Wyllie behind his non-appearance as All Black nominee

Press, 4 July 1978, Page 28

Wyllie behind his non-appearance as All Black nominee

Bv

KEVIN McMENAMIN

Apart from one notable exception, just about everyone who is anyone in the Canterbury rugby team has been nominated for the All Black trials in Wellington on Julv 22.

The name conspicuously absent from the list of 17 drawn up by the Canterbury selectors, Messrs Stan Hill and Gerald Wilson, is that of the province’s durable loose forward — and captain since 1972 — Alex Wyllie. But it was largely at his own request that Wyllie was omitted Mr Hill said last evening that he had discussed and the subject with Wyllie and accepted his view that there was no point in putting his name forward.

Wyllie confirmed this agreement, adding that to nominate him would only have been a waste of time. Furthermore, he doubted very much if he would again be available for the All Blacks (his last appearance was against England in 1973) even if he was wanted.

“We have nominated Alex in each of the last two years and he has not even got to the trials; so I guess the inference is pretty plain,” said Mr Hill. “Anyway they (the selectors) must know he is still playing.” Mr Hill added that he was very disappointed Wyllie was not taken to South Africa in 1976. “That was the year they should have picked him; he was really

playing exceptionally well and leading Canterbury brilliantly.” But while Wyllie, who will turn 34 next month, has probably extinguished what little hope there was of him getting to Wellington, Canterbury should still be

well represented, which on its form both this and last year is only to be expected. Even by Canterbury’s standards, the list of nominations is long. It, in fact, works out as a complete team, plus a reserve midfield back (Andy Jefferd) and a spare prop, who would presumably be the non-All Black of the three proposed, Barry Thompson.

However, it is deserved recognition for Thompson, who has been a willing workhorse for Canterbury and Canterbury Sub-unions over a number of years and whose performances towards the end of last season may have brought an All Black ■jersey within his reach. Jefferd is no longer living in Canterbury: he returned to his home district of East Coast last week. However, as they were acquainted with his ability and form, the Canterbury selectors felt they should be responsible for him. With only one trial being played — instead of the more usual two — Canterbury is, perhaps, tilting at windmills with one or two of the nominations, although by the same token none is unreasonable. John Phillips, who is unlikely, now, to become an All Black, could be a marginal nomination, although he was a reserve for the South Island last year, as also was his fellow flanker, Dave Thompson. Alwyn Harvey, who beat them both into the island side, despite the fact that he could not get a game for Canterbury, completes the loose-forward trio. The nominations are. — Backs: Richard Wilson, Randall Scott, Shane Gibbons, Terry Mitchell, Murray McEwan, Andy Jefferd, Doug Bruce, Steve Scott. Forwards: John Phillips, Dave Thompson, Alwyn Harvey, Vance Stewart, Graeme Higginson, Bill Bush, John Black, John Ashworth, Barry Thompson.