Maoris change line-up

Press, 11 May 1979, Page 23

Maoris change line-up

NZPA Sydney j The New Zea.and Maoris! festerday made four; thanges, one forced by injury. to their first team line-' up for the rugby match with; New South Wales at Sydney an Sunday. Dropped from the side that drew 18-all with Queensland last week-end ire Auckland prop Leon Foki, Wellington flanker Paul Quinn, and Canterbury Kinger Shane Gibbons. Also missing is Taranaki hooker Felix O’Carroll, who has an njured right shoulder. O’Carroll and the Waikato full-back Andy Baker, who

i was knocked out in Wednes-’ 'day evening’s 22-3 win overt N.S.W. Country at Lismore,! ‘were not considered for se-| lection. I The newcomers include; [the Waikato pair of Norman; ' Morrow (prop) and Nehe- j imiah Melsom (flanker) and; [North Auckland’s Fred[ [Woodman (wing), all of I | whom had impressive games i 'against Country. The experienced Wellingi ton hooker. Frank Walker, [returns to the team foliow>iing a one-match suspension >*he incurred for kicking an

opponent in a ruck and being ordered from the field five minutes after replacing i the injured O’Carroll in the Queensland game.

The centre Eddie Stokes, the right wing Pat Yates, and captain art' 1 number eight Mac McCallion, the lock Mike Burgoyne and the [ prop Billy Bush have been chosen for their third sucIcessive games.

The selection of Melsom will bring added height to the back of the Maoris lineout and was perhaps an easier choice for the tour selectors, the manager Mr I. Vodanovich, the coach Percy Erceg and McCallion, than

that of Morrow and Woodman.

Both Tpki and Gibbons played sound games against Queensland and must be considered a trifle unlucky to lose their places for this important match. New South Wales will be having its first game of the season and a number of seemingly experimental choices has shaken the faith of Sydney supporters. But it will be a tough opponent, and the performance of the young Tony Melrose at first five-eighth opposite Eddie Dunn could influence the test selectors on both sides of the Tasman.