Juniors may fall like nine-pins to Lions

Press, 20 July 1977, Page 38

Juniors may fall like nine-pins to Lions

From KEVIN McMENAMIN, in Wellington

It will come as no great surprise if there is a nine in the result of today’s rugby match between the British Lions and New Zealand Juniors at Athletic Park. s.

The :ame is the nine- 1 teenth of the tour, which is I now in its ninth week. The: Lions will be trying for I their ninth successive win] and an ill omen for them is that it was the ninth game,] against New Zealand Univer-1 sities, that ended their hopes of an unbeaten tour. The number nine also; crops up again when a count [ is made of the Juniors who! have already played against the Lions. So the score j could be 9-0, 19-9 or 99-0 —I one can never tell with this. Lions team that rarely plays j two games alike. There is little doubt that they should win, but their narrow victory over Waikato last Saturdav was a reawakening to the dangers of predicting big wins for them.

The Juniors will go into the match as the least prepared side that the tourists have faced. Quite a few of the players only met on Monday and if the game is to have the standing it deserves the New Zealand union was at fault in not providing at least one leadup game.

It is doubtful if even a coach of Eric Watson’s ability and experience can be expected to mould a winning side from just a couple of practices, and with no player older than 23 there is not a great deal of ex-

perience within the side to call on.

Watson yesterday described his team as “just a bunch of boys” and he doubted whether they would [be able to successfully make [the transition from club to international level. The tacI tics. he said, would revolve i around the basics. “All I ask [of them is that they do the | simple things well.” I On paper, the side seems jno more than useful in I appearance. The forwards look a shade light and the i backs types who, while they i might be good players individually, are earnestly trying to learn each other’s I strengths, not to mention names.

The nine players who have already met the Lions are Bevan Wilson (Otago), I Murray Watts (Manawatu), Dan Fuohy (New Zealand Universities), Daryl Haynes (New Zealand Maoris), Stephen Pokere (Southland), Mark Donaldson (Manawatu), Graeme Elvin (N.Z.U.), Wayne Graham (Otago and N.Z.U.) and John Sullivan (West CoastBuller).

With the exception of Haynes, who did not have a i happy time on the left wing I for the Maoris, all these] players had good or out-, islanding games at their earlier appearances on the tour. I

Wilson has an outside chance of bringing himself back into the reckoning as an All Black full-back this year: Fuohy was the tackler among tacklers for New Zealand Universities: Pokere is considered the best sporting prospect Southland has had since Cardigan Bay: and it can only be a matter of time before Donaldson becomes the All Black halfback.

It is only in recent years [that a national junior side .became an established part of New Zealand rugby and or. tours they have performed very well. But in matches like this their record is not so impressive, although the Lions have met them only twice — in 1959, when the tourists won easily, and in 1966, when they won narrowly.

The Juniors unquestionably face a man-sized job, but if they can win enough possession to make the game one of total movement and challenge the Lions in 'the backs their freshness could be an asset rather than a liability. The Lions have scrambled to victory against lesser sides. With a presumably harder game against Auckland next! [Saturday are their thoughts [very much on the third test] a week later. The Lions have gambled on getting by today with a

side of modest strength, although it is not far removed from the one that came back so magnificently against the Maoris last week. There could be two test positions on the line. Elgan Rees has looked a much better wing than Gareth Evans lately and Mike Gibson’s fine display against the Maoris gives him a chance of replacing lan McGeechan, whose form has slipped. It may be no accident that all these four players are in today’s team. After the frights of last week-end, both in and above Hamilton, the Lions need a good win today to begin their count-down for the third test. As has been said so many times before, they should get it but with this side one can never be sure.

They will at least have familiar footing at Athletic Park. There was more rain yesterday to soften the ground and it will be little different from what it was for their two previous matches in the capital. Teams for the match, which starts at 2.30 p.m. and which will be refereed by Mr Mike Farnworth, of [Auckland, are:— British Isles: Bruce Hay; [Elgan Rees, lan McGeechan, ;Mike Gibson; Gareth Evans, [John Bevan; Doug Morgan; iJeff Squire; Trevor Evans (captain), Moss Keane, Allan Martin, Tony Neary; Fran Cotton, Bobby Windsor, Phil Orr. New Zealand Juniors: Bevan Wilson (Otago); Dave Haynes (North Auckland), Dan Fuohy (Wellington), Murray Watts (Manawatu); Stephen Pokere (Southland), Mark Sisam (Auckland — captain); Mark Donaldson (Manawatu); Glen Rich (Auckland); Graham Elvin (Otago), Alan Craig (Auckland), Wayne Graham (Otago), Jon Sullivan (West Coast); Rod Ketels (Counties), Geoff Collins (Canterbury), Mike Pervan (Auckland).