Haden’s unbroken run of appearances continues

Press, 15 November 1977, Page 36

Haden’s unbroken run of appearances continues

From

JOHN BROOKS.

on tour with the All Blacks

Angouleme

The two-metre tall lock, Andy Haden, will become the only member of the All Black team to appear in all games on the current French tour when he plays against a composite side at Angouleme at 5 o’clock tomorrow morning (New Zealand time).

Haden, who will lock thel New Zealand scrum with the; captain of the day, Robbie: Stuart, has already made! seven consecutive appearances and is a certainty for, next Saturday’s second test! in Paris.

Bruce Robertson, the; centre who has also played in every game so far, will, miss the Angouleme match because of a kick on the left' leg received in the first test: at Toulouse. He has trained; lightly since the incident and is confident that he will be able to play in Paris. With Gary Seear not playing Brian McKechnie will have the main responsibility for goal-kicking. He will be at full-back for the second time and needs a good game

qand some success with his J kicks to restore his “confidence. !| Up front John McEldow- ■ ney will have his second match of the tour but might :| strike difficulty again at I tight-head prop. Good form

i by Stuart and John Ashworth could bring them into consideration for Saturday’s test side in view of the in- . juries being nursed by Frank I Oliver and Brad Johnstone. The opposition includes Patrick Peron, a former international flanker, who played in both tests against the Springboks in South Africa in 1975, and Eric August, a leading secondrow forward for the last five years. In the backs much is ex-

pected of Pierre Peaeutour, ’a 21-year-old full-back of promise. Experienced frontrankers include Mario Lescamel and Charles Verswiger.

The match is the last of the non-test fixtures on the tour and the mood of the

New Zealand side is one of determination. The coach (Mr Jack Gleeson) said he was concentrating on winning the game before contemplating the approach to the international in Paris. The New Zealand team is: McKechnie; Stuart Wilson, Mark Taylor, Brian Ford; Bill Osborne, Doug Bruce; Kevin Greene; Dick Myers; Lawrie Knight, Haden, Stuart (captain), Kevin Eveleigh; Ashworth, Andy Dalton and McEldowney. The injured players, Bryan Williams and Bevan Wilson, are to fly home almost immediately to New Zealand, thus beating an imminent French air strike which will paralyse internal air travel. The two players will leave from London for New Zealand via the United States and are expected home on Friday.