Star pair retained

Press, 24 October 1978, Page 28

Star pair retained

From KEVIN McMENAMIN The fine display by the ridfield backs, Lyn Jaffray ind Bill Osborne, against Cardiff last Saturday, has lot gone unnoticed by the ill Black selectors. The pair have been retainld for the game on Thurslay morning (N.Z. time) Igainst West Wales at Jwansea — at the expense If the test pair for the Australian series, Mark Taylor ind Bruce Robertson. Also' |iven games again are the Fings, Bryan Williams and Stuart Wilson. It was thought the selection panel might experiment with a new half-back and first five-eighths comlination but the experienced lair of Mark Donaldson and Doug Bruce have been

named, and their perform-1 ances will be vital to their chances of winning places inj the team to play Ireland on Saturday week. I Six of the forwards from the Cardiff game have been retained, with the captain, Graham Mourie, making his third successive appearance. The Otago flanker, Wayne Graham, the only member of the team not to appear in either of the first two games, will make his All Black debut. John Black replaces Andy Dalton at hooker, and it would seem at this stage that Brad Johnstone and Gray Knight have already established themselves as the top propping pair. The only players not considered for selection was the lock,

John Loveday, who is again troubled by the back injury that has plagued his career. The team is. —

Brian McKechnie; Williams, Osborne, Wilson; Jaffray, Bruce; Donaldson; Gary Seear; Mourie, Andy Haden, Frank Olliver, Graham; Johnstone, Black, Knight. Reserves: Dave Loveridge, Eddie Dunn, Clive Currie; Bill Bush, Dalton, Leicester Rutledge.