Chance for young backs

Press, 29 August 1979, Page 38

Chance for young backs

By KEVIN McMENAMIN John Collinson and Dave Ngatai, who have watched Canterbury win its three opening matches in the national rugby championship from the reserves' bench, will have the opportunity on Saturday to help the side continue its unbeaten run.

In an interesting move, Collinson and Ngatai, both national under-age selections this winter, have been paired together in mid-field for Canterbury’s fourth game in the series, against Southland at Invercargill. Collinson will play at centre and Ngatai at second five-eighths.

One newcomer was necessary as Kieran Keane sprained a wrist against Manawatu last Saturday. He should be fit in time to take his place in the reserves for the first Pumas “test” on Saturday week.

To fit both Collinson and Ngatai into the backline, the back selector, Gerald Wilson, has demoted Shane Gibbons to the reserves and overlooked completely the most experienced back in the squad, Murray McEwan. Changes have also been made in the forwards. John Black, now recovered from his broken nose, returns as hooker and Bill Bush is back in the side at tighthead prop, replacing his fellow All Black, Barry Thompson. A little surprisingly, Vance Stewart, after only one championship match, has been stood down for Robert Johns. “Southland is an important game, but we have got to look towards Counties the following week,” said the forward selector, Stan Hill, yesterday, in explaining Stewart’s omission. Stewart, along with six

others, including Thompson, will miss the Counties game because of a higher commitment to the New Zealand XV that will meet the Pumas. “The Counties game is the big one and even if it means taking risks against Southland we have got to take them,” said Mr Hill. “It is no use taking on Counties with players who have not played for three weeks, or without established combinations.” One position still to be determined for the Southland game is left wing. lan Mather will play if he can pass a fitness test tomorrow; otherwise it will be Scott Cartwright. The forward reserves have also to be named. The Canterbury union last evening agreed to a request from the selectors that three, instead of the usual two, for-

ward reserves be included in the party. The team is:— Richard Wilson; Randal Scott, John Collinson, lan Mather or Scott Cartwright; Dave Ngatai, Wayne Smith; Steve Scott; Alex Wyllie; Don Hayes, Graeme Higginson, Robert Johns, Barney Henderson; John Ashworth, John Black, Bill Bush. Reserves. — Shane Gibbons, Graeme Ellis; three forwards to be named.

The Canterbury B team to play Otago B at Dunedin on Saturday is:— Brett Codiin; Garry Hooper, Steve Hansen, Ross Gibson; Simon Brown, Robbie Deans; Phil Thomas; Murray Straight; Peter McLaren, Allan Martin, John Harwood, Jock Hobbs; Pat O’Byrne, Murray Hall, Murray Davie. Reserves.— Grant Shapland, Adrian Young; Don Cameron, Mike Durning.