South Island should provide nucleus of Kiwi test pack

Press, 9 May 1979, Page 20

South Island should provide nucleus of Kiwi test pack

By

JOHN COFFEY

Rugby league raconteurs who recall with fond memories the often triumphant years after the Second World War, when New Zealand was a force to be reckoned with at international level, still talk in awe of the F - formances of the Kiwi forward packs.

It was perhaps no coincidence that the South Island had more than its usual representation, to the extent that the northerners were shut out completely when Ken Mountford, Charlie Mcßride, Arthur Gillman, Pat Smith, Bob Aynsley and John Newton earned much of the credit for the 11-7 victory over France on tour in 1947-48.

Similarly. Abater Atkinson and Lory Blanchard were joined by the West Coast pair. Bill McLennan and Frank Mulcare, and only two men from the north, Travers Hardwick and George Davidson, in the triumphant tests against Australia at Brisbane and Sydney in 1952. Perhaps it is a favourable omen, then, that the South Island will field by far the most effective forward formation when it meets Central Districts, Auckland and Northern Districts in the roundrobin national trials next month.

The announcement on Saturday that the Kiwi hooker. Alan Rushton, has reversed an earlier decision to step down from first-class football has further increased the depth of experience and physical strength available to the South Island selectors. Only one reservation remains. Terry Gillman, now a more accomplished prop than when he played for a New Zealand XIII against Sydney Metropolitan at. Carlaw Park in 1976, is at present restricting himself to club rugby league. But when making his decision'Gillman said that his position could change

later in the season. Hopefully, it will be in time for the southern trial between Canterbury and The Rest of South Island on June 4. Gillman must be regarded as a prime candidate for the test squad to oppose the British tourists: that much can be gauged from an inquiry made by a New Zealand administrator when ’lman first said that he would not be available for Canterbury. There is no doubt that

Canterbury has the most powerful nucleus of forwards in the country. South should be able to field an even more formidable unit by the addition of the established West Coast second-row combination of Tony Coll and Ray Baxendale. Coll and Baxendale provided an example, one that was seldom heeded, to their Kiwi team-mates in Australia and Papua New Guinea last season, earning admiration for their determination and bulldog attitudes in a largely disappointing team.

They complement each other superbly. Coll is still without fleer for his ability to repulse tackles and make the initial inroads into an opposing defence. The ever faithful Baxendale is well versed in the requirements of backing up and covering.

Every member of the Canterbury pack which brushed Wellington aside at Lower Hutt last month must come into consideration. After all, one 1978 Kiwi trialist, Danny Millward, has had to settle for a place in the provincial second XIII, and another, Mike Godinet, has not even been able to gain admission to the B side.

The final composition of the island pack will rest on Gillman’s circumstances. If Gillman fills one prop role. Rushton is hooker, and Coll and Baxendale are together in the second row, it is probable that Mark Broadhurst will further his career in the front row and Barry Edkins is certain of the loose forward responsibilities. Broadhurst should have toured Australia last winter in the light of his outstanding trial form. His display in the second row on that occasion must be fresh in the minds of the New Zealand selectors, and he has shown in the past that his admirable work-rate is not blunted as a prop.

Any lingering doubts that the blow which broke Edkins’s jaw in his Kiwi debut against Riverina might have a detrimental effect on his football future have quickly been dispelled. Edkins, if anything, has been even more out-

standing this year and his accurate goal-kicking adds yet another string to his bow.

Such a formidable lineup makes it inevitable that some will be unlucky to miss out. The prime example is Paul Truscott, whose versatility at second row and hooker might persuade the panel that he would prove an ideal reserve. If Gillman is not in contention, then Truscott would be more than a worthy addition to the South Island ranks. Rushton could be moved to his alternative position at prop, or the selectors might recall that Baxendale was placed in the front row for the second test in Australia. That would leave Canterbury’s other three front-line forwards, Rex Dalzell. Weyne Wallace and Derek McLaughlan, sitting on the side-lines. Dalzell has more than justified his representative recall in the last season or so and must merit consideration, while the youthful Wallace and McLaughlan are still developing their considerable talents and have their best years ahead of them. Auckland’s forward resources — already suspect after an unimpressive win over Waikato and a loss to Penrith (Sydney) — were further depleted when its senior prop, Lyndsay Proctor, was injured last week-end, and its most effective loose forwards, Mark Graham and Gary Prohm, have also had their fitness problems this season.

The Northern Districts pack is likely to be lacking in experience, while the two best-known Central forwards, Whetu Henry (Wellington) and Graeme West (Taranaki), were disappointing on.

their respective tours to Australia in 1978 and 1975.

Coll and Baxendale are well acquainted with the styles of the Canterbury players who will probably be their team-mates against Central and Northern at the Show Grounds and Auckland at Carlaw Park. The last of those games — and almost certainly the final of the inter-district competition — will be the most vital, for Auckland has a proud reputation on its home playing field and will be keen to guard the high representation it has had in recent New Zealand teams.