Auckland’s rugby league ranking challenged

Press, 13 June 1979, Page 16

Auckland’s rugby league ranking challenged

By

JOHN COFFEY

Auckland's traditional dominance of rugby league in this country will be under siege from the Central and South composite sides during the national inter-district round-robin competition to be played over the next three Saturdays. The disappointing efforts by Auckland in its two Amco Cup fixtures, this season have given no cause for confidence that the Kiwis will increase - their international standing against the British tourists in Julv and August. It is all the more imperative,. then, that talent of true test quality emerges from the district championships, in which all six matches have been given the status of New Zealand trials. Central and South, at least, appear to have more than enough forward strength to severely trouble Auckland.

South begins its campaign against Northern Districts at the Show , Grounds on Saturday. The draw has been favourable to the southern side, for Northern is potentially the weakest of its opponents, but should be an adequate trial horse for the more important games with Central (at Christchurch on June 23) and Auckland (at Auckland a week later).

Don Hammond, at present occupying a very hot seat as Auckland’s sole selector - coach, continues to be plagued by injuries to leading members of his squad. He has invariably been forced to make eleventh-hour alterations and there was another group of walking wounded when Auckland retreated home from its latest Amco defeat in Sydney. But it would be unwise for any of Hammond’s rivals to under-estimate Auckland, in spite of its inexperienced pack and back-line inconsistencies. Administrators, spectators and players in Auckland take particular pride in ruling rugby league’s roost and will not accept a lesser ranking without a stiff struggle. Moreover, Auckland has a habit of producing outstanding individual performers when it is

under most pressure. Canterbury is especially aware of Auckland's ability to escape from the chains of looming defeat: in 1976 the Sorensen brothers, Dane and Kurt, schemed Auckland's retention of-the Rothmans Cup, and Olsen Filipaina almost .single-handediv wrenched the cup from Canterbury’s grasp last year.

Fihpaina remains as the most formidable threat to the other district sides. And it is strange Auckland has not chosen to complement Filipaina’s physical prowess with the intelligent captaincy and distribution of the nowdiscarded Dennis Williams.

If the equally surprising omission .of Terry Gillman leaves the South forward formation a little less well-balanced than it might have been, it is by means of the pack that Auckland’s vulnerability can best be exposed. There is no finer

second-row combination in New Zealand than the partnership fused by the West Coast representatives, Tony Coll and Ray Baxendale. Coll’s crashing runs and Baxendale’s incessant backing up and exceptional cover-defence, complemented by the allround skills of Barry Edkins, gives South three aces at the back of its pack, a potentially winning hand. If South’s front-row hints of being a spilled jigsaw — comprising Alan Rushton, whose path to hooker was by way of the second-row and prop, Mark Broadhurst, a manufactured prop who first made his name as a surging second-rower, and

Although West and Whetu Henry failed to measure up to test football in the past, they are far better suited to the slower conditions of New Zealand playing fields rather than the fast surfaces in Australia. New Zealand has a sad shortage of props, and the broken arm suffered by the Auckland and Kiwi fr o n t-rower, Lyndsay Proctor, has accentuated the problem. The South back-line is perhaps a more accomplished grouping

Paul Truscott, a club hooker, Canterbury second-row man and South Island prop — there is the comfort that each m ember has the uncompromising attitude needed to wrest supremacy in the tight exchanges. The Central forwards have the potential and reputations to unite into an equally potent force. Included are three internationals: Graeme West and the brothers Henry, a former test reserve, Bruce Gall, and a New Zealand Maoris representative, Kevin i'amati.

West has developed appreciably since his

disappointing efforts on the short tour to Australia in 1975, and the Kiwi coach, Ces Mountford, was impressed by his work-rate in a recent match. Central should not be lacking in understanding up front, with Whare Henry most effective when running off the passes of Whetu Henry, and Gall being an able extension ©f the manoeuvres set up by West.

than that of Central. However, Nolan Tupaeas memorable display for Wellington against Canterbury, Twiss Wharekura’s strength in mid-field. the finishing skills of Dick Uluvave and Mark Peterson, and Warren Collicoat’s prolific goal-kicking give South no reason for complacency. Gordon Smith will be a firm challenger for the

test scrum-half role if he

continues his present form and he should work in well with his fellow West Coast inside back, Chris • Menzies. Mocky Brereton ’ and Lewis Hudson have - the robustness required of-modern-day centre play./. Cliff Leney and Robin Alfeld provide speed on the flanks, and Michael. O’Donnell, has the solidness needed to combat opposing attacks and a fine comprehension of when to proffer his own thrusts.

Northern Districts might not have as many, established international * players, but the. dominance of Waikato • representatives and that * province’s enterprising I displays against Auckland. • Canterbury and a Combined XIII should make certain that it lacks * nothing in team-work. Kevin Fisher has the chance to regain the test wing position that was unexpectedly taken fromhim last year, and Peter Campbell, Charles Morgan ' and Stephen Thompson ■ are other fleet-footed • three-quarters. One of the props, Paddy Matthews, was a national trialist 12 months ago, and his Northland team-mate, Pat Poasa, has graduated from a two-season stint with Glenora in Auckland. Two of Ihe other forwards have had notable careers, if in other positions. Pau! Ravlich, a schoolboy Kiwi in his junior days, has shifted from loose forward to hooker, while the veteran New r Zealand Maoris representative, Warren Rangi, was a centre before making a comfortable transition to the secondrow.

As well as the teams and the individuals, the inter-district scheme itself will be under close scrutiny. An expensive experiment, it boosts the amount of first-class football available to the more accomplished' performers and could become an annual part of!" the code’s calendar if it' helps unearth a national squad to extend Britain.