All Blacks lucky to win first test

Press, 21 August 1978, Page 17

All Blacks lucky to win first test

From

KEVIN McMENAMIN

in Wellington

Bevan Wilson and Bryan Williams, the two men invalided home from last year’s French tour, made an invaluable return to top rugby when they supplied all the points that enablec the All Blacks to beat the Wallabies, 13-12, in the first test at Athletic Park on Saturday. Williams scored a fine try. He was given no more than the scent of the line but his strength and ability to use a tackle as a propelling force made it possible for him tc get the ball down in the corner. Wilson was also true tc form. His three penalties were enough to win the game for New Zealand but the quality of his kicking fluctuated greatly and three successes from eight attempts were hardly in spiring. He completely mul led a fairly simple penalty towards the end. New Zealand, in truth, cat count itself lucky to havi gone one up in the series for only in the first hal when it had a stiff northerlj wind at its back did it loo! a team of internationals anc then only in spasms. Australia clearly won the second half and with at ounce of luck could hav< won the game. It came fron <l-10 to lead, 12-10, just after

'half-time and it was only a, ! gross indiscretion by the ’front-row prop, Steve Pilecki, that cost it the game. Pilecki turned his attention from the ball, which I was moving ominously toi wards the All Blacks’ line, land started swinging like a lheavy-weight boxer at the (New'Zealand captain, Frank Oliver. , Not a blow landed but the i referee, Dave Millar, judged I them vicious enough to II award a penalty and Wilson, 11 with a fine kick from near 'the sideline, gave the All Blacks a lead they were able ■ (to hold, desperately as it ’transpired, until the finish. i The New Zealand prop, ■ Gary Knight, almost repaid ; the kindness by deliberately : obstructing Garrick Fay at a • line-out in the final minute • and this gave Ken Wright • the chance to win the game ' for Australia with a long penalty. Wright struck the t ball badly, which was not J altogether surprising in view . of the Anvil Chorus of hissr ing and booing that was | directed at him from various : pockets of the ground. I Wellington crowds, seemingly, are intent on building ; on the reputation they have i earned in the last few years • as New Zealand’s most uni| sporting. -I The New Zealand perform-

lance was disappointing on many counts, too disappointing in fact to be explained away later by the coach (Jack Gleeson) as being due largely to lack of time together. “We will improve," he confidently predicted.

For a start, one or two of the forwards will need to get the lead out of their

boots. The whole eight started off well enough but by the middle stages of the second half only two or three were running at better than a canter. Moreover there was the amazing sight of a couple “feeling’’ their way into rucks. Lack of fitness was one official excuse given for the pack tiring so badly. The apologist was lost for words when it was said that this was the middle of August. However, amongst all the dross there was one All Black forward who stood out like a beacon in a storm. This was the new cap, Leicester Rutledge, who applied himself with total dedication. Without his unflagging efforts it is doubtful if New Zealand would have survived the final quarter. Rutledge, it must be admitted, is every bit as good as his supporters claim and, in all probability, the best loose forward of his type New Zeland has had since “Red”' Conway. His work-rate on Saturday was enormous.

The New Zealand hacks, too, fell well short of expectations. This was due in large measure to the errorridden game that Mark Donaldson had at half-back. He did not get much ball served to him cleanly but what he did have was poorly transferred and his kicking was ill-judged. Mr Gleeson, in another of his characteristic displays of dancour, freely admitted that Donaldson had been a big weakness. “I have never seen him play so badly,” he said.

Outside Donaldson, Doug Bruce did his best — his tactical and defensive kicking were magical — but the line as a whole was dreadful. Half the time the backs were running into one another and some good ruck ball might as well have been kicked over the Millard stand for all the use it was. Williams and Wilson, at least, were bracketed in more than just the points scoring. Williams, making

most of his own play, made some thrustful runs and purely as a full-back Wilson was hard to fault, his powerful punting being a potent weapon.

Fortunately for New Zealand, the Australian backs were even more dilatory and, at times, looked to be out of their league. There was some astute play from

John Hipwell behind the scrum and Laurie Monaghan was a full-back of undoubted class. But the rest were slow on tackles and inept on at tack.

As a display of rugby, the game itself was mostly disappointing. There were times when the ball bounced with total disregard for the players trying to get a hand on it but by their own inefficiencies the players only added to this strain of untidiness.

It might also be said that New Zealand erred tactically. The backs could well

have been forgotten about! and more driving by the for-| wards, especially from line-1 outs, would surely have paid! better dividends. As it was the All Blacks only aided the Wallabies’ resurgence by exhausting their own forwards, who, in the second half were going sideways and backwards more often than they were advancing.

After the game, the Australian management was still supremely confident of winning the series. Discussing the way the Australian pack dominated the second spell, the coach (Daryl Haberecht) said that this came as no surprise to hifn. “I am very proud of the way my team came back in the second spell and I think we will do even better next time. I am just as confident as I was before today’s game that we can win the series.” Except in rucked ball, which New Zealand had far

more of, there was little between the teams in possession winning. New Zealand won the line-outs, 18-16, but much of its share was lost before it could be used and the best jumping came from the Australians, Peter McLean and Fay, towards the finish.

The scrums, too, were dis-i orderly and John Ashworth,! at loose-head prop, had a terrible time trying to keep, his back straight, with Pi-J lecki coming at him like a ton of bricks. The middle and back rows, with the exception of Rutledge, were also shaky and Barry Ashworth and Gary Seear contributed little. The pair was found seriously wanting when Paddy Batch made his angled run, after a snappy break by Hipwell, that gave him Australia’s only try. Furthermore, Andy Dalton was devoid of his usual vigour and conceded two tightheads while winning none. The game’s one redeeming feature was its closeness. The last quarter was heavily

charged as Australia toiled manfully for victory and New Zealand, with Rutledge a true St George slaying countless dragons, clung resolutely to its lead. It was not great rugby but it was (hard and it was tense.

There was, perhaps, one other bright spot and this was the refereeing of Mr Millar. His calm competence was much to be admired and his judgments were, by and (large, above reproach. The verdict of the Australian management that “he was just another referee” could be interpreted as a deserving compliment. Both teams can now go on to the second test in Christchurch next Saturday a little the wiser. The All Blacks must surely improve. If they do not then Mr Habere cht’s optimism about winning the series may not be just Australian bravado. For New Zealand, a try by Williams and three penalty goals by Bevan Wilson. For Australia, a try by Batch and two penalty goals land a conversion by Wright.