasons, and John Donnelly, a prop, are all past internationals who must be leading contenders. It was to the youngsters that Mr Kelly looked. In particular, he named the 19-year-old back, Greg Cox, as a future star. Cox has already impressed at stand-off half, finished with two tries and nine goals as the scrumhalf against North Island, and will add another string to his bow at full-back today. Cox, according "to Mr Kelly, is the lad most likely to succeed, and bright futures were also predicted for the stand-off half, Paul Hayward, and the forwards, Glenn Boatswain and Bill Annabel. The South Island coach, and a New Zealand selector, Mr George Menzies, will also have his thoughts tuned towards the 1977 World Cup tournament as he runs the rule over his team. “The visit by Sydney has been a godsend. Without it the national panel would not have been able to have a good look at our candidates, and it cannot be helped but

to pick the cup squad largely on 1976 form,” he said. Mr Menzies, and his coselectors, Messrs Ron Ackland and Maurice Church, will all be in attendance at the Show Grounds, and have convened a meeting from which New Zealand's blueprint for World Cup preparation is to be formulated. While obviously pleased with the 18-5 win of the New Zealand XIII, Mr Menzies expects the Sydney team to be a much more effective force on a firmer field. He is also keen to evaluate the performances of the South Island players in conditions which do not restrict their attacking instincts. The South Island tackling pattern will need to be sound to counter th« robust Sydney forwards, Donneliy, Neil Pringle, and especially David Grant, whose rampant runs made a painful impression on Waikato and North Island. But the home side can muster considerable upfront aggression of its own, through the mobility of Tony Coll, Wayne Bunn and Mark Broadhurst. Raudonikis is one of the finest of recent test scrumhalves, and will no doubt give his backs plenty of opportunities. It is, however, a long time since South Island had such a penetrative line of outside backs as that comprised of Eddie Kerrigan, Mocky Brereton, Bruce Dickison, John Low and Michael O’Donnell, and the young halves, David Field and Gerard Harcourt, are keen to make an impact in their first major assignments.