Eddie Dunn dropped from test backline

Press, 23 November 1979, Page 28

Eddie Dunn dropped from test backline

NZPA London The All Blacks will play with a reshuffled backline in the test against England at Twickenham tomorrow. The first five-eighth, Eddie Dunn, has been dropped and Murray Taylor will move in from the secondfive eighth berth he had against Scotland. Gary Cunningham will play at second five, Stu Wilson at centre and Brian Ford on one wing. The only change in the forwards is at hooker where Peter Sloane wins his first full test cap ahead of Andy Dalton. Sloane had the early tour misfortune of playing between the “B" props, Barry Thompson and Rod Ketels, but he grasped opportunities when were presented against the North and the South.

The All Black manager Mr Russell Thomas, who announced the team, said that Dalton was not one hundred ner cent fit but the injurv was only part of the consideration in making the change. He also revealed that the captain Graham Mourie will revert to his more effective role of nlaving off the back on the line-out and Ken Stewart will play at No. 6. The team is: Richard Wilson. Brian Ford, Stu Wilson, Bernie Fraser, Gary Cunningham, Murray Taylor, Dave Loveridge, Murray Mexted, Graham Mourie (captain), Andy Haden, John Fleming, Ken Stewart, Brad Johnstone, Peter Sloane, John Spiers. Reserves: Mark Donaldson. Alan Hewson. Eddie Dunn, Andy Dalton, Rod Ketels, Mike Burgoyne. The changes are hard on Eddie Dunn and Stewart, but they have been two of

the weak links in an All Black side which has seldom climbed above the status of ordinary. Dunn can be a mercurial player, but what is required in test matches is an able steadiness which not only directs the rest of the team, but also settles the backs outside him. Dunn has not done that and Taylor especially has suffered as a result.

Stewart is still a very good flanker but he does not have the ability of Mourie to read and dictate play and too often Mourie has got to a loose ball second behind Stewart with wrong decisions already made and possession lost. Both Taylor at first five-eighth and Mourie off the back of the line-out would give more clear-cut direction to the rest of the team than either Dunn or Stewart. Mr Watson had earlier refused to countenance Stewart being anywhere other than at the back of the line-out and was equally adamant against backline changes, but the evidence of Otlev and Exeter was too plain to ignore.

Team decisions have been his alone but there is little doubt that he is now under pressure for change — and change is precisely what may be needed to onset the English, who like the north are gearing theoir game to combat the side which started against the Midlands and u’hich beat Sco’land. Not without significance that the best All Black performance of the tour was the second half of the Midlands match, when Mourie dictated play from the back of the line-out and the open side of the scrum.