Veteran prop to meet Canterbury

Press, 24 May 1977, Page 34

Veteran prop to meet Canterbury

The indomitable Maori prop. Jimmy Joseph, will play for Marlborough against Canterbury in a national rugby championship match in Blenheim tomorrow — although he said he was giving up the game at the end of last season.

Joseph, who is reputedly in his early forties — no-one is sure of "his exact age — has been prevailed upon by the selector (Mr Doug Saul) to put his strength and experience at Marlborough’s disposal. He will add stiffening to a comparatively light pack. A provincial representative since 1963 — when he was a flanker — Joseph has played many memorable games and became recognised as one of the best props in the country. He captained Marlborough in 1975. and this year he is coaching a club side.

The province’s new captain is Dave Neal, the All Black trialist flanker- Bruce Kenny takes over from Alan Sutherland at No- 8, and a new lock is Tangi Macdonald, a fiery Maori player. Behind the scrum, Marlborough will field two promising teen-aged players, Allan de Joux and Ray Gordon. The team is: — Brian Hunter; John Davie, Steve Martell, Brian Ford; Kerry Hodges (vice-captain), Gordon; de Joux; Kenny; Neal (captain), Macdonald, Jim Lore, Brian Dwyer; Joseph, Kevin Sutherland, Grant Harrison. Reserves: Backs: Gary Macdonald, Colin Anderson, Phillip Neal. Forwards: Dave Hammond, Mike Gordon, Marty Clapp. The game is the first match In the national first division championship this season.