‘Two Murrays’ only new caps in All Blacks

Press, 25 June 1979, Page 36

‘Two Murrays’ only new caps in All Blacks

By

JOHN BROOKS

“The two Murrays” have been whistled up by the national rugby selectors to fill the places vacated by Doug Bruce and Bryan Williams in the All Black test team to face France in the first test at Christchurch on July 7.

Murray Taylor secured the role of Bruce's successor at first five-eighths with a compelling performance for Waikato against the Tricolours in Hamilton on Saturday.

Williams, ruled out by injury after a record number of appearances for New Zealand as a wing, has been replaced by Murray Watts (Taranaki), who headed off the favoured Brian Ford (Marlborough). Taylor and Watts are the only new internationals in a side which is substantially the same as the one that achieved the “grand slam” in Britain late last year.

The only other member of the side to play France who was not in Graham Mourie’s triumphant XV is the fullback. Bevan Wilson (Otago), who was an original choice for that side before injury knocked him out of the running. The first five-eighths position was the most open of all because of Bruce’s retirement, and Taylor capped a courageous come-back to win selection by his assertive attacking and able cover defence for Waikato against the French.

Two years ago it appeared as if his rugby career was finished at the top level after his left leg was broken in three places in a match accident. He returned tc rugby, quietly, about the middle of last season but it is only this year that he has recaptured his old verve. Taylor first played for Waikato as a teen-ager, ant at 20 won a place in the

New Zealand side which toured Argentina in 1976. He played in both “tests” against the Pumas in Buenos Aires, and a brilliant future was predicted for him before his leg was broken. That promise might still be fulfi’led.

The dashing Waikato player was chosen ahead of the steady Jim Carroll (Manawatu), with the logical favourite, Eddie Dunn (North Auckland) beaten off. Dunn was Bruce’s understudy on the British tour. In spite of Ford’s aggressive play for Marlborough against the French, the vacant wing position went to Watts, who had an excellent trial at Pukekohe earlier this season.

This was a mild surprise because only a few months ago Ford was assessed as being good enough to displace Williams for a place in the test team against Ireland in Dublin. Watts is tall, fast, and a powerful attacker. While at Massey University he won national selection at junior and university levels, as well as playing for Manawatu, without winning much encouragement in higher circles. But his consistently ;ood form for Taranaki and his impressive efforts in the national trial gained him selection against Ford, who las had a bad run of nigiling injuries. For the first time since he fourth test of 1970, Canterbury does not have a (layer in the international ide, although three wearers >f the red and black jersey

have been included in the' reserves.

The most significent of I 'these is Richard Wilson, for it is rare to have a full-back | among the possible replace-; ments. Perhaps the selectors (Messrs Jack Gleeson, Eric Watson and Peter Burke) have reservations about the fitness of Bevan Wilson. The front rankers, Bill Bush and John Black, are Canterbury’s other reserves; they failed to displace Gary Knight (Manawatu) and Andy Dalton (Counties), who has made a good recovery after breaking a collar-bone earlier this season.

Otago’s Gary Seear, who was under pressure from the two Wellington players, John Fleming and Murray Mexted, for the No. 8 position, retained his place after dynamic play in the Pukekohe trials. The big Otago man was placed at lock in those matches, and played well enough to win selection at either lock or in the back row.

The team is:— Bevan Wilson: Stuart Wilson (Wellington), Bruce Robertson (Counties), Watts; Bill Osborne (Wanganui), Taylor; Mark Donaldson (Manawatu); Seear; Graham Mourie (Taranaki), Frank Oliver (Otago), Haden, Leicester Rutledge (Southland), Brad Johnstone (Auckland), Dalton, Gary Knight (Manawatu).

Reserves. — Backs: Dave Loveridge (Taranaki), Richard Wilson, Carroll. Forwards; Black, Bush, Wayne Graham (Otago).