McEldowney still out

Press, 5 November 1977, Page 56

McEldowney still out

The last has not been heard of the unfortunate and highly disturbing Vance Stewart affair. John McEldowney, the man chosen to join the All Blacks after the Canterbury lock was ruled out of the touring rugby team at the last moment has

yet to play a game in France — and it seems that he is destined to do little else but admire the scenery.

McEldowney joined the team in Lyons and his failure to win a place in the side to play in Agen means that he will have sat out three matches. With two tests included in the remaining four games, it appears that his chances will lie in being chosen for the mid-week matches at Bayonne and Angouleme. McEldowney is a large, amiable man and is taking his “back-seat” role philosophically. “After all,” he says, “a tour of France is not to be sniffed at.”

But deep down it seems that he is pining for a bit of the action. Brad Johnstone las played all four games to date at loose-head prop and he has the position again at \gen.

The problem seems to reolve around McEldowney’s

fitness. The big prop eased off his training when he was not chosen in the original party and has the difficulty of getting back in trim in a warm French autumn. But he says that his weight is now below what it was when he played in the fourth test against the Lions in Auckland.

The tour management expected Greg Denholm, of Auckland, to be the replacement and there was surprise when the news came through that McEldowney was on his way.

Originally it appeared that there were too many locks in the side. Now it is obviously a case of having too many props, with McEldowney the odd man out.